ODJ: complete integrity

Eat, Our Daily Journey | June 20, 2010 12:02 am

ODJ_200610

June 20, 2010 


Now here is a genuine son of Israel—a man of complete integrity (v.47). 

READ: John 1:43-50 

If Jesus were to identify one thing He appreciates 
 about you, what would it be? Nathanael, whom some 
 scholars say was also known as Bartholomew, heard the following words from Jesus, “Now here is a genuine son of Israel—a man of complete integrity” (John 1:47).


What is a “genuine son of Israel”? Romans 2:29 states, “A true Jew is one whose heart is right with God. . . . It is a change of heart produced by God’s Spirit. And a person with a changed heart seeks praise from God, not from people.” This type of person possesses “complete integrity”—consistent in both public and private life. 
In short, Jesus gave Nathanael a stunning compliment. It’s little wonder then that Nathanael—who had never met the Lord—was filled with amazement. He asked, “How do you know about me?” (John 1:48). 


Something in Jesus’ answer convinced Nathanael that He was the Son of God. For He couldn’t have known where Nathanael had been unless He was omniscient (all-knowing). 


Jesus knew that Nathanael had been under a fig tree. Some scholars think that he had been studying the Scriptures there.


But, aside from today’s Bible passage, little is known about this “genuine son of Israel.” Matthew, Mark, and Luke mention him only once—when they list all 12 apostles. But early church records suggest that after Jesus’ death and resurrection, Nathanael ministered in Persia and India and took the gospel as far as Armenia. 


As an example for all believers in Jesus, Nathanael apparently lived out his faith with passion and confidence. He simply followed Jesus with “complete integrity” as he sought to bring more sons and daughters of God into the kingdom. Could the same be said of us? —Poh Fang Chia

NEXT
How does the essence of your life line up with Nathanael’s? What do you need to do to establish a life of “complete integrity”?  
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