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Daily Readings:
Saints/Martyrs/Feasts/Fasts to be observed/commemmorated/celebrated: Translation of the relics of our Father among the Saints, Nicephoros, Archbishop of Constantinople (847)
Scriptural Readings:
Saint John 1:43-51 (3/13-3/26) The Sunday of Orthodoxy: First Sunday of Great Lent
Seeing and Knowing: Saint John 1:43-51, especially vs. 46: “...Philip said to him, ‘Come and see.’” Philip invited Nathanael, a neighbor from his home town, to “come and see” Jesus. This invitation “to see” is one of nine occasions when this verb appears in the present passage. It is most instructive to note how the verb “see” changes its meaning as the passage develops.
At first, “see” refers to the sight of the physical eye, but later “seeing” means “knowing.” The change begins with Philip’s offer to Nathanael. The offer might be paraphrased thus: “Come, observe, learn, and get to ‘know’ this Man for yourself.” As the account progresses, “seeing” steadily acquires the sense of “knowing.” Furthermore, do not miss the point that the “knowing” implied in the verb “to see” becomes increasingly complex and profound. The Evangelist John shows that to “see” Jesus is to cross the threshold into a saving knowledge, into a personal meeting that exceeds all mundane acquisition of information.
After Philip’s invitation, the next uses of the verb “to see” occur in verse 47, where it appears twice. The first time is in a statement of fact, “Jesus ‘saw’ Nathanael coming toward Him.” The second use of the verb “to see” is translated as “behold,” in this instance, a verbal command as in “Look!”. In the command, the Lord discloses that He “knew” clairvoyantly something of the character of Nathanael. With a capacity to “see” men’s hearts, the Lord knew Nathaniel was guileless, free of deceit. Nathanael did not miss the point in this “Behold.” He was impressed with the knowledge of this Man who “saw” into his soul. He asked, “How do You know me?” (vs. 48). Beloved, never forget that the Lord sees clearly into all hearts and minds. He sees and knows our deepest values. Thus, the Lord Jesus selected men as potential Apostles whom He ‘saw’. In Church history, the capacity for sight into men’s inner thoughts and values was given to many of the Saints by the Holy Spirit - to those worthy of such “sight.”
Next, Jesus tells Nathanael, “I saw you when you were under the fig tree.” This statement of “seeing and knowing” is a clear example of what the Holy Fathers call “diorasis,” the ability to see into obscure circumstances, to enter the psychic world of others, to see or know facts or happenings not visible to others. Example: Once a peasant came to Saint Seraphim of Sarov in despair because his horse had been stolen: “I do not know how I shall feed my family.” The Saint told him, “Wrap yourself in silence and hasten to the village of (he named it). When you come to it, turn off the road to the right and pass along the back-yards of four houses. There you will see a small wicket-gate. Go in, untie your horse from the log and lead it out without a word.” And it happened exactly in that manner. Such “sight as knowledge” clearly is a gift of the Holy Spirit, but is limited to those who are purified through deep ascesis, spiritual exercise.
The final kind of “sight as knowledge” is mentioned by the Lord in His last statement in today’s passage: “you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man” (vs. 51). Here the Lord Jesus refers to pure revelation. God discloses Himself to those who trust in Him, who commit their lives to Him, and they see.
At one level, the Lord is referring to the ability to discern that He is the Ladder or the Way from this life to the heavenly realm. The Lord reveals this truth to the hearts of all the faithful so that without hesitation or restraint each will venture to follow Him as God and King in daily life and decisions. Of course, on another level also, there shall be a time, in the age to come, when the faithful shall see Him, and then, not “...in a mirror, dimly...” (1 Cor. 13:12).
Illumine us, O Lord, by the light of understanding and piety, by the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, that we may behold Thee, O King of all, in Thy royal beauty.
Hebrews 11:24-26, 32-12:2
Hebrews 11:24-26; Hebrews 11:32-12:2 (King James Version)
King James Version (KJV)
Hebrews 11:24-26
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24By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter;
25Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;
26Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.
King James Version (KJV)
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Hebrews 11:32-12:2
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32And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets:
33Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions.
34Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.
35Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:
36And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:
37They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;
38(Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.
39And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:
40God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.
Hebrews 12
1Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
2Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
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The Synaxarion:
March 13
Translation of the relics of our Father among the Saints,
Nicephoros, Archbishop of Constantinople (847)
Saint Nicephoros is commemorated on June 2. The translation of his relics to the Church of the Holy Apostles in Constantinople took place on March 13, 847, under Patriarch Saint Methodius, the pious Empress Theodora, and Emperor Michael III.
Fifth Class Feast.
March 14
Daily Readings:
Saints/Martyrs/Feasts/Fasts to be observed/commemmorated/celebrated: Translation of the relics of our Father among the Saints, Nicephoros, Archbishop of Constantinople (847)
Scriptural Readings:
Saint John 1:43-51 (3/13-3/26) The Sunday of Orthodoxy: First Sunday of Great Lent
Seeing and Knowing: Saint John 1:43-51, especially vs. 46: “...Philip said to him, ‘Come and see.’” Philip invited Nathanael, a neighbor from his home town, to “come and see” Jesus. This invitation “to see” is one of nine occasions when this verb appears in the present passage. It is most instructive to note how the verb “see” changes its meaning as the passage develops.
At first, “see” refers to the sight of the physical eye, but later “seeing” means “knowing.” The change begins with Philip’s offer to Nathanael. The offer might be paraphrased thus: “Come, observe, learn, and get to ‘know’ this Man for yourself.” As the account progresses, “seeing” steadily acquires the sense of “knowing.” Furthermore, do not miss the point that the “knowing” implied in the verb “to see” becomes increasingly complex and profound. The Evangelist John shows that to “see” Jesus is to cross the threshold into a saving knowledge, into a personal meeting that exceeds all mundane acquisition of information.
After Philip’s invitation, the next uses of the verb “to see” occur in verse 47, where it appears twice. The first time is in a statement of fact, “Jesus ‘saw’ Nathanael coming toward Him.” The second use of the verb “to see” is translated as “behold,” in this instance, a verbal command as in “Look!”. In the command, the Lord discloses that He “knew” clairvoyantly something of the character of Nathanael. With a capacity to “see” men’s hearts, the Lord knew Nathaniel was guileless, free of deceit. Nathanael did not miss the point in this “Behold.” He was impressed with the knowledge of this Man who “saw” into his soul. He asked, “How do You know me?” (vs. 48). Beloved, never forget that the Lord sees clearly into all hearts and minds. He sees and knows our deepest values. Thus, the Lord Jesus selected men as potential Apostles whom He ‘saw’. In Church history, the capacity for sight into men’s inner thoughts and values was given to many of the Saints by the Holy Spirit - to those worthy of such “sight.”
Next, Jesus tells Nathanael, “I saw you when you were under the fig tree.” This statement of “seeing and knowing” is a clear example of what the Holy Fathers call “diorasis,” the ability to see into obscure circumstances, to enter the psychic world of others, to see or know facts or happenings not visible to others. Example: Once a peasant came to Saint Seraphim of Sarov in despair because his horse had been stolen: “I do not know how I shall feed my family.” The Saint told him, “Wrap yourself in silence and hasten to the village of (he named it). When you come to it, turn off the road to the right and pass along the back-yards of four houses. There you will see a small wicket-gate. Go in, untie your horse from the log and lead it out without a word.” And it happened exactly in that manner. Such “sight as knowledge” clearly is a gift of the Holy Spirit, but is limited to those who are purified through deep ascesis, spiritual exercise.
The final kind of “sight as knowledge” is mentioned by the Lord in His last statement in today’s passage: “you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man” (vs. 51). Here the Lord Jesus refers to pure revelation. God discloses Himself to those who trust in Him, who commit their lives to Him, and they see.
At one level, the Lord is referring to the ability to discern that He is the Ladder or the Way from this life to the heavenly realm. The Lord reveals this truth to the hearts of all the faithful so that without hesitation or restraint each will venture to follow Him as God and King in daily life and decisions. Of course, on another level also, there shall be a time, in the age to come, when the faithful shall see Him, and then, not “...in a mirror, dimly...” (1 Cor. 13:12).
Illumine us, O Lord, by the light of understanding and piety, by the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, that we may behold Thee, O King of all, in Thy royal beauty.
Hebrews 11:24-26, 32-12:2
Hebrews 11:24-26; Hebrews 11:32-12:2 (King James Version)
King James Version (KJV)
Hebrews 11:24-26
Listen to this passage
View commentary related to this passage
24By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter;
25Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;
26Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.
King James Version (KJV)
Public Domain
Hebrews 11:32-12:2
Listen to this passage
View commentary related to this passage
32And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets:
33Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions.
34Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.
35Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:
36And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:
37They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;
38(Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.
39And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:
40God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.
Hebrews 12
1Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
2Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
King James Version (KJV)
Public Domain
Passage Update
Link
Embed
Verse Numbers Footnotes
Cross-References Headings
show hide embed options
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Help and Contact
FAQs/Tutorials
Contact us/Feedback
Why We Advertise
Use Bible Gateway On Your Site
Advertise with Us
Go to top of page
Links
Mobile Bible Gateway
Gospel.com
Reverend Fun
Zondervan.com
The City by Zondervan
About and Legal
Statement of Faith
About Bible Gateway
Site map
Privacy policy
Site: Terms of use
Widget: Terms of use
Sponsors
Christian Persecution
Church Fundraising
Book Self Publishing
Gospel for Asia
The Synaxarion:
March 13
Translation of the relics of our Father among the Saints,
Nicephoros, Archbishop of Constantinople (847)
Saint Nicephoros is commemorated on June 2. The translation of his relics to the Church of the Holy Apostles in Constantinople took place on March 13, 847, under Patriarch Saint Methodius, the pious Empress Theodora, and Emperor Michael III.
Fifth Class Feast.
March 14
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