All InSample

Follow Me
Carlos Gomez

As Jesus began His ministry, he gathered His disciples. He invited some, like Philip, with a simple command: “Follow Me.” While His popularity grew, skepticism persisted about His origins. In John 1:46, when Philip told Nathaniel they had found the Messiah, Nathaniel questioned, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” He doubted Jesus because of Nazareth’s reputation.

Nazareth, located between Egypt and Damascus, was avoided by travelers due to its negative image as a “City of Garbage.” This perception made Nathaniel doubt whether anything worthwhile could come from such a place.

As a first-generation American raised by a single mother and absent father, I relate to Nathaniel’s doubt. Despite my challenging background, I found strength and identity in Christ when I accepted Him at 19. His word has guided me, affirming that our past does not limit our future in Him. Though I sometimes question my worthiness to lead due to struggles like fatherlessness and self-doubt, I see how God uses those with humble beginnings to expand His kingdom. My background, shaped by hardship, has prepared me for God’s purpose.

The question “What good can come out of Nazareth?” reflects a mindset that can underestimate God’s work in unexpected places. In 1 Corinthians 1:27, Paul reminds us that God can use the weak and overlooked to fulfill His purposes. Jesus was not defined by His birthplace; He is the Son of God and King of Israel. Nathaniel recognized this after Jesus revealed intimate knowledge about Nathaniel’s background.

Jesus calls each of us, knowing our backgrounds and struggles, and asks us to follow and share His message. He is the bridge between heaven and earth. Like Philip invited Nathaniel to “come and see,” we are called to invite others to know Jesus. Regardless of our past or background, we can confidently go “all in” and share that Jesus is the way to God.

Something great can come out of Nazareth and our lives. In Christ, we find purpose beyond our beginnings. What challenging situation can God use for His glory and purpose in your life?