January 29, 2023
A Future of Beauty
“Jesus answered and said to him, “Because I said to you that I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe? You will see greater things than these.” And He said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see the heavens opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”
John 1:50-51 (NASB)
Several years back there were Christian books published in which some became movies. It became a parading of the “heavenly tourism” realm. These books were about people who either died or had near-death experiences. These witnesses claimed to have gone to heaven. After a short time in circulation, these books were questioned and even pulled off sales shelves based upon serious theological problems. They stemmed from the witnesses and their writers’ non-biblical statements. Because of this, Life Way Book Stores, Tyndale House Publishers, and others pulled books out of circulation. In fact, some of these writers still do not receive royalties for their sales to this date. So, more questions arose in the Christian community again as to what happens in heaven.
In this passage, there is one thing that is clear, Jesus spoke to Nathanael directly. He didn’t have a vision. He is the Word of God. We have His Words as well today. When he told Nathanael, “You will see greater things than these” Jesus spoke of a time when Nathanael would witness greater things than simply Jesus’ observing him in the past under a fig tree. A previous event which Nathanael missed took place the day of Jesus baptism. Matthew 3:16 says: “and behold, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God.” This is a reference to the open heaven. It is a symbol of free intercourse between God and man. Later on, we see another picture of this in Stephen’s death recorded in Acts 7:56: “and he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened up and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” Christ had now become the bond between heaven and earth, between God and man. Nathanael and the disciples would see all of this coming soon. Jesus said, “You will see greater things than these.”
These experiences were ones that only God could produce. If you note one thing though, God is the only One who could come back from heaven to earth, and earth to heaven. He is that bridge for you and me. I know this; I don’t want to come back to a sin filled world if I am in glorious heaven. I want to be in the place where Jesus and my loved ones are already. I know one day, I too “will see greater things than these.” I have that availability today still.
Each one of us who know Christ as Savior have seen “greater things than these.” We have watched our lives, our loved ones, the lives of others in faith, and our circumstances being led by “things greater than these.” It’s not an average life. A Christian is an extra-ordinary life. It is one that is led by One who wants to show us what the life of God looks like each day. It exists in, “greater things than these.” Explore in amazement each day as God is sharing with you “greater things than these.” You have now joined a life that is no longer “soulish.” It is a life that is “spiritual.” That spiritual life that resides within you is longing to show you “greater things than these.”