Good Things from Dark Places
VERSE
John 1:43-44 MSG - 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.)
45-46 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.”
INTRO
The arrival of Jesus was very confusing for a lot of people.
People at the time believed what the prophets have been telling them for years, that the Messiah would return as a savior for the people of Earth.
So they believed that he would arrive with an army, or that he would be a fearsome warrior like King David. They believed he would dethrone the Kings of the time and he would take his place in the palaces and temples.
But he wasn’t. Like, at all.
This man showed up on a donkey. People waved and the cities celebrated, but they didn’t know why. He looked and acted, kinda ordinary.
In fact, he didn’t even come from a great neighborhood.
Good things can come from dark and forgotten places.
Jesus wasn’t from a nice place, the city of Nazareth was a city with a crazy crime rate, there was racism, vandalism, and prostitution.
Why would the savior of the Earth, the king of kings, be from a place like that?
God’s showing us that it’s not about where you’ve been, it’s about where you’re going.
The disciples thought it was a joke when they heard he was from Nazareth.
But Jesus claimed the city, proudly.
He knew his past in a bad city, would not define his great future.
Leader, as you read this I hope you’re able to reflect on your journey. I hope that you’re able to see what God has done in your life before you share this with others.
Sometimes we need to be reminded that God sees more than just our mistakes, He sees past our defeats, our frustrations, our sin. He has a place for that, and it’s not in the future.
Jeremiah 29:11 MSG - I know what I’m doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.
TAKE-AWAYS
The past will give you perspective - Jesus was proud of where he came from, because it gave others the example that they can do it too.
Where you’re going is greater than where you’re from - the goal is to focus on becoming better. Is the issue sin? Give it to God, talk to someone to help be accountable. Is it family issues? Pray for them, cover your home with the presence of God and give it time.
God is for you and the future he wants to give you - Nothing can take away what God has assigned in your life. It’s time we think of life after this pandemic, what’s next for you and God?
PRAYER
Prayer requests
Prayers about next steps, what are we expecting God to do?