John 1:43 The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Follow me.” 44 Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. 45 Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found him about whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus son of Joseph from Nazareth.” 46 Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” 47 When Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him, he said of him, “Here is truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit!”

This is a funny exchange between Nathanael and Jesus. Apparently Nathanael didn’t think much of Nazareth, or the people from Nazareth. “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” I can only imagine how embarrassed he must have been when he later realized that Jesus was in fact the promised Messiah. I can also imagine Jesus giving him a hard time about this. “You can’t expect much from me Nathanael because, well, I’m from Nazareth and all.” (with a smile and a wink from Jesus).

Then in v.47 Jesus says of Nathanael “Here is truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit!” In other words, here’s a guy who says what he thinks. There’s no filter with this guy. I’m guessing there were many times when he said things he wished he could take back. I have a bit of Nathanael in me too. I’m not quite as raw as I once was, but my verbal filters can fail me from time to time. I say things I wish I could take back.

Lord teach us to guard our mouths, to think – and then talk. Amen.