Come and See?

The last post brings up perhaps more questions than it answers.  An air of cynicism pervades given the joining of Gospel with econimic and political concerns and interest.

The situation is perhaps a bit like the following story:

43 The next day He purposed to go into Galilee, and He found Philip And Jesus said to him, “Follow Me.”

44 Now Philip was from Bethsaida, of the city of Andrew and Peter.

45 Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found Him of whom Moses in the Law and also the Prophets wrote–Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”

46 Nathanael said to him, “Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.”

47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming to Him, and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!”

48 Nathanael said to Him, “How do You know me?” Jesus answered and said to him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.”

49 Nathanael answered Him, “Rabbi, You are the Son of God; You are the King of Israel.”

50 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.”

51 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.”

Of course the story begs for allegoricalization. But let’s not be so quick to leave the nakedness of the story and its simplicity.

Can any good come today out of Nazareth?

“Come and see.”