April 21: Believing His Salvation.
HIS BRIDGE.
"You will see the heavens opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man."--John 1:51
While on a guided kayaking tour, we decided to explore the jungle. We were going to kayak for a while and then hike to a beautiful waterfall. However, due to heavy rain the day before, the current had turned rough. When we needed to cross the river, being amateur kayakers, we could not do so without a bridge. But our guide found a solution to the problem. He tied a rope to a tree on one side of the river, kayaked across and tied the other end of the rope to another tree. The whole group was able to cross over on foot. One by one, we got waist deep into the water and, holding on to the rope, crossed over safely.
Abandoning his prejudice and realizing that Jesus had seen him under the fig tree before they met, Nathaniel recognizes that Jesus really knows him (see John 1:48). He makes one of the most profound confessions about Jesus in all of the New Testament, declaring Him, both, "the Son of God" and "King of Israel" (verse 49). Jesus responds, "Because I said to you that I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe? You will see greater things than these" (verse 50). What could be greater than the realization that Jesus knows us intimately? Oh, I'm so glad you asked! His redemption ministry! "Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see the heavens opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man" (verse 51). This is an allusion to Genesis 28:12, in which, having cheated his brother of their father's blessing, Jacob is fleeing for his life. Feeling separated from his loved ones and his God, he stops to sleep at a certain place. "He had a dream, and behold, a ladder was set on the earth with its top reaching to heaven; and behold, the angels of God were ascending and descending on it" (verse 12). In that dream,the Lord had assured Jacob of His presence. Now Jesus is revealing to Nathaniel that He is the true Ladder across the sin-created chasm; His redeeming ministry is the bridge between heaven and earth. If, like Jacob, you have ever taken a detour, remember that in Jesus, God offers you a bridge to Himself.
My Response:_______________________________________________________
HIS BRIDGE.
"You will see the heavens opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man."--John 1:51
While on a guided kayaking tour, we decided to explore the jungle. We were going to kayak for a while and then hike to a beautiful waterfall. However, due to heavy rain the day before, the current had turned rough. When we needed to cross the river, being amateur kayakers, we could not do so without a bridge. But our guide found a solution to the problem. He tied a rope to a tree on one side of the river, kayaked across and tied the other end of the rope to another tree. The whole group was able to cross over on foot. One by one, we got waist deep into the water and, holding on to the rope, crossed over safely.
Abandoning his prejudice and realizing that Jesus had seen him under the fig tree before they met, Nathaniel recognizes that Jesus really knows him (see John 1:48). He makes one of the most profound confessions about Jesus in all of the New Testament, declaring Him, both, "the Son of God" and "King of Israel" (verse 49). Jesus responds, "Because I said to you that I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe? You will see greater things than these" (verse 50). What could be greater than the realization that Jesus knows us intimately? Oh, I'm so glad you asked! His redemption ministry! "Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see the heavens opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man" (verse 51). This is an allusion to Genesis 28:12, in which, having cheated his brother of their father's blessing, Jacob is fleeing for his life. Feeling separated from his loved ones and his God, he stops to sleep at a certain place. "He had a dream, and behold, a ladder was set on the earth with its top reaching to heaven; and behold, the angels of God were ascending and descending on it" (verse 12). In that dream,the Lord had assured Jacob of His presence. Now Jesus is revealing to Nathaniel that He is the true Ladder across the sin-created chasm; His redeeming ministry is the bridge between heaven and earth. If, like Jacob, you have ever taken a detour, remember that in Jesus, God offers you a bridge to Himself.
My Response:_______________________________________________________
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