From Ordinary to Extraordinary: Our Story

As we wrap up our series of messages about moving from ordinary to extraordinary, I want to review a few things about these ordinary men we call The Disciples. These ordinary men gave up everything to follow Christ (Luke 18:28). They left homes, jobs, land, family, and friends to follow Jesus. Their sacrifice was indeed heroic.

We do not see much of their heroism in the Gospel accounts. The Gospel writers instead give us an honest portrait of these men. They are not portrayed as mythical figures, but as real and ordinary men. The disciples are never the main actors in the Gospel story - that role is always left to Christ. In those rare moments that the disciples step to center stage it is only to reveal their weakness and to bring to life the lessons that Jesus is teaching. The Gospels record the actions of Christ and the work He did to train His disciples. As a result, we can only imagine the countless untold stories of faith shared by these men.

The move for the disciples from ordinary to extraordinary comes after Jesus’ return to Heaven. It is then, emboldened by the Holy Spirit, that the Disciples begin to act in extraordinary ways. We live today with a part of the extraordinary legacy of the disciples - the church. The church is born from the extraordinary efforts of the Disciples to tell the story of God’s Messiah.

As we examine one more of the disciples, we will discover that the Bible tells us very little about this disciple. Most of the story of this particular disciple is left untold. Perhaps that is one way we can relate to him . . . Most of us will be but a mere stat in the history of time – a number – or at best a name on list or a grave marker somewhere. Our lives will be untold stories in history.

The ninth name in Luke’s list of the disciples (Luke 6:14-16) is James the son of Alphaeus. That is it. That is all we really know about him – his name. If James the son of Alphaeus ever wrote anything – it is lost. If he ever asked Jesus anything – it is unrecorded. If he ever did anything to stand out – it is untold. He never attained fame. He apparently never stood out. Even his name was common – James.

There are several men in the New Testament with the name James. There was James the son of Zebedee – brother of John – part of Jesus’ inner circle. There was another James - the son of Mary and Joseph – Jesus’ half brother. That James became a leader in the early church in Jerusalem and is the author of the Book of James.

His lack of prominence is even reflected in his nickname from Scripture – James the Less. The actual Greek word is mikros which actually means little or small in stature. Perhaps he was short or small-framed. The word can also be loosely translated to mean someone who is young of age; therefore, he might have been younger than James the son of Zebedee. This nickname would have been a way to distinguish him within the group. However, his nickname was more likely a reference to his influence as compared to that of the other James and that too set him apart. He was James the Less.

In Mark 2:14, Levi (Matthew) is referenced as the son of a man also named Alphaeus. It is possible then that James the Less was the brother of Matthew. It would make sense in that there were other sets of brothers among the twelve – Peter and Andrew and James and John. On the other hand, no actual reference is given that they were brothers.

Perhaps even more interesting is the possible lineage shared by James the Less. When we compare Mark 15:40 and John 19:25, we discover what could be a highly intriguing family connection for James. Mark 15:40 mentions, “Mary Magdalene and Mary mother of James the Less and of Joses.” John 19:25, describing the same gathering, mentions “(Jesus’) mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.” It is therefore possible, and perhaps even likely, that Mary the mother of James the Less and Mary the wife of Clopas are the same person. If true, that would make James the Less the Cousin of Jesus! But alas, we do not know because it is never actually recorded.

So, he may have been Matthew’s Brother. He may have been Jesus’ cousin. He may have been a small – younger – even quiet. He may have been person who stayed mostly in the background. It may be that all of these things were true of James the Less, but we just do not know. We might say his most distinguishing mark was his obscurity and the truth is we each live most of our lives in obscurity. It is one of the things we all have in common and it is one of the things that make each of us ordinary.

Early church history is nearly silent on the life of James. Many of the early stories confuse him with the brother of Jesus and therefore are inaccurate regarding his life. There is some evidence that he took the Gospel to Syria and Persia. Even the accounts of his death differ. He apparently died as he lived – in the shadows of obscurity.

James the Less sought no recognition. He displayed no great leadership. He asked no critical questions. He demonstrated no unusual insight. And yet, his name remains. All that he did or did not do is lost to time and history, but his name remains.

James the Less was one of the twelve disciples. Jesus chose him for a reason and eternity will remember his name. I think that is the point of James the Less – that is the lesson that is left for us to discover.

What made him ordinary also made him extraordinary. For this quiet ordinary life was lived serving His Master – Jesus – The Christ – The Savior of the World and because of his service to the Master we still remember him today.

How will you be remembered?




Interested in learning more about these ordinary disciples who became extraordinary try reading John MacArthur's Book - Twelve Ordinary Men

From Ordinary to Extraordinary: Thomas' Story

I believe we all, in our own way, are seeking ways to be extraordinary. The difficulty we have is that our own ordinariness gets in the way of dreams and desires. Taking it a step further, we may believe that anything is possible. Our problem is that we refuse to believe in the possibilities in our own life.

When the television show Deal or No Deal first debuted we watched in our household. It provided for some interesting drama and some fun entertainment. But I was struck by the fact that in nearly every show, the contestant at some point would say, “Howie, I believe I have the Million Dollars in my case!”

Just once I wanted the banker to offer them the contents of their case right at the beginning. Wouldn’t that be an interesting way to test their faith? It wouldn’t make for a very long game show – perhaps that is why I have not been asked to create any television game shows? Just cut through all the drama and tell me do you believe?

Do you believe?

This question is not new to our generation. The religious leaders of Jesus’ time did not have a problem believing in the miracles of Jesus’ – many of which they had witnessed first hand – none of them denied the reality of the miracles of Jesus. It was the message that they hated - a message that carried the news that they were sinners and needed to repent.

So it is in the context of choosing to believe, we hear Thomas’ Story or the story of “Seeing to Believe”

Our main character is Thomas also called Didymus, or the twin. He is most often referred to as “Doubting Thomas” and it is this label that I find most unfair. We are no different than Thomas in that our own doubts make us ordinary. When we are honest with ourselves, doubt is one thing we all have in common. It is only when we rise above our doubts that we have any hope of becoming extraordinary.

Thomas is only mentioned 6 times in scripture and three of those are in lists contained in Matthew, Mark, and Luke. The other three mentions are contained within stories in the Gospel of John. These stories reveal some of Thomas’ personality and let’s face it, Thomas was a negative person. He worried. He brooded. He was angst-ridden. He was a New Testament version of Eeyore from Winnie the Pooh.

He would have been a perfect fit for the Old Russian saying:

“How are you today?”

“Well, not as bad as tomorrow will be. Thanks for asking”

I want to briefly examine the stories that John tells about Thomas – these are stories not of a doubter but of someone struggling to become extraordinary:

His disciples replied, "Lord, if he sleeps, he will get better." Jesus had been speaking of his death, but his disciples thought he meant natural sleep. So then he told them plainly, "Lazarus is dead, and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him." Then Thomas (called Didymus) said to the rest of the disciples, "Let us also go, that we may die with him." John 11:13-16 NIV

That’s a positively negative outlook. Okay, let’s go so that we too may die! This is not the statement of one who doubts his faith. Optimists are supposed to be Loyal because it will eventually be good. But this pessimist remains loyal believing that the worst is still coming!

Moving from ordinary to extraordinary will demand loyalty even when thoughts and feelings betray your loyalty. Thomas is a pessimist, but he is a loyal pessimist.

"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going." Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?" John 14:1-5 NIV

Can you see Thomas reacting to Jesus?

“You are leaving?!”

“How will we know the way if you are gone?!”

It is more of the same from this pessimist. Now, Thomas declares it is better to die with you than be left behind all alone - same loyal pessimistic view coming from Thomas. Demands for loyalty will not be satisfied in one instance. The decision to follow Jesus is not a once in a lifetime decision – it is an every day, every moment of your life decision.

Questions of doubt will always be there. In Dr. Fowler’s theory of Faith Development he has discovered that any advancement of faith is preceded by a questioning of that faith and in this instance, Thomas’ questioning is about to bring to him the ultimate discovery.

Now Thomas (called Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord!" But he said to them, "Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it."
A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!" Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe."

Thomas said to him, "My Lord and my God!"

Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."
John 20:24-29 NIV

Although Thomas is singled out as being THE ONE that did not believe, Mark’s Gospel tells the story that all of the disciples were slow to believe. These returned and reported it to the rest; but they did not believe them either(Mark 16:13 NIV) Let us not forget that all of the disciples were slow to believe!

Thomas wasn’t with them we they received the report – he was depressed, sullen, wallowing in misery. For Thomas this was the final worst case scenario that he had pessimistically envisioned. Thomas must have regretted not having died with Jesus. Thomas leaves the group and is presumably alone in his misery for a week.

He is now alone, betrayed, rejected, forgotten, foolish, broken hearted, shattered, devastated, crushed, beaten down, lost, and lonely. It is after a week that Thomas makes his way back to the group. He still does not believe, but he is choosing to be loyal to friends.

It is in that moment that Jesus appears and tells Thomas he understands his weakness – his doubt.

Wow! Our Savior, our Lord, understands that we have doubts. And in those moments of doubt, HE is there with us (Hebrews 4:15). It is in this moment that Thomas declares his loyalty again! If Thomas had other times of doubt, we do not know. It is given that his loyalty to the one he called My Lord and My God did not waiver.

There is considerable evidence that Thomas carried the Gospel to India. There are today churches in south India whose roots trace back to the beginning of the church age and church tradition has Thomas as their founder. There is even a place outside of Madras, India where it is purported that Thomas was buried. Tradition has it that he was martyred by the running through of a spear. For the one who longed to see the mark of the spear on his Lord and wished to die with him, it was a perhaps a fitting end.

We will be pessimistic – it is our nature. We will have moments of doubt. We will be ordinary for it is our nature.

It is when in spite of our pessimism, in spite of our doubts, that we choose to remain loyal that we begin to move from being ordinary to becoming extraordinary. It is when we act in faith – Having not seen BUT still believing. It is in those moments that we move from being ordinary to becoming extraordinary.

Have you declared your loyalty? In spite of your doubts, in spite of your pessimism – will you declare your intent?

Jesus is still asking are you available? Do you believe? Will you follow me?

Your doubts do not need to be gone in order to begin this journey.

Is today the day to begin your move towards extraordinary?

Ordinary to Extraordinary - Andrew's Story

Perhaps in the scheme of life the small things really do matter more. However, when we look back on our lives what we remember most are the big things. The singular events of our lives. A first kiss or the first kiss that really mattered! The first day on a new job or at a new school. Our first house. You name it.

Focusing on these events leaves out most of our lives. The big things we remember because they were, well, memorable – they were unusual. But most of our lives are spent in the usual. Living our lives this way, leads us to talking about our 15 minutes of fame or always grasping at that one great achievement. We all know people like that and there is something inherently sad about those people.

I have to come understand that it really is the small things in life that are important. In our relationships, it is the little things that get overlooked, but it is these little things that keep the relationship active. Falling in love is a big deal. The first kiss is a big deal, but it is all the little things before and after that make for a lifetime of love.

In other words, most of us know that life is lived in the small stuff, but I have to admit the small stuff isn’t where the fun is. It is the small stuff that leads us to believe that we are ordinary.

Andrew’s story is often lost amidst the small stuff of the Gospels for his story is a story of nothing but small stuff.

Andrew literally means “manly” and this would seem fitting for him if not for the details we will discover. After all, Andrew was a fisherman. This was a trade not for the weak for this was net fishing – by hand! Andrew spent time with John the Baptist, the guy who wore camel’s hair clothing and ate locusts – now that is manly!

He was also Peter’s little brother. He and Peter shared a home in Capernaum, on the north shore of the Sea of Galilee, where they presumably operated their fishing business. They were both originally from Bathsaida a nearby town.

At some point, Andrew took time away from fishing to follow and learn from John the Baptist. Andrew was actually one of John the Baptist’s disciples. He must have been continuing his search for the promised one because when Jesus came (He was there at Jesus’ baptism) he left John and began to follow Jesus.

Actually, Andrew is the first of the disciples. Andrew would then introduce his brother Peter to Jesus and shortly thereafter James and John, the sons of thunder would join Jesus. These four would become the inner circle for Jesus.

Andrew’s life as follower of Christ is one that is lost in the details, the small stuff. Andrew although part of the inner circle, does not go with Peter, James, and John to the mountaintop. He is not witness to the Transfiguration of Christ. Andrew is not invited to go with Jesus at Gethsemane. No Andrew’s life will be a story of sweatin’ the small stuff – the things that need to be done. His work will by and large go unnoticed. His work is the stuff that no one else seems to want to do.

Andrew’s story is the story of individual people, insignificant gifts, and inconspicuous service.

Andrew meets Jesus and his first act is to introduce Peter to Jesus. He must have lived in Peter’s shadow and here was his opportunity to shine, but instead he introduces Peter knowing what that would mean. Andrew begins his relationship with Jesus by putting a priority on other people and by introducing them to Jesus. Andrew will continue this activity throughout his life.

Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, spoke up, "Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?" Jesus said, "Have the people sit down." There was plenty of grass in that place, and the men sat down, about five thousand of them. Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish. When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, "Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted." So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten. John 6:8-13 NIV

It is Andrew that recognizes the value of such a small gift. The gift was not large enough to accomplish the task at hand, but look at what was accomplished with such a little gift. Never underestimate the value of your gifts when put in the service of the Lord.

Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the Feast. They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. "Sir," they said, "we would like to see Jesus." Philip went to tell Andrew . . . John 12:20-22 NIV

Why didn’t Phillip do this? This rings of “Get Andrew. He will do anything!” Perhaps, Andrew was the original – “Get Mikey, he’ll eat anything!” For me it signifies that Andrew was the one willing to do the jobs that others didn’t not want to do.

Including these 3 stories, Andrew is actually only mentioned 9 times in scripture. Despite his leadership role he is relegated to a minor role in the Gospels. Andrew is overshadowed by his brother Peter. Luke tells the story of the calling of the first disciples without even mentioning Andrew – now that is being left out! And nearly every mention of Andrew is done so with reference to the fact that he was Peter’s brother.

Was he slighted?
Was his role insignificant?
Did Andrew get overlooked?

If he did, then count me in with the small stuff for . . .

 He was the first to hear Jesus was the Lamb of God
 He witnessed the Baptism of Jesus
 He heard a voice from Heaven
 He was the first to follow Jesus
 He was part of the inner circle of Jesus’ Friends
 He spent intimate time with Jesus
 He spent his life introducing people to Jesus

Andrew’s legacy may be lost in the shadows. Andrew’s legacy may be a list of individual people, insignificant gifts, and inconspicuous service.

By today’s standards, Andrew certainly chose the foolish things. In today’s world, he would not have been on stage, he would not have been the star, the focal point, the person at the center of attention . . .

But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise. He chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the things of this world that are common and looked down on. He chose what is not considered to be important to do away with what is considered to be important.I Corinthians 1:27-28 NIRV

Being available and willing is sometimes the only requirement needed in order to move from ordinary to extraordinary in God’s eyes. And that is the legacy of Andrew. A legacy of a life spent following Jesus. Give me the small stuff and I will willingly sweat the small stuff in service to Jesus.

Are you willing to sweat the small stuff and get lost in the details?

Be an Andrew this week: invite someone to church

Be an Andrew: discover the size of the gift doesn’t matter when it is given to God

Be an Andrew: find the time and/or talent to give to the church/community this week

(image from artwork by Martin Creed)

Ordinary to Extraordinary: Philips' Story

This week we take a peak at Phillip and what made him so ordinary – counting chickens or in his case people.

In all the lists of the disciples, Phillip is always the 5th one listed and it is theorized that he was the leader of the second group of four disciples. This Phillip is not to be confused with the deacon Phillip that is mentioned in the 6th chapter of Acts. Phillip was from Bathsaida the same as Andrew and Peter. And as we discovered last week, Phillip was close friends with one of the other disciples, Nathanael.

Phillip is unique within the group of disciples as he is the only disciple with a Greek name. Now Phillip must have been Jewish as scripture also tells us that all of Jesus’ disciples were Jewish. Tradition would have it that even a converted Jew would have been given a Hebrew name, but no mention of Phillip’s Hebrew name is ever made. Phillip is most likely a part of the group later referred to as the Hellenistic Jews.

What really makes Phillip unique amongst the twelve is also what makes him ordinary enough for us to identify with him. Phillip is a “by-the-book” guy. He is a facts and figures guy. He is pragmatic in his thinking. He was narrow-minded. He was not a forward thinker. He might have been described as a pessimist, a kill-joy, a cynic, a defeatist.

One writer jokingly referred to him as the “bean-counter” of the twelve. Phillip would have been the type of person that would speak up at a meeting saying, “I don’t think we can do that because . . . . “ He was the type of person that always has reasons why something won’t work.

He was the type of person that struggled with accepting that things will happen by faith.

This pragmatic one. Phillip, wants to be a forward thinker, but as we will discover has a hard time not constantly counting all the chickens. Spiritually, Phillip’s heart is in the right place, but his faith is weak.

Phillip recognizes Jesus as the Messiah, God’s son. It is his weak faith that cannot allow him to get past the pragmatic side of life.

It is this pragmatic side that makes Phillip ordinary. It is the part of our own lives that reduces us to being ordinary as well – each of us becomes ordinary when life is reduced to what we believe are the possibilities – what we can see and/or count. That brings us to today’s story of counting chickens:


When Jesus looked out and saw that a large crowd had arrived, he said to Philip, "Where can we buy bread to feed these people?" He said this to stretch Philip's faith. He already knew what he was going to do. (John 6:5-6)

It is not by accident that Phillip is the one asked the big question, “How are we going to do this?” We know that Judas was the keeper of money, but it would stand to reason that Phillip may have been the one charged with arranging meals and taking care of the logistics for the group. This would have been a great use of his talents and abilities as revealed in his personality.

Now the non-pragmatic answer would have been easy to give in hindsight. (Most of us escape are pragmatic nature in hindsight!). Most pragmatists are really good at this. Phillip was really good at this.

Remember last week we learned that Jesus found Phillip and offered him the invitation, “Follow Me.” But to hear Phillip tell it, Phillip found Jesus! (John 1:43-44). Hindsight is always perfect and never wrong.

Remember, Phillip was at the wedding in Cana. He had already witnessed that Jesus was capable of amazing things. In this moment, could he stop counting people long enough to take a step a faith? And in his reply, we see how ordinary you can become even in the presence of Jesus:

Philip answered, "Two hundred silver pieces wouldn't be enough to buy bread for each person to get a piece." (John 6:7 NIV)

There it is - a very pragmatic answer to the problem at hand.

"There is no way we can do this!" His response is driven by the analytical, the pragmatic, the material, the earth, reality. His answer is driven by what he can see and count – people and money.

But, Jesus wasn’t looking for a plan? The scripture says it was a test. Jesus already knew what he was going to do.

Phillip was probably so busy counting heads as he saw the time of day passing. Phillip was busy calculating the impossibility of it all.

Even though he recognized the one who was with him as the Son of God, he could not get past the reality of life that was in front of him. The reality was very real. There were over 5000 people to be fed. (Historic records would estimate that the crowd was actually 10-20,000 that day with women and children included)

In hindsight, I bet Phillip told people he said, “Lord if you want to feed them, then let’s feed ‘em. There’s no earthly way to get it done, but you, Lord, can do the impossible. Show me what to do so that I can be a part of this.”

But no, Phillip’s lack of faith leaves him on the sideline as a witness to the miraculous feeding of the 5000 instead of as a willing participant.

Jesus was teaching this ordinary man that in order to become extraordinary you need a little faith. Stop counting the chickens, Phillip. Trust that the provision needed will be there. You do your part and leave the rest up to me.

Remember all that God has done. Remember all that you have been witness to – close your eyes, stop counting, and believe. I have extraordinary things in store for you.

Phillip would struggle with his faith all the way to the end. Phillip is still struggling with the pragmatic side of his faith even after three years with Jesus. (John 14:8) He has the audacity to say, “Show us the father and that will be enough.” What had he been watching? Had he not seen enough in the past three years or was he to busy counting all the time to have noticed?

Phillip may have been pragmatic to a fault, but he was also among the first of the disciples to be martyred. He was stoned in Asia Minor, but he is also credited with bringing multitudes to faith – faith without seeing – through his preaching and teaching.

Perhaps those from the outside would ask, “Why would Jesus take such an unusual group of common men with ordinary ability to accomplish such an extraordinary work?” Simply put Jesus needed and wanted those individuals that would make themselves available – and if they wanted to count chickens along the way that would be okay.

Because eventually even the most pragmatic of His followers will discover that a little faith goes a long way when you are trying to become extraordinary.

What is keeping you from becoming extraordinary today?

Prejudice revealed

Prejudice comes in many ways. We most often think of prejudice in terms of race. The story of Jackie Robinson is one of moving past prejudice, but it started with the prejudice created by what we see. Jackie told part of this story in his autobiography in 1972:



I know you’re a good ballplayer, he (Branch Rickey) barked. “What I don’t know is whether you have the guts.”

Before I could react to what he had said, he leaned forward in his chair and explained.

I wasn’t just another athlete being hired by a ball club. We were playing for big stakes. This was the reason Branch Rickey’s search had been so exhaustive. The search had spanned the globe abd narrowed down to a few candidates, then finally to me. When it looked as though I might be the number-one choice, the investigation of my life, my habits, my reputation, and my character had become an intensified study.

“I’ve investigated you thoroughly, Robinson,” Mr. Rickey said. “we can’t fight our way though this, Robinson. We’ve got no army. There’s virtually nobody on our side. NO owners, no umpires, very newspapermen. And I’m afraid that many fans will be hostile. We’ll be in a tough position. We can only win if we can convince the world that I’m doing this because you’re a great ballplayer and a fine gentleman.”

He had me transfixed as he spoke. I could feel his sincerity, and I began to get a sense of how much this major step meant to him. Because of his nature and his passion for justice, he had to do what he was doing. He continued. The rumbling voice, the theatrical gestures, were gone he was speaking from a deep, quiet strength.

“SO there’s more than just playing.” He said. “I wish it meant only hits, runs, and errors – only the things they put in the box score. Because you know – yes, you would know, Robinson, that a baseball box score is a democratic thing. It doesn’t tell how big you are, what church you attend, what color you are, or how your father voted in the last election. It just tells what kind of baseball player you were on that particular day.”

I interrupted. “But it’s the box score that really counts – that and that alone, isn’t it?”

“It’s all that ought to count,” he replied. “But it isn’t. Maybe one of these days it will be all that counts. That is one of the reasons I’ve got you here.”

(from I Never Had it Made by Jackie Robinson, 1972 page 40-41)

Jackie Robinson was an ordinary man with a talent for baseball.

He is remembered for being extraordinary not only in what the box score revealed but for the man he was before and after the game.

What if our lives we were judged by our boxscore?

We have much to overcome still today.

Ordinary to Extraordinary: Nathanael's Story

I am intrigued by the concept of the new show on ABC this Fall. I guess the connection of ABC and Disney keeps anyone from filing a lawsuit - doesn't this seem to be an un-animated version of The Incredibles? or is it just me?

The Bible is filled with stories of ordinary people rising above their limitations and becoming extraordinary. I find comfort in knowing that God has always used the ordinary to complete his extraordinary work. It gives me hope in my ordinary life that there might be more.

This week we begin a series that will allow us to examine the very ordinary lives of some of the disciples and what we might learn from their ordinary lives.

The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. When he got there, he ran across Philip and said, "Come, follow me." (Philip's hometown was Bethsaida, the same as Andrew and Peter.) Philip went and found Nathanael and told him, "We've found the One Moses wrote of in the Law, the One preached by the prophets. It's Jesus, Joseph's son, the one from Nazareth!"
Nathanael said, "Nazareth? You've got to be kidding."
But Philip said, "Come, see for yourself."
When Jesus saw him coming he said, "There's a real Israelite, not a false bone in his body."
Nathanael said, "Where did you get that idea? You don't know me."
Jesus answered, "One day, long before Philip called you here, I saw you under the fig tree."
Nathanael exclaimed, "Rabbi! You are the Son of God, the King of Israel!"
Jesus said, "You've become a believer simply because I say I saw you one day sitting under the fig tree? You haven't seen anything yet! Before this is over you're going to see heaven open and God's angels descending to the Son of Man and ascending again.” John 1:43-51 (New international Version)

Nathanael reveals his ordinary nature. Lest you be confused by the name Nathanael. In the other gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) Nathanael is listed as Bartholomew. This is not a discrepancy, but rather a changed in name reference. Much like some call me Pastor Frieden some call me Pastor Rodney. Nathanael was the son of Tolmai in Hebrew that would be Bar-Tolmai or Bartholomew or properly Nathanael Bar-Tolmai or Nathanael, son of Tolmai. We actually know very little about Nathanael. We know that he was from Cana in Galilee (John 21:2) and that he was friends with Phillip. Throughout scripture, Nathanael will always be paired with Phillip. Andrew goes to get his brother and Phillip goes to get his closest friend (like a brother)?

They might have worked together (perhaps they were fisherman as well) at the least they had studied together as the reference to the prophet’s writings reveals there common interest and studies.

I find it curious what Phillip does not say at this point. He doesn’t say, “I found a man who has a wonderful plan for your life. Or I found a man who can fix all your problems!” He makes no appeal on how Jesus would improve his life instead he appeals to his friend as one who is seeking – I have found the one who fulfills scripture – I have found the one who will bring meaning to our search – I have found the divine – the Messiah!

It is also a curiosity that the one that scripture calls Bar-Tolmai is introduced to the Messiah in a proper manner. Jesus is referred to as Y’shua Bar-Joseph from Nazareth. As if to say, “You’ll never believe it but that guy Jesus, you know the son of Joseph, the carpenter, the one from Nazareth. He is the Messiah?!”
It is in that moment that Nathanael reveals the very nature of man, our ordinary nature, our ability to come down rather than rise up, in that moment we can see ourselves so deeply reflected in his response, “Can anything good come from Nazareth?”

He could have responded by saying, “But Phillip, I am confused, we both know that the prophets foretold of the one coming from Bethlehem, How can Jesus be the one?”
Instead it is his bias, his prejudice that initially blinds him. His heart is revealed in his words.

Contempt for Nazareth, there was much Jewish contempt for Nazareth as it contained a Roman Army garrison, but there were other reasons for contempt as well - Nathanael was from Cana and to him Nazareth was the wrong side of the tracks. Nazareth was the home of the unrefined, the uneducated, even the ugly.

The picture was as a plain as IU vs. Purdue; Lawrence Central vs Lawrence North; East Coast vs West Coast; Black vs White; Rich vs Poor; English Speaking vs Spanish Speaking; Thin vs Fat; Young vs Old; Tall vs Short; White Collar vs Blue Collar, Educated vs Uneducated; Home Owner vs Homeless.

Curiosity must have gotten the best of him on that day. For in that moment, Nathanael was not completely blinded by his prejudice and Phillip was not turned off by his friend’s response. Phillip invited Nathanael to learn more, “Come and See,” and Nathanael took the opportunity to investigate more. It was in that moment of investigation that God was able to use the ordinary to accomplish the extraordinary as Nathanael very quickly discovered what it would take many of the other disciples years to learn – this was the Messiah! Early church records suggest that Nathanael took the gospel to Persia, India and Armenia and in the end he was martyred for his faith.

I find the story of Nathanael interesting because it reveals a fraility of life that we all deal with. A part of our human nature that at some point or another reduces each of us to being ordinary – PREJUDICE. It is so much a part of each of us, that we all understand the adage “Don’t judge a book by the cover” from our own experience.

People, the truth is we are all very ordinary, but God chose us anyway:
Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. I Corinthians 1:27a (The Living Translation)

Take a good look, friends, at who you were when you got called into this life. I don't see many of "the brightest and the best" among you, not many influential, not many from high-society families. Isn't it obvious that God deliberately chose men and women that the culture overlooks and exploits and abuses, chose these "nobodies" to expose the hollow pretensions of the "somebodies"? That makes it quite clear that none of you can get by with blowing your own horn before God. Everything that we have—right thinking and right living, a clean slate and a fresh start—comes from God by way of Jesus Christ. I Corinthians 1:27 (The Message)

Have you limited your ability to reach others with an invitation to meet the divine because of prejudice of race, social, religious, intellect, or appearance? Do not let what you see with your eyes limit your possibilities.

God has made you for so much more than what you can now see and for that I am thankful. I am thankful that God sees more in me than what I see reflected in the mirror.