“And Nathaniel said to him, ‘Can anything good come out of Nazareth?’ Philip said to him, ‘Come and see.'” – John 1:46
REFERENCE:
Nazareth was a small, obscure village that became famous because it was the hometown of Jesus. It had an estimated population of about 200 to 400 people. Everyone knew everyone by name (in such villages). Jesus grew up, and he went there first when He began his public ministry. No wonder Nathaniel did not expect any good from Nazareth when he heard about a Savior from Nazareth, so he doubted. However, he would yet see greater things from this Nazarene.
Nathaniel was from Galilee, which shaped his worldview; perhaps, he saw other tribes of Israel as inferior to Galileans. Galilee means ‘Circle, Circuit, or Ring.’ Nathaniel had unknowingly become encircled in Galilee, and it defined his outlook on life. Galilee became a wall that limited Nathaniel. He closed his eyes to see the good in things, opportunities, or people outside his world.
Nathaniel despised Jesus because He was a Nazarene. Yet, this Jesus was the Son of God, Light of the world, Miracle-worker, Savior of men, Life-changer, Healer, etc. Yet, Galilee’s round walls would not let Nathaniel see that the world was bigger and that other tribes had something to offer. Popular derogatory beliefs about Nazarenes must have shaped his opinion, and he lumped Jesus with the lot. Generalization is the judgment of fools.
Have you termed some places as Nazareth and some people as Nazarenes? If you don’t watch it, your tribe, race, or culture will color your opinion, limit your options, contain your dreams, and kill your sense of adventure. A Nathaniel mindset says, “I can’t marry anyone outside my tribe. People from a certain race have nothing to offer me in life and are inferior to me.” ‘Nathaniel’ judges people based on gender, education, pedigree, etc., before he meets them.
Jesus later transformed Nathaniel with His ministry. Your destiny may be linked to the ‘stranger’ or ‘alien’ around you. That person from a different tribe may make the best wife, boss, staff, or friend. Don’t let your Galilee limit your options; the world is bigger than that. Get adventurous; see the world; your victory may be outside your vicinity. Good will come from Nazareth for you.
PHOTO QUOTE
ADDITIONAL TEXTS:
Genesis 12:1-2, James 2:1-4, and Galatians 3:28.
PRAYER POINTS
+ Lord, set my mind free from the ‘Nathaniel’ mindset. The mindset that despises people or places that are different from me or mine.
+ Raise’ Philips’ for me that will say, “Come and see;” people that will pull me out of my world.
+ Lord, deliver me from age-old prejudices, stereotypes, and negative opinions of people different from me and those outside my ‘Galilee’ in Jesus’ name! Give me a heart of love.
