September 24, 2026 - John 1

Nathaniel asked, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth? (small, supposedly insignificant and nondescript, of no importance)" (1:46)  The answer:  “You betcha!”  The good?  “In him was life, and the life was the light of men” (1:4).  He is the “true light, which gives light to everyone” (1:9).  He is “the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth” (1:14).  “From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace” (1:16).  He is “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (1:29)  He is the one “who baptizes with the Holy Spirit” (1:33).  He is “the Son of God” (1:34).  Back to Nathaniel, Jesus had said to Philip, “Follow me” (1:43).  Then, Philip had 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” (1:45).  It is to this statement that Nathanael responded, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?”  Philip responded, “Come and see” (1:46).  That’s the correct response to those who are skeptical, to those who do not believe.  “Come and see!”

There’s a glorious invitation,

Sent to you and me;

Stand no longer weary, doubting,

Come, oh, come and see.

Come and see, come and see,

Stand no longer weary, doubting;

Come and see, come and see,

Come oh, come and see.

Never yet was found another

Half so true as He;

In thy joy and in thy sorrow,

Trust in Him and see.   -- Margarette W. Snodgrass (1878)