“As Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him, he said, ‘Here is truly an Israelite. There is nothing false in him.’"
Nathanael asked, "How do you know me?"
Jesus answered, "I saw you when you were under the fig tree, before Philip told you about me."
Then Nathanael said to Jesus, "Teacher, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel."
Jesus said to Nathanael, "Do you believe simply because I told you I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than that." And Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, you will all see heaven open and 'angels of God going up and coming down’ on the Son of Man." (John 1: 47 – 51 New Century)
“Spirituality:” what is it to you?
In a day when vampires top the charts of books to read or movies to see and Harry Potter’s wizardry captures the imaginations of millions it has become just about anything a person wants it to be.
It’s always been that way.
Nathanael was amazed by Jesus’ clairvoyance and ecstatically declared Him to be Divine, and the King Israel had been hoping and praying for since the days of David. Jesus response is telling. “You think that’s something? You’re about to see far more impressive phenomena! With me you will see Heaven open. You will see angels ascending and descending around the Son of Man.”
The phenomenal is about to be displaced by the Celestial! A man will live a “Heaven bathed life.” For the first time since Adam man and God will work together up close and personal for the entire duration of a human life.
With only one exception Jesus called Himself the “Son of Man.” As He did so He confirmed that He is the “Hope” of humanity; the “Anointed;” “THE ONE!” Read His story as told by the New Testament Biographers and you will see the Divine living in flesh. One drama after another; wisdom beyond the human; commanding storms and schools of fish; paying taxes in paranormal fashion; raising the dead; sending shock waves through the nether world by His command of the demonic; this Man is the One we’ve been waiting for!
Something greater than all of this is happening though. It involves you the Christ-follower. Jesus preached that His coming inaugurates a true spirituality. Luke explains this in his book about Jesus. Responding to His detractors Jesus declares, “if it’s God’s finger I’m pointing that sends the demons on their way, then God’s Kingdom is here for sure.” (Luke 11 THE MESSAGE) “The Kingdom of God does not come visibly – with signs to be observed – … because the Kingdom of God is within you.” The “rule of God is now accessible to all.” (Mark 1:15) The Son of Man has inaugurated a collaboration between God and humanity that will last forever. Heaven has been opened. Followers of Jesus “will receive power when the Spirit envelopes and fills” them. (Acts 1: 8) “Whoever believes in me will do the same things that I do,” Jesus said. In fact, “Those who believe will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.” (See John 14:12.) From His restored place on the Throne of Heaven He gave the Spirit of God to His Followers and His union with Heaven became theirs.
True Spirituality is you, a human person, filled with God’s Spirit, in partnership with Heaven, now living your ordinary, day-by-day life extraordinarily, influentially.
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