A layman's commentary on John 1:47-51. What was it that captured Nathanael's attention and caused him to believe?

 Since I managed to lose my first attempt at this commentary on John 1:47-51, I will try once again.

Jesus saw Nathanael coming to Him, and *said of him, "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!" Nathanael *said to Him, "How do You know me?" Jesus answered and said to him, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you." Nathanael answered Him, "Rabbi, You are the Son of God; You are the King of Israel." Jesus answered and said to him, "Because I said to you that I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe? You will see greater things than these." And He *said to him, "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."
(John 1:47-51 NASB)

This conversation was initiated with Philip, excitedly looking for Nathanael. Nathanael, it seems, comes back at Philip with the rather notorious statement, What good thing can come out of Nazareth. In spite of his bad attitude, he follows Philip to see Jesus; thus, we see the narrative above, where Jesus now sees Nathanael, and like the prodigal's son, He comes toward Nathanael.

I would not, even for a second, tell you that I see Nathanael as anything other than another Israelite who is willing to fight to preserve his right to be entrenched in the law.

And yet, what does Nathanael say in response?

How do you know me?

This is another of those events where we are not given the precise details. How much would your attitude change if you found out that Jesus may have run to Nathanael, arms outstretched, demonstrating the love He had for this young man?

Because Jesus said, I saw you under the fig tree, Nathanael declares, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; ...the King of Israel.”

Jesus replied, Because I said to you that I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe? You will see greater things than these." And He *said to him, "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."

What was it that captured Nathanael's attention and caused him to believe?

It was the Signs, which were carried out through words and wonders.

I know many of you want to argue that there were no signs involved with the drawing of Nathanael. If that is what you believe, and it is based upon religious tradition, we can only fix that by adhering to the word of God.

The concept of signs is entwined in words, and everything Jesus said to Nathanael can be found in the Torah and the Tanach. The impact of signs is found in the 10 plagues.

“Moses told Aaron all the words of the LORD with which He had sent him, and all the signs that He had commanded him to do. Then Moses and Aaron went and assembled all the elders of the sons of Israel; and Aaron spoke all the words which the LORD had spoken to Moses. He then performed the signs in the sight of the people.”
(Exodus 4:28-30 NASB)

In Genesis 1:14, we see the Hebrew word for signs – 'ôth. It means a signal, beacon, evidence, a mark or a sign.

Genesis 1:14-15 NKJV Then God said, "Let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs and seasons, and for days and years; (15) and let them be for lights in the firmament of the heavens to give light on the earth"; and it was so.

If God is explaining His actions to an entity, who would that entity be?

In our foolishness, we like to claim that it was Jesus or humanity. The problem with that thought process is that Jesus is God, and John's gospel tells us that He was the creative force that spoke everything into existence.

John 1:1-3 NKJV In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (2) He was in the beginning with God. (3) All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.

If you are going to cling to the idea that it was man or humanity, then your argument is pointless, for we have no evidence, by scriptural standard, that there was any trace of humanity upon the earth at this time.

In Deuteronomy 6, we see the LORD showing signs.

Deuteronomy 6:22 NKJV and the LORD showed signs and wonders before our eyes, great and severe, against Egypt, Pharaoh, and all his household.

Those words, passed through Moses, became the plagues (signs) that were poured out upon Pharaoh and Egypt.

Moses tells Aaron what he heard. Aaron believes and responds by performing the actions he is compelled to do.

“You are to speak all that I command you, and your brother Aaron is to tell Pharaoh to let the Israelites go out of his land. But I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and though I will multiply My signs and wonders in the land of Egypt, Pharaoh will not listen to you. Then I will lay My hand on Egypt, and by mighty acts of judgment I will bring the divisions of My people the Israelites out of the land of Egypt.” (Exodus 7:2-4 BSB)

“In time “... the Egyptians will know that I am the LORD, when I stretch out My hand against Egypt and bring the Israelites out from among them.”
(Exodus 7:5 BSB)

The Berean Study Bible announces this plague to be the first.

“So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and did just as the LORD had commanded. Aaron threw his staff down before Pharaoh and his officials, and it became a serpent. But Pharaoh called the wise men and sorcerers and magicians of Egypt, and they also did the same things by their magic arts. Each one threw down his staff, and it became a serpent. But Aaron’s staff swallowed up the other staffs.” (Exodus 7:10-12 BSB)

Is the event with the staff the first plague?

The answer to that question is not defined for us. However, is it possible that this is the first because God later says to Moses, “take the staff that was changed into a snake.”

The next thing we see is Aaron, at Moses' command, throwing down Moses' staff before Pharaoh and the wise men and sorcerers and magicians of Egypt. They, in turn, did the same thing, but Moses' staff, which had turned into a serpent, consumed all of their staffs, which had also turned into serpents. Quite impressive.

I suppose that for an event to qualify as a plague, it would have to touch the population. An event, such as turning all the water into blood, would have such an effect on the nation.

• Water Turned to Blood. The First Plague.

  “Go to Pharaoh in the morning as you see him walking out to the water. Wait on the bank of the Nile to meet him, and take in your hand the staff that was changed into a snake. Then say to him, ‘The LORD, the God of the Hebrews, has sent me to tell you: Let My people go, so that they may worship Me in the wilderness. But you have not listened until now. This is what the LORD says: By this you will know that I am the LORD. Behold, with the staff in my hand I will strike the water of the Nile, and it will turn to blood. The fish in the Nile will die, the river will stink, and the Egyptians will be unable to drink its water.’” (Exodus 7:15-18 BSB)

I think it is fair to say that this plague, right off the bat, puzzles me. It seems that God expressly speaks of the Nile River, and that would make sense, for how could God affect the water, in pots, in their homes?

What a ridiculous question to ask. God is not constrained by physics or our walled buildings in which we store our water jugs, no matter what they are made of. Besides that, consider that Jesus walked through a locked door when He came to be with the disciples who were gathered in the upper room.

John 20:19-20 BSB It was the first day of the week, and that very evening, while the disciples were together with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them. “Peace be with you!” He said to them. (20) After He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.

This demonstration by signs in Egypt continues.

“And the LORD said to Moses, 'Tell Aaron, ‘Take your staff and stretch out your hand over the waters of Egypt—over their rivers and canals and ponds and reservoirs—that they may become blood.’ There will be blood throughout the land of Egypt, even in the vessels of wood and stone.”
(Exodus 7:19 BSB)

So, nothing was excluded. If that is the case, then explain to me how this next phase of this plague happened.

“But the magicians of Egypt did the same things by their magic arts. So Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he would not listen to Moses and Aaron, just as the LORD had said.” (Exodus 7:22 BSB)

Where did the wizards get clean water so that they could make it bloody and useless?

Aside from the disgusting after effects, you would think that there was no fresh water left in the region, and yet, Pharaoh's sorcerers found some clean water and turned it into blood.
Where did they find fresh water?

I cannot imagine.

• Frogs, the second plague.

By themselves, or in small quantities, they might almost be tolerable, but to have frogs in everything would be unbearable.

So the river shall bring forth frogs abundantly, which shall go up and come into your house, into your bedroom, on your bed, into the houses of your servants, on your people, into your ovens, and into your kneading bowls.”
(Exodus 8:3 NKJV)

Just a couple of fun side notes:

And the magicians did so with their enchantments, and brought up frogs on the land of Egypt. (Exodus 8:7 NKJV)

What verse 7 tells me is that the dark work of the demonic is not to be toyed with.

Did you ever pay attention to how God got rid of them?

“Then Moses and Aaron went out from Pharaoh. And Moses cried out to the LORD concerning the frogs which He had brought against Pharaoh. So the LORD did according to the word of Moses. And the frogs died out of the houses, out of the courtyards, and out of the fields. They gathered them together in heaps, and the land stank. But when Pharaoh saw that there was relief, he hardened his heart and did not heed them, as the LORD had said.” (Exodus 8:12-15 NKJV)

• The Third Plague: Gnats.

“So the LORD said to Moses, "Say to Aaron, 'Stretch out your rod, and strike the dust of the land, so that it may become lice throughout all the land of Egypt.' " And they did so. For Aaron stretched out his hand with his rod and struck the dust of the earth, and it became lice on man and beast. All the dust of the land became lice throughout all the land of Egypt.”
(Exodus 8:16-17 NKJV)

How could gnats be such a problem? The answer is easily understood just in numbers alone. There is dust everywhere. If you have been bothered by them while fishing or working around livestock. They will enter every available orifice on your body.

• The land is ruined by flies. Plague #4.

  “Or else, if you will not let My people go, behold, I will send swarms of flies on you and your servants, on your people and into your houses. The houses of the Egyptians shall be full of swarms of flies, and also the ground on which they stand. And in that day I will set apart the land of Goshen, in which My people dwell, that no swarms of flies shall be there, in order that you may know that I am the LORD in the midst of the land. I will make a difference between My people and your people. Tomorrow this sign shall be." ' " And the LORD did so. Thick swarms of flies came into the house of Pharaoh, into his servants' houses, and into all the land of Egypt. The land was corrupted because of the swarms of flies.” (Exodus 8:21-24 NKJV)

This is right there with gnats in terms of annoyance. Aside from their ability to bite or lay eggs that can infest your body. The eggs can turn into meat-eating larvae. They are associated with death.

• The Egyptian Livestock Die. The Fifth Plague:

“then the hand of the LORD will bring a severe plague on your livestock in the field—on your horses, donkeys, camels, herds, and flocks. But the LORD will make a distinction between the livestock of Israel and the livestock of Egypt, so that no animal belonging to the Israelites will die.’”
(Exodus 9:3-4 BSB)

Unlike the plague that is to come, where the “death” angel kills the firstborn of all who were NOT covered by the blood on the doorposts, it is possible that Moses had a hard time convincing the Israelites that God could do such things. He not only could but would.

“And the next day the LORD did just that. All the livestock of the Egyptians died, but not one animal belonging to the Israelites died.”
Exodus 9:6 BSB

• The Sixth Plague: Boils

  “So the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, 'Take for yourselves handfuls of ashes from a furnace, and let Moses scatter it toward the heavens in the sight of Pharaoh. And it will become fine dust in all the land of Egypt, and it will cause boils that break out in sores on man and beast throughout all the land of Egypt." Then they took ashes from the furnace and stood before Pharaoh, and Moses scattered them toward heaven. And they caused boils that break out in sores on man and beast. And the magicians could not stand before Moses because of the boils, for the boils were on the magicians and on all the Egyptians.”
  (Exodus 9:8-11 NKJV)

• Hail, the seventh plague.

I feel like I am boring you with this information about all the plagues. If you wish, look them up for yourselves, as there are three more.

Why was God doing all this?

Exodus 9:13-16 NKJV Then the LORD said to Moses, "Rise early in the morning and stand before Pharaoh, and say to him, 'Thus says the LORD God of the Hebrews: "Let My people go, that they may serve Me, (14) for at this time I will send all My plagues to your very heart, and on your servants and on your people, that you may know that there is none like Me in all the earth.

15. Now if I had stretched out my hand and struck you and your people with pestilence (so that you die), then you would have been cut off from the earth.

And finally, the 16^th verse speaks to us as well. When it says, “that My name may be declared in all the earth.” Open your mouth and declare the wonders.

15. But indeed for this purpose I have raised you up, that I may show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth.

“Now here is a genuine son of Israel—a man of complete integrity.” John 1:47, 48. A layman's commentary on the book of John.

 In a sense, Nathanael started the fight by saying, “can any good thing come out of Nazareth.” Whether Jesus perceived that Nathanael was initiating a fight or not when the two of them met, is irrelevant. I assume that Jesus would have been sinning if He had become retaliatory; it would have been if I had done it.

Philip had said to Nathanael to come and see; the next thing we see is Philip's friend walking toward Jesus; that alone speaks volumes.

“Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward Him, and said of him, "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!" John 1:47 NKJV

The NLT expresses what Jesus said in this manner.

“Now here is a genuine son of Israel—a man of complete integrity.”

It is apparent that Jesus already had a small group near him; they, of course, were Jews.

Lacking an audience and then going on a rant, while looking up at the clouds as though you were talking to God, tends to make you look like a fool. I can envision Jesus turning to those around him, drawing their attention, and then directing them to pay attention to Nathanael. At this point, if He says, “Now here is a genuine son of Israel,” this statement can be taken several directions. On that note, Jesus adds how Nathanael is one in whom there is no deceit, or, a man of complete integrity.

If Jesus decided to square off with “ a man of no deceit.” Wouldn't you be wondering how He could possibly know anything about this man and his background. Considering that they did not have high speed internet, cells phones, nor computers - checking someone's background would have bordered on impossible, unless of course you are actively hearing the Father's voice.

To refer to Nathanael as an Israelite, to me, is peculiar. The Word Study dictionary had this to say:

"Israelite" is a name of honor. It is to be distinguished from both "Hebrew [Hebraíos {G1445}]" being, at least in NT times, a Jew with purely national sympathies who spoke the native Hebrew. or Aramaic dialect of Palestine, and "Jew [Ioudaíos {G2453}]", one who belonged to the ancient race wherever he might be settled and whatever his views. However, every Jew regarded himself as a true Israelite and prided himself on the privileges which he as a member of the favored nation had received when other nations had been passed by. Paul refers to these privileges when he describes his "kinsmen according to the flesh" as Israelites to whom "the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises" apply” (Rom_9:4).”

So, it seems that Nathanael would already have an attitude of pride.

Paul, in writing to the church in Rome, conveyed the idea that he understood the high mindedness.

“For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my countrymen according to the flesh, who are Israelites, to whom pertain the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the service of God, and the promises;” (Romans 9:3-4 NKJV)

John 1:48 enforces the suspicion, on the part of Nathanael, that Jesus might have had background information about him. He did not, but Jesus did have an understanding and communication with the Father, that surpasses anything I have ever experienced.

Nathanael said to Him, "How do You know me?" Jesus answered and said to him, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you."
(John 1:48 NKJV)

You can almost feel the alarm in his voice. Jesus, it tells us, answered Nathanael by saying, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you."

We see something comparable in John 2:24.

“But Jesus didn’t trust them, because he knew all about people.”
(John 2:24 NLT)

Who is He talking about and why didn't He trust them?

The answer lies in John 2:23.

“Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name when they saw the signs which He did.”
(John 2:23 NKJV)

So, with them, the Jews, in Jerusalem, at the Passover, many “believed” in His name when they saw the signs which He did.

Interesting, but I saw something comparable when the Vineyard church movement erupted in Southern California in the early 1990s. John Wimber, the pastor of the Anaheim Vineyard (church), displayed a willingness to give the Holy Spirit the freedom to have it's way.

Little did we know that we would only have John for about seven more years. I suppose it would be appropriate for me to tell you that Pastor Wimber began this quest for the Holy Spirit while holding down a pastorate in the Quaker church. (I knew nothing about John Wimber back then.) Wikipedia has an extensive background on Pastor Wimber on their website. John Wimber - Wikipedia One of the things that alarmed me was how profoundly he acceded himself to Fuller Theological Seminary. To be honest I know little about the Seminary, but I have had abominable interactions with several people who did attended Fuller. One of those religious zealots held a Doctorate from that school and was nothing short of rude, while at the same time he was pushing our small church body to prepare for a global collapse due to Y2K scares; the other human example had attained a Masters degree from the seminary and took great pleasure in talking over, at least, my head.

The affects of the Holy Spirit was seen and felt in the lives of many of the people who came to the Anaheim Vineyard. Sure, there is no doubt that many came because it was a good show, but best of all, church was not boring (having spent most of my life in organized church I can attest to the fact that much of what happened there put me to sleep.) My parents began to follow their sons (me and a couple of others) as we were going down to Anaheim to jump into the river.

Question: Was baby Jesus born with the Spirit Of God fully developed within Him to the point that He had all knowledge of everything going on around Him?

We find the answer in Philippians.

“Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross.”
(Philippians 2:5-8 BSB)

Paul describes Jesus as:

• Emptying Himself.

  He was born as baby who, like every other baby, needed a mother to take care of His every need.

• The NLT tells us “Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. (Philippians 2:6 NLT).

  When would Jesus have had this thought process? The only place would be prior to creation when He was with the Father. So we can correctly assume that He was born at the lowest of ranks, just as we are. Let's assume that you are born in India and find yourself born into the caste system. If you cannot wipe the spit off your own face or wipe off your own behind then you are the lowest of ranks. By the way, your caste system does not guarantee your place in eternity; you still have to accept the price that Jesus paid for your behalf.

• While this next aspect tends to apply to someone with at least a little bit of maturity, He took on the form of a servant.

  We, as a men's group, watched five seasons of the Chosen. Out of all the episodes we watched the only thing that leaned toward Jesus being a servant applied to the evening in the upper room when Jesus washed the feet of the disciples.

  If being born through natural human interaction is what made Him a servant, at least servants have the right to resign. Did Jesus have the right to resign? Certainly He did, but for our sakes He chose not to.

  Once again, Paul explains in his letter to the church at Philippi.

  “Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.”
  (Philippians 2:7-8 NLT)

  Jesus, because of Satan's temptations, had the opportunity to resign, much like Adam did; the difference being, Adam submitted to temptation, Jesus, did not.

It is safe to assume that Jesus was born normal, just as we are. If He had the ability to hear from the Father, it is something that developed; and that demonstrates that we can develop those gifts of the spirit, just as Jesus did.

A commentary on John 1:45-46. We have found Him of whom Moses in the Law and also the Prophets wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph

 As I read my Bible, especially the gospels, I find that I am frequently lost as I try to put the narratives into a chronological order (it is not mandatory to have things in a tight, chronological order, but I am a visual learner, and it is easier if I can visualize what is going on in the narrative).

Having watched the entirety of “The Chosen” season five, we see scenes and timelines that may not have occurred as portrayed by the producers. The reality is that “The Chosen” may have created a false narrative.

Will that false impartation corrupt the word of God?

Only if you are fragile in your knowledge of the scriptures, and there is only one person who can cure that, you.

I am sure I have mentioned this before, but John wrote this gospel with the Jewish community in mind. As we dive back into John, we will soon crash into verse 46, where Nathanael makes his sarcastic comment that implies that Jesus is probably as low as the reputation that Nazareth carries. He will soon find out how wrong he is.

That having been said, let's jump into John 1:45.

John 1:45 NAS95 “Philip *found Nathanael and *said to him, "We have found Him of whom Moses in the Law and also the Prophets wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph."

Not that it is important, but Philip was from Bethsaida, which is in the Northern region of Galilee.

Why is any of that important?

Because, as we begin to learn about Jesus, we find Him in the Southern regions of Galilee, where we also find John the baptizer, as he pursued adequate water to immerse those who came to him to be baptized. Jesus came to John, His cousin, to be baptized. Only God knows where Nathanael was, but Philip pursued him and found him.

Pay attention to what Philip had to say about the Messiah.

“ We have found Him of whom Moses in the Law and also the Prophets wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”

These words were not peculiar to Nathanael, and he comprehended immediately what Philip was trying to tell him. Nathanael's response was not in opposition to what Philip said, but in I have come to learn that sarcasm is a classic Jewish manner of conversation, Nathanael's sarcastic response was, “Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?”

In what ways do the scriptures validate this statement?

Malachi 3:16 NAS95 Then those who feared the LORD spoke to one another, and the LORD gave attention and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who fear the LORD and who esteem His name.

These people were not considered to be the church, for the Holy Spirit had not yet been given; therefore, perhaps we can set their words aside for a moment.

If we look at the book of Acts, where Saul of Tarsus (soon to be recognized as Paul) has been preaching the gospel of Jesus, the Messiah.

Saul of Tarsus, consider the fear that name must have struck in the hearts of Christ's followers back then. Not quite an extradition, but if you go north, it will be more comfortable for us in Jerusalem.

Acts 9:30-31 NAS95 But when the brethren learned of it, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him away to Tarsus. (31) So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria enjoyed peace, being built up; and going on in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it continued to increase.

When it says, “Him of whom Moses in the Law … wrote,” we immediately think about the “law,” and we frequently associate that law with Paul. It is not that Paul wrote out laws, but his words frequently tell things like Christ followers don't act that way.

Law: it is the Strong's Greek #G3551 nómos; gen. nómou, masc noun from némō (n.f., see aponémō [G632]), to divide among, parcel out, allot.

Thayer's Definitions of Law: 1) anything established, anything received by usage, a custom, a law, a command. 1a) of any law whatsoever. 1a1) a law or rule producing a state approved of God. 1a1a) by the observance of which is approved of God. 1a2) a precept or injunction.

The law and some of the defining narrative that surrounds that law began in Genesis 3:15.

Genesis 3:14-15 NLT Then the LORD God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, you are cursed more than all animals, domestic and wild. You will crawl on your belly, groveling in the dust as long as you live. (15) And I will cause hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel.”

You should recognize by now that the serpent is Satan. The seed of the woman is Jesus, the Messiah. Striking someone's heel will definitely hurt, but crushing someone's head will bring about death.

The offspring referred to in Genesis 3 is the seed that leads to Jesus. Matthew's gospel spells out the ancestry from Abram to Joseph, the husband of Mary.

Matthew 1:1-3 NLT This is a record of the ancestors of Jesus the Messiah, a descendant of David and of Abraham: (2) Abraham was the father of Isaac. Isaac was the father of Jacob. Jacob was the father of Judah and his brothers. (3) Judah was the father of Perez and Zerah (whose mother was Tamar). Perez was the father of Hezron. Hezron was the father of Ram.

This narrative continues:

Matthew 1:15-17 NLT Eliud was the father of Eleazar. Eleazar was the father of Matthan. Matthan was the father of Jacob. (16) Jacob was the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary. Mary gave birth to Jesus, who is called the Messiah. (17) All those listed above include fourteen generations from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the Babylonian exile, and fourteen from the Babylonian exile to the Messiah.

Let's settle some arguments: Joseph, although it is clear that he is the husband of Mary, in Matthew's gospel, this assertion that Mary is the mother, should clarify that Joseph had NO relations with Mary, and was NOT the biological father of Jesus.

Luke 1:27 makes it clear that even up to the birth of Jesus, Mary was a virgin. The most amazing part of this story is that Mary was also of the bloodline of Judah.

I realize many of you read something like this, and all you get is a headache, but watch what happens next.

Matthew 1:18 NLT This is how Jesus the Messiah was born. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But before the marriage took place, while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit.

The Sermon Bible Commentary says,

"Nathanael’s prejudice was but the giving voice to a fault that is as wide as humanity, and which we have every day of our lives to fight with, not only in regard of religious matters, but in regard of all others—namely, the habit of estimating people, and their work, and their wisdom, and their power, by the class to which they are supposed to belong."

While all that is often debilitating and true, here is something we seem to refuse to acknowledge and accept. Mary, in the face of quite probably death by stoning, stood her ground and told the community that the baby was God's baby.

Yes, these people had a better understanding of the impact of angels in their lives than we do, but we are so practical and judgmental. What, you might ask, is the practical side of a pregnant girl trying to tell us that NO man was involved in making this baby? Practicality tells us Joseph would be the father, but being older, wiser, and having an outstanding reputation as a "teacher," it did not make sense that he would crush his reputation.

If you think this train of thought is outrageous, consider that Joseph took his young, pregnant wife to Bethlehem, Joseph's hometown, where he had kinfolk. None of them would let him in their house. Because it was taxation time, the "hotel" was filled, and the two of them had to share a place where animals - sheep- were fed and pooped.

A portion of the evidence of that seed is demonstrated in Genesis 22, where God spoke to Abraham, but we understand that it is Moses, many years later, who is writing down the history and defining statements that enfold the law, we assume, word for word, between God, Abram, and all the patriarchs throughout the ages after that.

The writer of the book of Hebrews tells us that we are to take this by faith.

Hebrews_11:1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

Hebrews_11:3 By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible.

Hebrews_11:4 By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained the testimony that he was righteous, God testifying about his gifts, and through faith, though he is dead, he still speaks.

Hebrews_11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.

But it is not a blind faith, for the substantiating evidence is scattered throughout the scriptures.

Genesis 22:14-18 NASB Abraham called the name of that place The LORD Will Provide, as it is said to this day, "In the mount of the LORD it will be provided." (15) Then the angel of the LORD called to Abraham a second time from heaven, (16) and said, "By Myself I have sworn, declares the LORD, because you have done this thing and have not withheld your son, your only son, (17) indeed I will greatly bless you, and I will greatly multiply your seed as the stars of the heavens and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your seed shall possess the gate of their enemies. (18) "In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice."

We have spent an ample amount of time looking at Nathanael's response to what Philip said, but I want to touch on one last thing before moving on.

John 1:46 NASB Nathanael said to him, "Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?" Philip *said to him, "Come and see."

I mentioned how Jesus could have been referred to and treated as an illegitimate child. Look at the demands placed upon an illegitimate child by the law.

Deuteronomy 23:2 NASB "No one of illegitimate birth shall enter the assembly of the LORD; none of his descendants, even to the tenth generation, shall enter the assembly of the LORD.

Was Jesus illegitimate? The answer is NO, but do you think that mattered to the townsfolk?

Strong's # definition of illegitimate is the Hebrew word mamzêr. It is from an unused root meaning to alienate; a mongrel, that is, born of a Jewish father and a heathen mother: - bastard. I mentioned how none of Joseph's kinfolk would allow them into their home when they arrived in Bethlehem. Doesn't it shock you? It does me, and it enforces the idea that he was considered a mamzêr.

Take this a few years forward, to where Jesus is twelve, and He is now holding intelligent conversations with the scribes in the temple.

Where and how did Jesus get His knowledge?

The answer to that comes from Matthew 1:19, where it says: “... Joseph her husband, being a righteous man …” NAS95. Translations include good and just.

Who bestows a title like this upon you?

You do not give it to yourself, for that would be insolent. Therefore, only those who know you personally, know what you stand for, and have watched you for years; in the case of Joseph, who, up to this point, had most likely been an active member of a synagogue, and he, by memory, just as anyone else would have to do, memorized the passages over time and by repetition.

If I go back to Luke's gospel, I find information that tells me that Joseph was from Nazareth, and this may be where the dark shadow was cast over Nazareth.

Luke 1:26-27 NAS95 Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee called Nazareth, (27) to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the descendants of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.

The Biblical Illustrator states, “The place the angel is sent to—Nazareth. An obscure place, little taken notice of; yea, a city in Galilee, out of which arises no prophet: even there the God of prophets condescends to be conceived.”

“Out of which arises no prophet” – Well, that statement is no longer true.

This causes another question to rise within me. Was Jesus born in Nazareth?

No, but He was conceived there. Remember that Jesus, according to the religious busy bodies, was a mamzêr, an illegitimate child, and both the child and the mother could have been stoned.

Conveniently, a census was called for, and God saw fit to move Joseph and Mary out of Nazareth. Just because we don't see something spelled out with a definition does not mean it did not happen. It just moves the strong potential of hostility into the theoretical range, and, as you recall, we may have seen the theoretical in action when they came into Bethlehem. I believe it is clear that we probably should not try to make a theoretical subject a doctrinal issue, and that is why I am only sharing this with you, my closest friends.

Luke 2:1 NAS95 Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth.

There is an odd insertion.

Luke 2:2 NAS95 This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria.

Information like this gives some the ability to pinpoint when Jesus was born.