Come follow Me, He said.

I really love the Bible.
I was reading John 1 the other day and keep thinking about a few verses.

In verse 43 it tells us how Jesus was walking along and He had just told Philip, "Come, follow me."

The  next verse doesn't mention anything else than the name of his hometown.
But in verse 45 it says that Philip went to look for Nathanel and he told him about Jesus.

                                                       Philip went to look for Nathanel and told him, We have found

                                                       the very person Moses and the prophets wrote about! His name is Jesus, the son of Joseph from Nazareth."

Nathanael was unsure of all Philip said and in his words...

"Nazareth!" exclaimed Nathanel. "Can anything good come from Nazareth?" 

"Come and see for yourself," Philip replied. 

I love that. He simply invited Nathanael to see Jesus for himself. 

My commentary says this: Nathanael couldn't fathom that such a significant person as the Messiah could come from such an insignificant place as Nazareth. 

But this is the part that is getting to me. 

Verses 47-48

When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, He said of him, "Here is a true Israelite, in whom there is nothing false."

"How do You know me?" Nathanael asked. 

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

I know my past. I know what I've done and where I've been. 

And so does Jesus.
How do you know me? 

Before He called my name He knew me and He saw me while I lived my life away from Him. 

And still He said, "Come, follow me Lelia." 

I have no idea of what your past is like, but Jesus does. 

He knew you while you were still______________________and He loves you anyway. 

No matter what your past looks like, He wants you to follow Him. 

Because He knows when we do, He can take all the ugliness of our choices and use them for His glory.
And He also knows that just like Philip, we won't want to keep Him to ourselves.
We'll seek people out and extend a gentle invitation for them to "come and see for yourself" just how great He is. 

Blessings & Hugs,