LENT DEVOTIONAL
The Calling of the Disciples
FEBRUARY 22 - 28, 2026
JOHN 3:1-12, NKJV
THE GOSPEL MESSAGE:
The Calling of the Disciples
The first week of Lent is found in the context of what has been called: Jesus calls Philip and Nathaneal. It begins with the witness of John the Baptist to Jesus - John1:19-34. The implication and witness of the Baptism led two of his own disciples to follow Jesus, (vv.35-39). Jesus invites Philip into the circle of disciples, and Philip brings Nathaniel to Jesus. From thereon, Nathaniel's experience with Jesus brought him into a climatic intense of repentance, confession of faith while Jesus words brought them into their senses concerning what is in store for the disciples, (vv.47-51). At the beginning, Nathaniel resists, hesitate the invitation of Philip, “Come and see.”
It is a very interesting to see the respond of Nathaniel, the fact Nathaniel having somewhat difficulty with his thought that the Messiah would originate from such humble, ordinary surroundings as the village of Nazareth.
I believe Nathaniel reactions is with more of stubbornness, resistance and hesitation on his part due to the fact, his disbelief of how this "Son of God" came from humble surroundings. I believe Nathaniel expectation, that the Son of God would come from high places of positions, political prominence but instead a humble ordinary man.
In Nathaniel minds, he finds it overwhelming by his disbelief, that how God would present his only begotten Son to make his worldly appearance in the setting of a village like Nazareth from all places. This is something Nathaniel had to face for himself.
The calling of Jesus to His Disciples such as this: Jesus told His disciples, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me. -Matthew 16:24
And whoever does not carry his cross and follow Me cannot be My disciple. - Luke 14:27
Another interesting climatic scene: Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us.” Jesus replied, “Philip, I have been with you all this time, and still, you do not know Me?
Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? - John 14:8-9
All things have been entrusted to Me by My Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him. - Matthew 11:27
Furthermore, beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He explained to them what was written in all the Scriptures about Himself. - Luke 24:27
You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous, and blameless our conduct was among you who believed. The goal of our instruction is the love that comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and a sincere faith. Blessed is the man whose iniquity the LORD does not count against him, in whose spirit there is no deceit. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
Then, why do you doubt Me? The Son of God, standing here before you. Truly, truly, I tell you, whoever believes in Me will also do the works that I am doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. - John 14:12.
Did you know? “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born, I set you apart and appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” - Jeremiah 1:5
“Yes, Lord,” she answered, “I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world.” - John 11:27
We believe and know that You are the Holy One of God.” - John 6:69
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. - John 14:6
Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God… John 3:3; 5
- Amen.
Jesus Calls Philip and Nathanael
The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Follow me.”
Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter.
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.”
Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?”
Philip said to him, “Come and see.”
Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!”
Nathanael said to him, “How do you know me?”
Jesus answered him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.”
Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!”
Jesus answered him, “Because I said to you, ‘I saw you under the fig tree,’ do you believe? You will see greater things than these.”
And he said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”
- John 1:43-51
LENT DEVOTIONAL
Ash Wednesday
FEBRUARY 18 - 221, 2026
JOHN 3:1-12, NKJV
THE GOSPEL MESSAGE: Repent, Repentance
*The Biblical concept of repentance involves a change of heart. John goes to the heart of the meaning of repentance without using the word. Repentance involves a change of one's life. The drastic turnabout, a rebirth.
Rebirth is a new creation, a gift of God.
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he/she is a new creation; the old passes away, behold, the new has come. - 2 Corinthians 5:17
The New Birth
3 There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.”
3 Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born [a]again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
4 Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?”
5 Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
9 Nicodemus answered and said to Him, “How can these things be?”
10 Jesus answered and said to him, “Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things? 11 Most assuredly, I say to you, we speak what We know and testify what We have seen, and you do not receive Our witness. 12 If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things?
" Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”
Genesis 1:26
"Blessed are the meek,
For they shall inherit the earth."
Matthew 5:5
Then He lifted up His eyes toward His disciples, and said:
“Blessed are you poor,
For yours is the kingdom of God."
Luke 6:20
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