The Obscure Years IV

The early part of John's gospel tells us of the calling of some of the disciples.  After Philip finds Jesus, he goes and finds his friend, Nathaniel who is described as sitting under a fig tree, and tells him about "...Jesus son of Joseph from Nazareth."  (John 1:45)  Nathaniel is not impressed and with a great deal of sarcasm asks his friend, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?"  (John 1:46)  Nathaniel, of course, knows the answer to his question.  Nothing good could possibly come from a hole in the road like Nazareth.     

When I read about Nathaniel, I am always reminded that my faith journey and my calling to ministry had its origin a small church in a very small town.  Alamo is hardly much more than a dot on the map.  What I have discovered over the years is that there were many of my ministerial peers who were also called from the churches that were in little towns across south Georgia.  Logic would have said that the small town churches would not be the places where ministry started for so many, but logic does not always speak of the ways of the Spirit.   

Nazareth was not the kind of place which would provide significant spiritual leaders.  Its people were common folks who worked from one day to the next without any real thought of accumulation.  Poor, hardworking, and uneducated described those who lived in Nazareth.  Nothing good could be expected from such a place.  What Nathaniel would come to learn was that he was wrong.  And not only was he wrong, but the very Son of God who was about to change his life came from that easy to forget town of Nazareth.