We read about that ladder in today’s Gospel from John 1:43-51 where the context is the drawing of Andrew and Peter, then Philip and Nathanael to the Lord. Philip's confidence in Jesus shared with Nathanael - known to us as St Bartholomew - paves the way for his encounter with the Lord.
47 When Jesus saw Nathanael coming he said of him, "There is an Israelite who deserves the name, incapable of deceit!" 48 “How do you know me?” said Nathanael. “Before Philip came to call you,” said Jesus " I saw you under the fig tree. 49 Nathanael answered, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!"
To understand this encounter we need to go back to Genesis 28 and the story of Jacob. Nathanael ‘incapable of deceit’ is contrasted with Jacob who deceived Isaac his blind father. The contrast continues in v51 of John Chapter 1 where the vision Jacob was granted of angels ascending to heaven on a ladder on one occasion is contrasted with the ultimate vision promised to Nathanael and all Christian believers.
What impresses Nathanael and brings him to faith is Our Lord's 'gift of knowledge'. Jesus refers to some incident in Nathanael's life 'under a fig tree' known to Nathanael alone. The sharing of this information establishes Jesus wisdom and trustworthiness so Nathanael is drawn to confess those great words: "Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!"
Our Lord deals with us as he did with Nathanael as individuals. Though we gather together at this eucharist we worship and do business with him also as individuals. The Lord wishes the objective love and truth that he is to become subjectively real to us and in us, challenging our fear of change, reluctance to accept suffering or let go of resentments. In this way the grand aims of Christianity get tighter hold on our flesh and blood and heart and mind. One of the most common sicknesses of the soul is disbelief in the love of God though that’s as real as 2+2 makes 4 or the irrefutable law of gravity: what goes up must come down!
50 Jesus replied, "You believe that just because I said: I saw you under the fig tree. You will see greater things than that." 51 And then he added, "I tell you most solemnly, you will see heaven laid open, and, above the Son of Man, the angels of God ascending and descending" .
These words echo the Pauline promise in 2 Corinthians 3:18 'And all of us, with unveiled faces, seeing the glory of the Lord as though reflected in a mirror, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord, the Spirit'.
Coming back to the parallel with Jacob's ladder in Genesis that vision came after the experience of Jacob wrestling with an angel. So it is with us, our struggles with God in our individual circumstances are heartened by glimpses of where those struggles will lead.
'No ladder now', writes Archbishop William Temple in his commentary on this verse, contrasting it with Genesis 28. 'No ladder now; the Messiah Himself is the meeting point of human need and divine blessing or judgement.'
'Christian Healing is Jesus Christ meeting us at our point of need' (Morris Maddocks). Nathanael is promised no ladder to heaven but One who himself 'opens wide the gate of heaven to man below'. Jesus is the Mediator. He is the One who draws heaven to earth and human beings to God.
Our Lord is the meeting point of human need and divine blessing. For some of us, some of the time, that meeting will bring forgiveness from sin or physical healing from sickness or breaking an emotional bondage or an opening up of the eye of faith. Sometimes such a meeting comes through meeting a priest one to one for counsel or confession and we priests are here for that above all things.
At this eucharist we meet Jesus Christ in word and sacrament. How about our points of need? Are we bringing them to him expecting healing and transformation? If we are not sure of our needs are we asking to be shown them? Blest are those who know their need of God!
I tell you most solemnly, you will see heaven laid open, and, above the Son of Man, the angels of God ascending and descending" .
Intercessions
Blest are those who know their need of God! We seek that blessing, Lord, at this eucharist. Show us our exact needs as we begin this New Year and help us to put more faith in you to supply them by your grace. Lord hear us
‘You will see heaven laid open, and, above the Son of Man, the angels of God ascending and descending’. We pray, Lord, for Christian leaders that they better help your people look to heaven to receive the healing and transformation they need in preparation for full union with you. Lord hear us
We thank you, Lord, for all who seek and all who provide the ministries of confession, healing and spiritual direction. May these ministries be more available in the wake of the COVID epidemic Bless each and everyone who enters this Church regularly or occasionally. Lord hear us
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