In this passage we come to meet two interesting people:Philip and Nathanael. Philip who was asked by Jesus to follow him finds Nathanael and asks him to come and meet Jesus.
Philip is from the town of Bethsaida, the town of Andrew and Peter.Philip has already become a missionary for Jesus, trying to rope in Nathanael for the new ministry.
Nathanael is not like other disciples.Others just accepted the invitation and readily joined Jesus.Nathanael, on the other hand, in spite of being very open about his relationsip with God, has got his own misgivings. He is convinced that Nazareth is not in a position to produce any great prophet and hence asks whether any good can come from Nazareth. It is then that he gets a chance to meet Jesus. As Jesus mentions that he is a true Israelite in whose heart , there is no guile, Nathanael becomes more confused and asks Jesus pointblank how he knows him.Jesus then mentions that he saw him while he was under the fig tree even before Philip had invited him.Maybe it was at this time when he was resting under the fig tree that he migh have been thinking about the Savior and felt a strong desire in is heart to be with the Savior if he were to come.When he heard that Jesus had read those thoughts he was convinced that this was Christ.
Jesus tells him that he would see greater things in his life, more miraculous and mind-boggling--- that Christ would be revealed as the Son of God.
Lord, my God, help me to see you in all your splendor.Help me to to beleive in you .Increase my attachent to you.
Nahanael literally means the gift of God.Nathanael is presumed to be Bartholomew of the first three Gospels.Only John mentions Nathanael while the other evangelists mention only Bartholomew.
We observe the following interesting points n this episode:
Nathanael owed his introduction to Jesus to a friend.Have you introduced others to Him?
Nathanel was prepared to listen to conversations about Christ.Have you found him, and are you telling others the story?
Nathanael acepted the sure test of truth and the sure cure of prejudice."Come and see, "Taste and See."
Nathanael's hopes were realized in an unexpted way.Often joy and rest come to us from the least expected quarters
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