John 1:43-51

⁴³ The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, he said to him, “Follow me.”

⁴⁴ Philip, like Andrew and Peter, was from the town of Bethsaida. ⁴⁵ Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”

⁴⁶ “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Nathanael asked.

“Come and see,” said Philip.

⁴⁷ When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him, “Here truly is an Israelite in whom there is no deceit.”

⁴⁸ “How do you know me?” Nathanael asked.

Jesus answered, “I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you.”

⁴⁹ Then Nathanael declared, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the king of Israel.”

⁵⁰ Jesus said, “You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You will see greater things than that.” ⁵¹ He then added, “Very truly I tell you, you will see ‘heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on’ the Son of Man.”

1.  Jesus Knows Us

Jesus is the Creator and He knows everything about us. In verse 48 of our passage it reads, ⁴⁸ “How do you know me?” Nathanael asked. Jesus answered, “I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you.”

Jesus doesn’t just know us—He knows our hearts, our thoughts, the way we’re wired, and how we respond to a situation even before it happens. He knows who we are at our core. Just as He knew the true character of Nathanael, as it said in verse 47 of our passage, ⁴⁷ …“Here truly is an Israelite in whom there is no deceit.”

Nathanael was shocked when Jesus told Him, …“Here truly is an Israelite in whom there is no deceit.” How could this complete stranger, this person Nathanael just met know how he conducts himself in public? We, Christians know why Jesus would know how He knows Nathanael’s character, but Nathanael doesn’t know that. We can see more evidence of Nathanael not knowing of how great Jesus is when we read the previous verses.

⁴⁵ Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” ⁴⁶ “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Nathanael asked. “Come and see,” said Philip.

Nathanael did not know Jesus previously, but Jesus knows his character. Nathanael probably thought this Jesus was just another false prophet claiming to be the Messiah. Nathanael probably thought Philip is just pulling his leg, persuading him to believe something that is not true as a joke.

Modus Operandi

Imagine someone walking up to you and effortlessly recounting the smallest details of your life: your favorite food, the rhythm of your morning routine, even what you had for breakfast on May 17, 2025, at precisely zero eight hundred hours. They go on not just with facts, but with moments—deeply personal ones. They speak of your childhood, the memories you’ve buried, the embarrassing stories you’d rather forget, and those priceless highs when life felt perfect.

At first, you’re stunned. Then a strange warmth washes over you, a wave of nostalgia bringing long-forgotten memories back to life. The scenes they describe feel so vivid, so accurate, that your heart stirs with familiarity. It’s like reliving a part of yourself you didn’t even know was missing.

Then it hits you: How does this person know all of this about me?

It’s a jarring question. And yet, it mirrors the reality of how intimately Jesus knows each of us. He doesn’t just observe our lives from afar. He sees, remembers, understands, and knows every detail. Even the ones we’ve forgotten. Nothing about us is hidden from Him. He knows us completely—and still chooses to love us.

Jesus knows you better than you know yourself. He sees the struggles you try to hide—the temptation to gossip when frustration bubbles over, the irritation you feel when a certain person from church walks by, the silent comparisons, the pride, the jealousy. He knows the inner battles no one else sees.

But He also knows the good desires stirring in your heart. He sees your longing to grow, your quiet prayers when no one’s watching, your efforts to spend more time with Him even when you’re tired or distracted. He knows when you’re trying, when you’re wrestling, when you’re running, and when you’re standing still.

Jesus knows your character, your tendencies, your weaknesses, and your strengths. And still, He never pulls away. His knowledge of you isn’t distant or cold; it’s personal, compassionate, and complete. He knows that, at the core, you need Him.

Jesus told Nathanael what he was doing when Phillip called him. Jesus knows what occupies our mind. He knows our dreams. He knows our plans. Jesus wants to be involved in our life to maximize our life as a Christian.

Our culture often celebrates independence and self-reliance—traits that may have helped shape who we are today. But those same qualities can also lead us to resist depending on God. We try to carry the weight of our problems alone, especially in our relationships, forgetting that God offers wisdom, healing, and peace. Jesus invites us to lean on Him not because we’re weak, but because He is strong.

When we have problems with our relationships, we tend to solve it by ourselves, instead of seeking God’s guidance. Let’s continue to pray to God to guide us in the way we should go.

We can see how much Saul trusted in God in 1 Samuel 13:5-14,

 ⁵The Philistines assembled to fight Israel, with three thousand chariots, six thousand charioteers, and soldiers as numerous as the sand on the seashore. They went up and camped at Mikmash, east of Beth Aven. ⁶ When the Israelites saw that their situation was critical and that their army was hard pressed, they hid in caves and thickets, among the rocks, and in pits and cisterns. ⁷ Some Hebrews even crossed the Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead. Saul remained at Gilgal, and all the troops with him were quaking with fear. ⁸ He waited seven days, the time set by Samuel; but Samuel did not come to Gilgal, and Saul’s men began to scatter. ⁹ So he said, “Bring me the burnt offering and the fellowship offerings.” And Saul offered up the burnt offering. ¹⁰ Just as he finished making the offering, Samuel arrived, and Saul went out to greet him.

¹¹ “What have you done?” asked Samuel.

Saul replied, “When I saw that the men were scattering, and that you did not come at the set time, and that the Philistines were assembling at Mikmash, ¹² I thought, ‘Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not sought the Lord’s favor.’ So I felt compelled to offer the burnt offering.”

¹³ “You have done a foolish thing,” Samuel said. “You have not kept the command the Lord your God gave you; if you had, he would have established your kingdom over Israel for all time. ¹⁴ But now your kingdom will not endure; the Lord has sought out a man after his own heart and appointed him ruler of his people, because you have not kept the Lord’s command.”

King Saul’s actions showed how much he trusted God.

The authority he held as king slowly led him to believe he could rely on his own strength rather than on God’s guidance.

Jesus knows our character and intentions. He knows our capability. He knows that for us to come out successful in dealing with problems we need wisdom from Him.

Let’s ask Jesus to help us in every trouble that comes our way.

Jesus who suffered at the cross for us knows your need.

He wants to help us. We go here at the Midweek Worship Service every Wednesday to share of the great things that reminds us to praise him and let’s continue, brothers and sisters in Christ to ask Jesus to meet our needs.

 2.  Jesus Amazes Us

⁵¹ He then added, “Very truly I tell you, you will see ‘heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on’ the Son of Man.”

There are many things that make us marvel when we grow closer to Jesus. Jesus does not show marvelous things for the sake of showing-off. He shows wonders to get us closer to Him.

As we grow deeper in our relationship with Jesus, He begins to reveal more of His power and goodness in our lives. Yet, because He once walked the earth as a man, we sometimes limit our view of Him to just that—a mere human being.

Many of you have unique gifts that haven’t yet been used for God’s work. Some of you are incredible cooks—imagine what could happen if you joined forces, not just to impress guests at birthdays or gatherings, but alsonto bless others and serve with purpose. When you prepare meals and create warm, welcoming spaces, you’re not just showcasing talent—you’re reflecting God’s heart through hospitality.

Jesus desires to do even more. He wants to show us the supernatural ways He can move when we put Him first. When we seek Him above all else, He provides not just what we need, but also the best of what He knows is good for us. What He truly wants is intimacy with us, a relationship where we trust, seek, and walk with Him daily.

Have you heard of the saying, “It’s not what you know but who you know.” Applying for a job, most of the time has proven that if the Big Boss knows you, you can get the job easier than showing your credentials.

When Jesus said, ⁵¹…“Very truly I tell you, you will see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man”, He was revealing something profound: even the angels [mighty, heavenly beings] serve Him. If these powerful servants of God honor and obey Jesus, how much more should we recognize His authority, glory, and worth?

Jesus, our Lord and Savior, is not only worthy of all honor; He is more than able to be on our side, to lead us, and to fight for us. And yes, we can ask Him to send His angels to guide us. We can ask Him to dispatch them ahead of us to minister to our needs, to protect us in our journey.

ILLUSTRATION:

From time to time, my father has shared how God sent angels ahead to prepare things for us.

When we first came to this church, you didn’t know us. We didn’t know you personally.

When our family responded to the call to join this church, why did the previous leaders prepare everything for us? Who prompted them to prepare an apartment for us to live in? Who told them to give gifts of things we needed after moving? Why was the church so generous to us?

You may not have seen it this way, but our family saw these actions as God sending His angels to prepare everything for us. What has happened to us in the early days of living in Winnipeg is a clear manifestation of Jesus’ power. He showed His wonderful actions to His servants who trust Him.

In the fall of 2009, the first week of November should have been a time when snowfall happened every day in the city. Having no snow during that time might be coincidence, but my family saw this as God’s grace for us to be able to adjust slowly to the cold Winterpeg can bring. Our family viewed these events as a powerful reminder that God is sovereign and faithfully works all things together for the good of those who follow Him.

APPLICATION:

Our Lord and Savior would love for us to get closer and have an intimate relationship with Him. If you have problems that you cannot even tell your friend… personal problem that you are afraid of telling your wife or husband or children.. Jesus is willing to help you.

If you have dreams that you cannot even tell others for fear that they might think you are crazy,  tell Jesus because He wants you to experience His power of doing things for you to trust Him more.

CONLUSION:

Jesus welcomes us when we come near Him because Jesus wants to have fellowship with us and

Jesus wants to show Himself to us.

Jesus knows us. He knows our character and He knows our intentions of coming to Him

Jesus amazes us.

He lets us experience His capabilities and He lets us experience His authority

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