John 1:51

Friday, March 15, 2013

Jesus continues, “In fact,” he says, “The day will come when you will see the very heavens open up, and you will witness the angels of heaven going up and coming down on the Son of Man.” John 1:51 EFP

          
What’s the deal here?  What is Jesus talking about?  Am I missing something?  Well, first the obvious—this appears to be a clear reference to the dream Jacob had at a place called Bethel (Genesis 28:19), which means “House of God.”  As you recall, Jacob had run away from home after that “misunderstanding” with his older twin brother.  It was while sleeping on the ground, with a rock as a pillow that he dreamed this dream (Genesis 28:10-12) about angels climbing and descending from a ladder that towered into heaven.  He even saw God standing at the top of the ladder.  It was one of many turning points in Jacob’s life as God assured him that he was not alone.

The most obvious message Jesus is conveying to Nathanael is just as God promised to be with Jacob, he is now assuring this somewhat unsettled disciple that he will not abandon him.  There is a second message that ought not to be missed.  He is also making a startling declaration that he is the link between heaven and earth.  Jesus is saying, “I’m the ladder in that dream.”  That is an amazing claim at this early juncture of his ministry.  Nathanael may have heard from Phillip or Andrew or Cephas, what John the Baptist said about Jesus being “the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29)  This statement of Jesus only magnifies that previous statement of John.

But there is yet another perspective that makes me smile.  Of all the amazing things that Jesus will do over the course of the next three and a half years (remember this comes at the heels of the statement “You ain’t seen nothing yet!”), Jesus is saying the greatest thing he will ever do is bridge the gap between God and his wayward and homeless children—you and me.  Bridging the gap.  I figure we are the homeless and near-hopeless Jacob, on the run from our past mistakes and missteps.  In the story of our redemption, it’s God who takes the initiative to make contact with us—direct and designed for maximum impact.  That’s Jesus—the ladder…the Way, the Truth, and the Life.   Coool!