Jesus. : Trusting Jesus First, Only, Now, and AlwaysNäide

Jesus was and is the Messiah, the One anointed (chosen and sent) by God to deliver His people and establish His kingdom. When Jesus showed up, the Jews had already been expecting Him for a long time. They hoped the Messiah would be a political leader and help them overthrow the Roman government that was oppressing them, but God had something even better in mind. God sent Jesus to deliver people everywhere from sin because it separates us from Him, something way worse than political oppression.

Because Andrew, Peter, Philip, and Nathaniel all became part of the Twelve disciples chosen by Jesus to help Him in a special way during His ministry, we just assume it was easy for them to believe Jesus was Who He said He was, but that may not be true.

When Phillip told Nathaniel who Jesus was, he was skeptical, but that didn’t offend Jesus. Instead, Jesus offered Nathaniel the proof he needed to believe. He also gave Nathaniel a compliment. He called Nathaniel “true” (honest). Jesus doesn’t want blind followers. He wants thinking followers who use the faith God gives them to believe that Jesus is Who He says He is and did what He says He has done.

Nathaniel did put his faith in Jesus and never wavered. As a result, Nathaniel went to Heaven when he died and gets to see things only those who put their faith in Jesus get to see. We know because Jesus said it would happen. The same is true for any of us who put our faith in Jesus for salvation.