The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, he said to him, “Follow me.”

Philip, like Andrew and Peter, was from the town of Bethsaida. Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”

“Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Nathanael asked.

“Come and see,” said Philip.

John 1:43-46

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I have vivid memories of feeling inferior to my peers as a kid. My single mom did her best, but living in an apartment in a wealthy town can be rough. I never felt cool enough, rich enough, or popular enough. So many of my classmates had both parents at home…and money. They lived in a single-family house, owned the latest video games, wore the hippest brands, and took destination vacations. When we moved from California to Illinois, I thought things would change. They didn’t. In fact, I was made fun of in junior high for what I wore and being an outsider. (Looking back, it’s no wonder I’ve still got some Karate Kid main character energy!)

In my lifetime, I’ve lived on both sides of the proverbial tracks. I assumed one side was better than the other, but that was not true. What is the same is the temptation to believe that what I have or where I am from dictates who I am. That’s also untrue. While it’s not the main point of today’s passage, we do get a glimpse of what Jesus went through based on where He grew up. His interaction with Nathanael is worth noting as we wrestle with our own false and true identities.

Clearly, Philip was excited to be found by the promised Messiah in his seaside hometown of Bethsaida. But when he told his buddy, Nathanael, he wasn’t impressed. You see, Nathanael was from Cana, a town about five miles northeast of Nazareth (John 21:2). We don’t have details of a regional rivalry but there is a negative backstory and even discrimination for sure.

Born in an obscure Bethlehem manger and an unimpressive native of Nazareth, Jesus is always from the wrong side of someone’s tracks. As God come-to-earth, Christ is the ultimate outsider, more often misunderstood and rejected than not. It is beautiful that Philip pressed his friend to see Jesus’ true identity for himself, and ultimately, he did (John 1:47-51). It is encouraging to know that Immanuel is right here with us when we need to be reminded that where I’m from isn’t who I am.

Next Steps

Who is someone that you’ve pre-judged recently based on their background? When has this happened to you? Take a moment to ask God for forgiveness, or the power to forgive, as you seek to see yourself and others for who you are through Jesus’ eyes.