We've looked at this story and seen Philip's reaction to Jesus, Nathanael's reaction to Philip, and now we'll look at Nathanael's reaction to Jesus in this story in John 1:43-51.
One day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip there and said to him, "Follow me." 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: "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?"
Philip: "Come and see."
Jesus saw Nathanael coming and said to him, "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!"
Nathanael: "How do you know me?"
Jesus: "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you."
Nathanael: "Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!"
Jesus: "Because I said to you, I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe? You will see greater things than these. Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man."
- As Jesus saw Nathanael coming, He called out, "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!" These men had never met before so how did Jesus even know this about Nathanael? It goes to show His supernatural knowledge of people. Jesus knew Nathanael by his outward appearance and by his heart, and God still knows us today in these same ways. We may not be standing in the physical presence of Jesus on the road, but He still knows us.
- Jesus wastes no time in showing Nathanael who He is. And we don't know what happened to Nathanael under the fig tree, but apparently it was something significant. We can see Nathanael's view of Jesus of Nazareth start to change right in front of our eyes. He goes from questioning if He can even be good, to praising Him as the Son of God and King of Israel. When we personally see Jesus Christ, we won't be able but to respond in that same way, simply consumed by worship and in awe of who He is. A true encounter with the Lord will change us. Are you different today than before you knew the Lord?
- It's amazing how quickly this encounter with Jesus changed Nathanael, almost so amazing that Jesus even seemed a little surprised. He responded to Nathanael's proclamation of Him being King by asking if he believed because of Jesus saying he saw him under the fig tree. Jesus goes on to tell Nathanael how many more great things he would see as he followed Jesus. But these great things aren't limited to Nathanael and Jesus, we still see great, transcendent things today. "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring your remembrance all that I have said to you." - John 14:26
One day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip there and said to him, "Follow me." 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: "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?"
Philip: "Come and see."
Jesus saw Nathanael coming and said to him, "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!"
Nathanael: "How do you know me?"
Jesus: "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you."
Nathanael: "Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!"
Jesus: "Because I said to you, I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe? You will see greater things than these. Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man."
- As Jesus saw Nathanael coming, He called out, "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!" These men had never met before so how did Jesus even know this about Nathanael? It goes to show His supernatural knowledge of people. Jesus knew Nathanael by his outward appearance and by his heart, and God still knows us today in these same ways. We may not be standing in the physical presence of Jesus on the road, but He still knows us.
- Jesus wastes no time in showing Nathanael who He is. And we don't know what happened to Nathanael under the fig tree, but apparently it was something significant. We can see Nathanael's view of Jesus of Nazareth start to change right in front of our eyes. He goes from questioning if He can even be good, to praising Him as the Son of God and King of Israel. When we personally see Jesus Christ, we won't be able but to respond in that same way, simply consumed by worship and in awe of who He is. A true encounter with the Lord will change us. Are you different today than before you knew the Lord?
- It's amazing how quickly this encounter with Jesus changed Nathanael, almost so amazing that Jesus even seemed a little surprised. He responded to Nathanael's proclamation of Him being King by asking if he believed because of Jesus saying he saw him under the fig tree. Jesus goes on to tell Nathanael how many more great things he would see as he followed Jesus. But these great things aren't limited to Nathanael and Jesus, we still see great, transcendent things today. "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring your remembrance all that I have said to you." - John 14:26
Comments
Post a Comment