Greater Things to Come

Day Four of Pascha and, if you’re like me, you have been working through your favorite foods. You may even be a bit bloated since fasting is forbidden this week. Fear not! There is plenty of time for fasting next week. This week we celebrate the promise of greater things from God.

At that time, John was standing with two of his disciples; and he looked at Jesus as he walked, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. Jesus turned, and saw them following, and said to them, “What do you seek?” And they said to him, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “where are you staying?” He said to them, “Come and see.” They came and saw where he was staying; and they stayed with him that day, for it was about the tenth hour. One of the two who heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He first found his brother Simon, and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means Christ). He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “So you are Simon the son of Jonah [John]? You shall be called Cephas” (which means Peter). The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. And he found Philip and said to him, “Follow me.” Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. 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.” Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!” 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.” Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” Jesus answered him, “Because I said to you, I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe? You shall see greater things than these.” And he said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.”

John 1.35-51

Of course, this story in the Gospel is much earlier in Christ’s ministry. It isn’t a resurrection story. It is, however, a promise about the Resurrection. Nathaniel believed in Christ ‘just’ because Christ knew his name. They all called their friends to check out ‘this Jesus guy’ for themselves.

It is how many of us feel this week. After witnessing Holy Week and the extreme love God has expressed for us, we believe. After hearing the triumphant news of His resurrection from the dead, even sometimes including fireworks, we believe. What we witnessed is just a start.

Throughout the Gospel and Church history, Christians have shared the life-changing news of Christ’s resurrection with their closest friends. But, what do you do if your friends don’t want anything to do with you, or your news about Jesus? Remember Nathaniel.

When Philip told Nathaniel he had found the Messiah, Nathaniel wasn’t in a ‘believing mood’ when he challenged Philip. “Can anything good come our of Nazareth?” Here’s the thing. Nathaniel was able to believe because He was waiting for God.

The fact that he knew the Scriptures (Old Testament) meant that he was waiting for God. So, when Philip said, “Come and see.” Nathaniel was open to the trip to see for himself. If your friends are waiting for God, they will come and see. If not, then you can never force them.

Now, what about the greater things to come? What can be better than Christ’s resurrection? How about OUR resurrection? The real joy of Pascha is that BECAUSE Christ is Risen, WE will be risen.

This is why the Apostles were willing to endure the torture from the unbelievers. They witnessed Christ alive after EVERYONE knew He had died. They knew Christ had promised that we would be with Him in paradise. Nothing is greater than being with God in paradise.

So, what do we do now? Pascha is ‘over’ so to speak. Next week we start fasting Wednesday and Friday again. (That’s right. Today is a fast free Wednesday) If we want to live the joy of greater things to come, then we must Live A New Life In Christ.

In my experience the only way to live that new life is to make changes in our daily lives. If you are feeling a bit of withdrawal from Holy Week, it is on YOU to find ways to maintain the joy of greater things to come.

Just because Holy Week is over doesn’t mean we stop attending Church. It doesn’t mean we stop praying. It doesn’t mean we stop reading the Scriptures daily. The only thing it means is, as I said the other day, we move on waiting for His return. Only now, we wait for greater things.