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Readings: Proverbs 3:1-8; 2 Corinthians 4:7-10; John 1:43-51
In the name of the Father and of the +Son and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.
Nathanael Bartholomew—Bartholomew means son of Tholomew and was likely Nathanael’s family name—had an old timey name from 1000 years before Jesus during the time of King David who married a daughter of Talmai the ruler of town of Geshur (2 Sam 3:3; 13:34) where Bethsaida (which means house of fish) now sat. This son of Talmai—king of the house of fish, father-in-law of David—lived over in Cana where the water into wine wedding miracle was about to happen. We don’t exactly know where old Cana was but the best guesses place it 9km NE of Nazareth where Jesus was from, and some 30km from Bethsaida where Philip was from. Which begs the question: where did Jesus find Philip? Was it in Bethsaida? And where then was Nathanael? For if they were both in their home towns at that moment then Philip went a long way to tell his buddy Nathanael about Jesus. For 30km over rough, hilly territory takes a long time. A minimum of six hours by foot. Moreover, when Nathanael came with Phil to see Jesus did they have to walk all the way back? Which puts context to Jesus’ statement, “Ah, here is a an Israelite in whom there is no deceit.” As in, no guile, no lying ways. And we see that from how candid he is when first hears from Philip, “Nazareth, can anything good come from there?” But despite his honest reservation he longs for the Messiah of Israel, the promised saviour, so he accepts Philip’s invitation to “Come and see.”
In the name of the Father and of the +Son and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.
Nathanael Bartholomew—Bartholomew means son of Tholomew and was likely Nathanael’s family name—had an old timey name from 1000 years before Jesus during the time of King David who married a daughter of Talmai the ruler of town of Geshur (2 Sam 3:3; 13:34) where Bethsaida (which means house of fish) now sat. This son of Talmai—king of the house of fish, father-in-law of David—lived over in Cana where the water into wine wedding miracle was about to happen. We don’t exactly know where old Cana was but the best guesses place it 9km NE of Nazareth where Jesus was from, and some 30km from Bethsaida where Philip was from. Which begs the question: where did Jesus find Philip? Was it in Bethsaida? And where then was Nathanael? For if they were both in their home towns at that moment then Philip went a long way to tell his buddy Nathanael about Jesus. For 30km over rough, hilly territory takes a long time. A minimum of six hours by foot. Moreover, when Nathanael came with Phil to see Jesus did they have to walk all the way back? Which puts context to Jesus’ statement, “Ah, here is a an Israelite in whom there is no deceit.” As in, no guile, no lying ways. And we see that from how candid he is when first hears from Philip, “Nazareth, can anything good come from there?” But despite his honest reservation he longs for the Messiah of Israel, the promised saviour, so he accepts Philip’s invitation to “Come and see.”
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