Out of Nazareth

"The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation"- Colossians 1:15 (NIV).

Jesus is God in the flesh. He chose to be called a Nazarene. Obviously, the town wasn't held in high regard, because Nathanael, when told about Jesus of Nazareth, asked how anything good could come out of that town. But Philip enticed him to "Come and see" (John 1:46). Colossians 1:16 says all things were created by Jesus, through Jesus, and for Jesus. Jesus knew Nathanael before Philip introduced them to each other, before Philip even told Nathanael about Jesus (John 1:47-48). Nathanael, one of the twelve, also known as Bartholomew, died a martyr's death. That first encounter with Jesus was life changing and it was all it took for Nathanael to declare that moment, "You are the Son of God" (John 1:49). That declaration was before Nathanael saw miracles, the crucifixion, or the ascension of our Lord. That revelation came on the first encounter. Something Good did come out of Nazareth.