Are You Walking by Faith or Skepticism and Fear

Reverend Leo H. McCrary II

Is it good for one to be skeptical about God and ask the Lord questions? One should not be ashamed of asking God questions.

Introduction

Are you walking by faith, or is there doubt – fear and skepticism – in your heart?  Even more, why do you believe?  This week’s commentary covers scripture from John 1:43-51 as Jesus poses these questions to a future disciple.

The First Disciples

The first chapter of John’s gospel is one of the most pivotal chapters recorded in scripture to me.  It is in this chapter that John tells his readers that Christ Jesus is the Word and that the Word became flesh and dwelt among them (John 1:1,14).  It is in this chapter that John tells us about how John the Baptist was Jesus’ forerunner.  Also in this chapter, we will see where Jesus begins to call His first disciples.

In John 1:35-42, the apostle tells us that two of John the Baptist’s disciples began to follow Christ.  The apostle tells us that one of those disciples was Andrew, the brother of Peter.  Now, John did not name the second disciple of John the Baptist who began to follow Christ, which is a clue that he was that disciple.

John never mentions himself by name in his own gospel.  He would refer to himself as ‘the disciple whom Jesus loved’.  John did that not to brag that he was most loved by Jesus, but rather, as a show of humbleness.  John was certainly special out of the twelve as he outlived the twelve and received the Revelation of Christ. 

John then tells us that Andrew found his brother, Simon Peter, and introduced him to Christ, saying, “We have found the Messiah.”  At this introduction, we are told that Jesus named Simon, Cephas, which is translated, A Stone.

The synoptic gospels differ in how they speak of the calling of the first disciples.  In their gospels, Matthew and Mark state that Jesus saw Simon and Andrew fishing together, and that He also saw the sons of Zebedee – James and John – in Zebedee’s boat when He called them (Matt. 4:18-22; Mark 1:16-20).

In Luke 6:12-16, Luke tells us that Jesus went into a mountain to pray all night.  Afterwards, He then called His disciples to Himself and chose twelve to follow Him.  The implication being that there were more than twelve disciples that Jesus chose from to follow Him.  Jesus praying to the Father of the twelve to be selected shows the importance of each one who was selected.

Many of us may wonder which of the gospels tells the truth about the calling of the disciples.  I believe the gospels show us that the selection of the twelve was a process rather than something that took a few hours.  

The implication is that Jesus met multiple times with the men who would eventually become the first of His disciples.  John and Andrew met Jesus first, as they were disciples of John the Baptist.  (Both Andrew and John may have been present when Jesus was baptized.) 

After their face-to-face meeting, Andrew told Peter about meeting the Messiah. The next time Jesus saw Andrew, Peter was with him, as they were fishing, and Andrew introduced Peter to Jesus.  That same day, Jesus saw John in his father’s boat with his brother James, and He spoke with them.  

So, Matthew and Mark’s gospels are not wrong when they tell us that Peter, Andrew, James, and John were the first four disciples to walk with Jesus.  Then the others would come along afterwards until Jesus selected the full twelve in the mountain.

Inspection of the Heart

So, why was it such a process to become one of the twelve?  Did the Lord really need to take that long to learn who these men were?  Absolutely not.  God already knew what was in their hearts.  I believe that the process was more of a test for the disciples, not for Christ.

Jesus Meets Philip

We get a hint of this ‘test’ as we take a look at the call of Philip and Nathanael.

John 1:43-44 tells us that the day after Jesus had met with Andrew and John, He found Philip, who was from the same city as Andrew and Peter.  This means that Philip was likely a fisherman as well.  Now, before you begin to think that Jesus was just being lazy by picking men from the same city, let’s understand that everything was being done with intent.

Philip went and found his friend, Nathanael, telling him, “We have found Him of whom Moses in the law, and also the prophets, wrote–Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph (John 1:45).”

The reference to finding ‘Him of whom Moses in the law wrote’ is a reference to Deuteronomy 18:17-22.  Moses told the children of Israel that God had spoken to him about a Prophet like him who would one day come before them.  He instructed the children of Israel to heed that Prophet.

Moses also warned the children of Israel to beware of any prophets who would claim to be such.  He told them that when one says they are a prophet, it can be verified by whether or not what they prophesy comes true.  The scribes and Pharisees thought that John the Baptist was the Prophet, which John immediately corrected (John 1:21).

Nathanael’s Skepticism

Nathanael’s response to Philip is often quoted about Jesus being from Nazareth.  Nathanael responded to the suggestion that Philip had found the Messiah by sarcastically asking, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth (John 1:45)?”

Let’s notice that Nathanael’s response was different from the first five disciples Jesus called.  Nathatnael’s sarcasm is rather comedic in that he was likely a lowly fisherman, like Peter, Andrew, James, John, and Philip.  Nathanael was also likely from about the same area, being of Galilee.  So, we have a poor, lowly fisherman, making a sarcastic remark about a poor man from a poor area.  

Yet, in Nathanael’s sarcastic response, we see skepticism and doubt.  We often consider Timothy as the doubter of the twelve, but Nathanael was the group’s first skeptic and doubter!  Though he was a skeptic, he went with Philip to meet Jesus.

Scripture tells us that when Jesus saw Nathanael, He said to him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit (John 1:47)!”  In a way, Jesus beat Nathanael to the punch with His own wit.  I imagine Jesus said this with a smile on His face as He caught Nathanael off guard.  Nathanael could only respond by asking, “How do You know me (John 1:48)?”

Had Jesus not said this to Nathanael, I believe he would have walked up to Jesus, looked at Him, looked at Philip, and sarcastically said, ‘This is the Messiah?’  He probably would have then turned around and walked away.  Yet, Jesus took the cat’s tongue before he could even utter a word!

“An Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit,” spoke to the character of Nathanael.  For a full understanding of this statement, we must look back to the one who was named Israel– Jacob.  Before his name was changed to Israel, Jacob was a schemer. Jacob “tricked” Esau into selling his birthright (Gen. 25:29-34).  

Jesus’ statement about Nathanael was that he was not like Jacob, a schemer.  He may have been a sarcastic skeptic, but he was an honest skeptic!  An honest skeptic is a skeptic that Jesus could work with!  You see, all the honest skeptic needs is a reason to believe, and Jesus’ desire is to give the honest skeptic that reason.

The Belief of Nathanael

In His answer, Jesus told Nathanael, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you (John 1:48).”

Now, did Jesus physically see Nathanael?  Had Jesus been spying on Nathanael?  Not necessarily.

I believe the “fig tree” that Jesus spoke of was only a place that Nathanael, and maybe those closest to him, would have known of.  Had Jesus physically seen him there, I believe Nathanael would have seen Him.  Nathanael’s response would make it seem that it would have been impossible for that to be the case.

Nathanael’s response:  “Nathanael answered and said to Him, ‘Rabbi, You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel (John 1:49)!’”    

Jesus saw Nathanael in the same way that David recognized God knew him.  In Psalm 139:2, David said that God knew his sitting down and rising up.  He recognized that God even knew his thoughts afar off.  So, this speaks to Jesus’ divine omniscience.  Another reminder that Jesus truly was God in the flesh.

Now, it’s amazing how quickly the skeptic turned into a believer, isn’t it?  Well, not really.  Nathanael, like many skeptics, believes Christ is the Son of God because he has seen.  Jesus comments on this by saying, “Because I said to you, ‘I saw you under the fig tree,’ do you believe (John 1:50)?”  

Believing while only seeing

Is seeing believing?  Is faith seeing?  Many Christians will say they believe, but are incredibly slow to move by faith.  Jesus tells us that the way to the kingdom is a narrow and difficult one (Matt. 7:14).  On the narrow path, we must trust Jesus’ direction to move as He directs us to move.  

There are going to be several times when we will have to move without seeing what is ahead of us.  Jesus tells us that the true worshiper worships in spirit and truth (John 4:23-24).  Paul elaborated on this thought by saying that the true believer must walk by faith and not by sight (2 Cor. 5:7).

If we walk while doubting God, then where can we go?  God’s desire is to lead you, but if you don’t follow Him, then there’s no way you can get to the blessing He has for you.  If you’re skeptical and choose not to follow the Lord, there is no way to reach His kingdom to inherit it.  

Therefore, we must continue by faith.  When Jesus directs us to go left, we must go left.  Any direction that Jesus gives us on this journey, we must trust it and walk by faith.  

Jesus assured Nathanael, “Hereafter you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man (John 1:51).”  While Nathanael was a skeptic, Jesus knew His heart, that he wasn’t a doubter, and that he would follow.   Nathanael would go on to become one of the earliest ones to follow Jesus, along with Philip, Peter, Andrew, James, and John.  

However, Jesus’ question to Nathanael certainly raises questions about those who love to say they are a child of God and a Christian.  Yet, trials and tribulations have a way of testing the heart.  I believe the process to select the twelve is similar to what many of us face in our trials as disciples of Christ.

There were multitudes that eventually followed Jesus, but many of those who followed Him did so because of the miracles they saw.  However, when Jesus began to teach the need for one to consume His word and live by it, many turned away and followed no more (John 6:60-66).

One of His own chose to betray Him because he was offered thirty pieces of silver (Matt. 26:14-16).  One may wonder why Iscariot was selected to be one of the twelve if Jesus knew he would betray Him.  

I’ve always said that the twelve all represented someone present in the world.  I believe that some of us think that Jesus selected perfect people to be one of the twelve.  Here is where I remind you that Jesus told the scribes and Pharisees that He came for the sick, not those who didn’t think they needed a physician (Luke 5:31-32).

  You see, Peter represented those who are loud and arrogant.  John represented those who have an open heart to learn and grow.  We’ve seen Nathanael’s sarcasm, and we know of Thomas’ doubt.  Andrew and Philip were warm and welcoming.  Iscariot is like the professed believer who may profess to believe, but inwardly, they love the world.

Christ Elevates the Lowly

Because the disciples weren’t perfect, it shows us that all of us can also walk with Christ.  Jesus welcomes us to walk with Him (Matt. 11:28).  So, the choice depends on whether or not you will set your heart to walk with Him.

Peter, Andrew, James, John, Philip, and Nathanael were all fishermen.  Fishermen were seen as lowly and simple men who were doing easy work, the kind of work others were too good to do.  Yet, regardless of who they were, Jesus chose them and elevated them to spiritual leaders.  Do you believe Christ can do the same for you?

Recently, I have been speaking about how Jesus always elevated those who came to Him.  I believe that all of us should know that God loves us and His thoughts towards us are of peace, a future, and hope (Jer. 29:11).  I believe that all of us should know, regardless of what society may think about us, God wants to elevate us.

Paul said that God takes the lowly things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty (1 Cor. 1:27).  Jesus certainly did that with His selection of the twelve!  He took lowly fishermen and elevated them to be spiritual leaders who started and led the early church.  Those lowly fishermen are why the gospel has reached the corners that it has reached!

As God did for them, He can, and will, do for you.