Can anything good come out of Nazareth? (John 1:47) This is the question Nathaniel asked when Philip told him about Jesus. Philip didn’t offer a direct answer. How would you answer that question?
The Place of Low Potential
What was so bad about Nazareth? Nathaniel was from Cana, a few miles away from Nazareth. He would have known the local reputation of Nazareth. For some reason, he was not impressed. There may be many reasons for Nazareth’s reputation. More than having a bad reputation, Nazareth had no reputation. The population of Nazareth around the time of Christ is estimated to be about 150. The first-century historian Josephus recorded a list of 204 towns and villages in the area of Galilee.[i] Nazareth didn’t make his list. The larger region was populated and significant, but Nazareth was not notable.
It was the intention of heaven that Jesus would come from a place of low potential! As you consider your own places of low potential, know that these are the places where Jesus goes. Heaven placed him low.
Consider your place of low potential. Can anything good come from there?
The Promise of Unlimited Potential
The story in John 1 moves from Nathaniel questioning the place of low potential to Jesus promising unlimited potential.
John 1:50-51 50 Jesus answered him, “Because I said to you, ‘I saw you under the fig tree,’ do you believe? You will see greater things than these.” 51 And he said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”
Nathaniel had already moved from his pessimistic focus on Nazareth to being truly amazed by Jesus. Then Jesus pushed him further in that direction by telling him there is so much more. If we are impressed with the potential we have seen of good things coming from God we should know that we have only seen a glimpse.
The Transition Between Low and Unlimited Potential
We skipped a part of the story. We jumped from Nathaniel’s questioning of potential to Jesus’ promising of potential, but the important piece is how Nathanial was moved from low potential to high potential.
Go back to your place of low potential. Once again, ask, “Can anything good come from there?”
After all the potential loaded verses we have read, our optimism and trust in God prompt us to say “yes”. At the risk of discouragement, I am going to answer “no”.
The reason that the popular message about potential is a lie is that the potential for good does not come from within, it comes from above. I answer Nathaniel’s question with a “no” because the things that are truly good do not come from within us, or a place, or advantaged life or a disadvantaged life or hard work. Good doesn’t come from Nazareth or even Jerusalem. Good comes from God. It doesn’t matter if it comes from Nazareth. It only matters if it comes from God!
This truth is portrayed beautifully for us in the text.
John 1:45 Philip 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.”
At first, Nazareth was all Nathaniel could see.
John 1:46 Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?”
But then notice how Philip responded, “Come and see.” From that invitation on, Nazareth fades from the focus and Jesus shines. The disadvantages no longer matter as Jesus comes into view.
John 1:47-49Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!” 48 Nathanael said to him, “How do you know me?” Jesus answered him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” 49 Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!”
Nathaniel was no longer concerned if anything good could come out of Nazareth. He was convinced that someone great had come from God. Refocusing from the things of earth to Jesus is the vital shift that brings us from low potential to unlimited potential.
Nathaniel had focused on Jesus being from Nazareth. The rest of John 1 emphasizes the fact that Jesus was from heaven.
John 1:14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Notice again how Jesus described the unlimited potential to Nathaniel.
John 1:50-51 50 Jesus answered him, “Because I said to you, ‘I saw you under the fig tree,’ do you believe? You will see greater things than these.” 51 And he said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”
Unlimited potential is available when heaven opens. Unlimited potential reaches earth by heaven coming down.
Nazareth potential leaves us with no mistake about where potential comes from. Don’t judge potential from the place you are in but from the place God wants to take you. Potential is not about where we come from but about what comes from God.
Can anything good come from Nazareth? No! But the good things of God grow in unlikely places like Nazareth.
Accept the invitation of Philip, “Come and see” this Jesus. All potential for good is found in Him!
[i] http://www.josephus.org/FlJosephus2/warChronology4.htm