This sermon was first shared for St Denys Evington’s Morning zoom service on 17/01/2021. A link to the podcast recording is available here
We are known by a knowable God!
Our gospel reading features two relatively obscure characters. Philip is one of the Twelve, but most of what we know about Him comes from a few specific passages in this gospel, which generally focuses more on Jesus’ actions, rather than those of His disciples.
Philip is a character that is often in the background, and as an introvert myself, I like to think that Philip was, too, and I find the way Jesus directly calls to Philip and extends the invitation to him personally, reassuring. Jesus knows Philip, knows exactly what he needs and what his personal gifts were.
Nathanael is traditionally equated with Bartholomew, listed in the other gospels as one of the Twelve, but not mentioned in John’s gospel, whilst Nathanael is only mentioned here and in John 21, by the Sea of Galilee, after Jesus’ resurrection. Either way, Nathanael, too, is known deeply by Jesus, so deeply that Nathanael declares that Jesus is the Son of God and the king of Israel. Let’s look closer at their exchange.
Having dismissed ‘Nazareth’, perhaps as a place of insignificance, or perhaps because of social prejudice, Nathanael is invited by Philip to “come and see” Jesus for himself. As he approaches, Jesus declares “Here is truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit!”, to which Nathanael responds “Where did you come to know me?”. To us in a society which is fairly reticent about our personal qualities, such a response can feel rather self-righteous and arrogant, but it is simply that Nathanael has found his character to be recognised, named and affirmed – he is known. To be recognised, named and affirmed by someone can bring much joy, but it’s usually by a good friend or someone that we have a relationship with. Jesus is a stranger to Nathanael, and yet he knows Nathanael, not just by sight, but in the depths of his heart. Naturally, Nathanael wants to know where/how Jesus knew who he was so deeply.
Jesus’ answer seems enigmatic, because John doesn’t tell us about Nathanael until the point at which Philip calls to him. None of us would be able to tell Nathanael what he was doing before Philip called him, and neither Nathanael nor ourselves expect Jesus to be able to either… but he can. John doesn’t tell us what Nathanael was thinking as he was under the fig tree, but he doesn’t need to. What Nathanael was thinking at that point isn’t as important as the fact that Jesus saw him and knew him in a particular geographical place at a particular temporal time. Nathanael knew from this statement that Jesus had divine knowledge of him, and probably, what he was dreaming of, hoping of or thinking about. And just as Jesus knew Nathanael in a way that only God can know, Jesus knows each of us too. This supernatural knowledge of something that no one else knows is something that Christians still discover to be true of God today, and yes, sometimes, it can be a bit freaky!
I was once at a Christian talk where a trustworthy story was shared of a man who received prayer ministry, and in that time, one of the people ministering to him described, in detail, down to the contents of the desk draws, his private home office. Understandably, he said “you have really freaked me out, no-one, no-one, sees inside my office, not even my wife, but I now know that God sees inside my office, because you have just described in perfectly!” We are deeply, personally, intimately known by God. You are deeply, personally and intimately known by God.
I wonder, can you think of a time when have you found yourself to be known by God?
It might have been through someone else’s ministry, it might have been an encounter in Creation, it might have been something quiet, or dramatic. It could have been in a worship service, in a private time of prayer, or simply as you went about your day.
The story of Samuel’s call has always been a particular personal favourite of mine – a child called by name, by God, in the night. I first knew I was known by God when, age 6, I had a vision of Jesus at the end of my bed one night. He had brown skin, with brown hair and beard, was wearing a purple robe and sandals, with light shining all around him. He came to me when I was afraid, having recurring nightmares, and having called my name, spoke words that brought peace despite me not understanding them, and held me close, as a father holds a frightened child.
The even more amazing news is that not only does God know us deeply, personally and intimately, He wants a relationship with us, both as His Body the church, and as individuals, a relationship that is deep, personal and intimate. Through dreams and visions, words of knowledge and pictures and even particular smells, touch or tastes, He reveals to His disciples His heart and His longings for the world He created, and each person created by Him to be known by Him and to know Him.
You might feel that the stories I’ve shared earlier, of my own early encounter with Christ, and the man who found his private study known in detail by God, to be rare occasions. For us in the UK, we certainly hear of these stories much less that we would in other parts of the world. But that doesn’t mean that God cannot or does not speak to people in the UK, and certainly doesn’t mean that he does not or will not speak to you. Samuel’s story is introduced by the statement that, in Israel, God’s chosen people, “The word of the LORD was rare in those days; visions were not widespread.” We know from the previous chapter, that God did speak through ‘men of God’, and Eli eventually recognises that it is God calling Samuel, so it is reasonable to think that this wasn’t completely beyond Eli’s experiences. What is sad is that, of anyone, Eli, a descendent of Aaron, entrusted with the priesthood, should have been one of the first to recognise God’s voice, and should have known and honoured God’s character, and he failed to do so, because of his continued and repeated sin, even after he had received the word from the man of God in chapter 2. Because of Eli and his sons’ sins, God was now removing the power and authority given to his family, and calling Samuel to lead His people. Samuel is invited to know God and recognise God’s voice.
The passage doesn’t tell us how old Samuel was, but historical Jewish scholars, such as Josephus, suggested he was around 11 years old. Samuel is called by God, God already knows him, but we are told that “Samuel did not yet know the LORD, and the word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him.” The only ways in which Eli comes out positively in this story is how he responds once he realises that it is God calling Samuel. He teaches Samuel not to withhold any of what God gives him to speak, even though it is a serious, almost ultimate judegment on Eli and his household – the word of God should not be ignored, dismissed or devalued. Eli also teaches Samuel, however belatedly, to know God and recognise God’s voice.
In the Old Testament, there are specific individuals chosen and called by God to know Him, walk with Him and know His character, desires and plans for His people. The relationship between God and His people was mediated through particular individuals, such as Moses, Samuel, Elijah and the prophets. The good news of the gospel is that in Jesus Christ, God became flesh, dying on the cross and being raised to life to reconcile us to God, so that the relationship between us, God’s people, and God no longer needs another mediator.
At Pentecost, the promise made through the prophet Joel was fulfilled:
“Then afterwards
I will pour out my spirit on all flesh;
Your sons and daughters shall prophesy
Your old men will dream dreams
And your young men will see visions.”
How God speaks to us, calls us and makes known to us His character, desires and plans for His people, collectively and individually, in different ways, because we are known by God. This God we are known by is a know-able God. He calls us to know Him, and he invites us to know Him more, and more and more. We can’t comprehend or understand God’s ways or how they work, but we can know God’s character and desires, and, at the right time, He reveals His plans for us and to us.
We are known by a knowable God. You are known by a know-able God.
At the beginning of the service, we asked you to get some paper or a notebook, and a pen or pencil. Journalling is something that can help us listen to God, and remember what God has shown us about who He is, and what He has done. We’re going to spend 5min now using this to help us to respond to what God is showing us today, with a couple of questions:
Do you know yourself to be known by God? What would mean that you know you are known by God today or in this coming week? Be specific, this will help you to notice God making Himself known to you!
Do you feel or think that you know God? If you are not sure that you have ever known God and His character, ask Him to make Himself known to you. If you know that you know God, ask Him to reveal more of His character, desires and plans to you.
You might notice God speaking to you in different ways – through a song, through music, through an object in front of you or something around you, through words of knowledge, through the Bible or through pictures, and lots of other ways – we are all different!
repairerofwalls 