Outline/Summary
Jesus demonstrates the power of the Son of Man
The day after Andrew and Peter decided to become disciples, Jesus left for Galilee. Finding Philip, he said to him, “Follow me.”
Like Andrew and Peter, Philip was from Bethsaida. Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”
“Nazareth! Can anything good come from there!” Nathanael asked.
“Come and see,” said Philip.
When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said, “Truly here is an Israelite in whom there is no deceit.”
“How do you know me?” Nathanael asked.
Jesus answered, “I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you.”
Nathanael declared, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God and the king of Israel.”
Jesus said, “You believed because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You will see even greater things than that. Very truly I tell you, you will see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”
What the story means to us today
Believing without seeing
Nathanael witnessed Jesus’ physical presence and actions firsthand. Today, we must base our beliefs on faith. We are not privileged to witness Jesus’ miracles directly. As Hebrews 11:1 tells us, “Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” Faith requires us to believe and agree that God is the truth, and we must act on those truths in our lives.
Some find faith difficult, and that’s okay. It’s natural for humans to distrust what they cannot see with their own eyes. So, how can you maintain and nurture “faith”?
Faith goes beyond just believing in God (even demons believe in God). True faith is trusting in Jesus and believing his message about God’s plan for mankind. To build and keep faith strong, you must immerse yourself in Scripture, study the Bible, and read it often.
Continuous prayer also helps sustain faith. Prayer is how we connect and converse with God daily, and keeping Him close at all times will naturally strengthen our faith.
You can strengthen your faith by intentionally recalling what God has done for you. Attribute the good things that happen to you to God (“Thank you, God”) with genuine gratitude. Persevere through challenges, as they will come, but things will get better, and when they do, remember to thank God.
Deeper thoughts and additional considerations
Nathanael and Bartholomew
This text does not mention “Bartholomew”, but Nathanael is often identified as Bartholomew, although John never includes “Bartholomew” in his writings.
In John, Nathanael is called after Philip. The other books say a man named Bartholomew was called after Philip. Why do we think Nathanael is the Bartholomew mentioned in the other books? The Aramaic “Bartolmai” means “son of Tolmai,” which is a surname. His first name was likely Nathanael.
The “Son of Man”
In John’s account, Jesus refers to himself as the “Son of Man.” This phrase is frequently used in the Gospel of John and originates from the Old Testament, Daniel 7:13 – 14: “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven.”
Can anything good come from Nazareth?
When Philip tells Nathanael that he has found the true Messiah and that he is from Nazareth, Nathanael responds, “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Is his response sarcastic? Probably so.
In Jesus’ day, Nazareth was a tiny village in the region of Galilee with about 500 people. It was so small that until recently, many people questioned its existence (since then, artifacts have been discovered at the location, and a directory inscription was found containing the name of Nazareth in Hebrew). It was, in short, an insignificant town with no prominence at all.
The Jewish leaders likely foretold the Messiah coming from a town of importance, like Bethlehem. The prophet Micah, writing around 700 BC, mentioned Bethlehem specifically,
“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are little among the thousand of Judah, yet out of you shall come forth to Me the One to be ruler in Israel.”
This prophecy was well known among Jewish religious leaders during Jesus’ time.
Even common people shared this expectation, as evidenced in John 7:42, where some said,
“Has not the Scripture said that the Christ comes from the seed of David and the town of Bethlehem, where David was?”
The confusion came from Jesus being called a Nazarite. However, he fulfilled Micah’s prophecy by being born in Bethlehem. He was known as Jesus of Nazareth because that was his family’s hometown and where he was raised.
Despite the backstory, Philip’s response to Nathanel (who would later find Jesus’ true origin was heaven) was simple. “Come and see.”
“I saw you while you were under the fig tree”
When Jesus first meets Nathanael, he says, “Here is a true Israelite in whom there is no deceit.” In response, Nathanael asks, “How do you know anything about me?” Jesus answers, “I saw you while you were under the fig tree, before Philip called you.”
Why did this astound Nathanael and convince him that Jesus is indeed the Messiah? It is likely that Jesus’ response indicated he had “seen” Nathanael even though he was miles away. This supernatural insight into his past stunned Nathanael. His astonishment may have been magnified by the significance of the “fig tree” too. Rabbis often taught and studied under fig trees. The tree came to represent a symbol of inner peace. Jesus may not only “seen” Nathanael’s activities, but knew and understood the precise feelings he was having at the time.
Regardless of the explanation, Jesus’ foresight amazed Nathanael to the point that he realized Jesus must be the “Son of Man” mentioned in the Old Testament.
Angels ascending and descending on the Son of Man
Jesus tells Nathanael that he will see even greater things than Jesus’ remote sighting of Nathanael under the fig tree. He tells him he will see “heaven open and the angels of God ascending and descending on him.” This echoes Genesis 28:12, where Jacob dreams of a stairway (or ladder) leading to heaven with angels ascending and descending on it. Jesus is telling Nathanael that he will see things as magnificent as the stairway to heaven that Jacob saw in his dream. He will witness God’s inner being directly linked to Jesus, leaving no doubt that He is the Son of God.
Bible text
NIV
43 The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, he said to him, “Follow me.”
44 Philip, like Andrew and Peter, was from the town of Bethsaida. 45 Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”
46 “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Nathanael asked.
“Come and see,” said Philip.
47 When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him, “Here truly is an Israelite in whom there is no deceit.”
48 “How do you know me?” Nathanael asked.
Jesus answered, “I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you.”
49 Then Nathanael declared, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the king of Israel.”
50 Jesus said, “You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You will see greater things than that.” 51 He then added, “Very truly I tell you, you will see ‘heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on’ the Son of Man.”
WEB
43 On the next day, he was determined to go out into Galilee, and he found Philip. Jesus 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 of whom Moses in the law and also the prophets, wrote: Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”
46 Nathanael said to him, “Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?”
Philip said to him, “Come and see.”
47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and said about him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!”
48 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.”
49 Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are King of Israel!”
50 Jesus answered him, “Because I told you, ‘I saw you underneath the fig tree,’ do you believe? You will see greater things than these!” 51 He said to him, “Most certainly, I tell you all, hereafter you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”
NET Bible
1:43 On the next day Jesus wanted to set out for Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Follow me.” 1:44 (Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the town of Andrew and Peter.) 1:45 Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the law, and the prophets also wrote about—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” 1:46 Nathanael replied, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip replied, “Come and see.”
1:47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and exclaimed, “Look, a true Israelite in whom there is no deceit!” 1:48 Nathanael asked him, “How do you know me?” Jesus replied, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” 1:49 Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the king of Israel!” 1:50 Jesus said to him, “Because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe? You will see greater things than these.” 1:51 He continued,5 “I tell all of you the solemn truth—you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”
NKJV
43 The following day Jesus wanted to go to Galilee, and 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 of whom Moses in the law, and also the prophets, wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”
46 And Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?”
Philip said to him, “Come and see.”
47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward Him, and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!”
48 Nathanael said to Him, “How do You know me?”
Jesus answered and said to him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.”
49 Nathanael answered and said to Him, “Rabbi, You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!”
50 Jesus answered and said to him, “Because I said to you, ‘I saw you under the fig tree,’ do you believe? You will see greater things than these.” 51 And He said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, hereafter you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.”
The Message
43–44 The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. When he got there, he ran across Philip and said, “Come, follow me.” (Philip’s hometown was Bethsaida, the same as Andrew and Peter.)
45–46 Philip went and found Nathanael and told him, “We’ve found the One Moses wrote of in the Law, the One preached by the prophets. It’s Jesus, Joseph’s son, the one from Nazareth!” Nathanael said, “Nazareth? You’ve got to be kidding.”
But Philip said, “Come, see for yourself.”
47 When Jesus saw him coming he said, “There’s a real Israelite, not a false bone in his body.”
48 Nathanael said, “Where did you get that idea? You don’t know me.”
Jesus answered, “One day, long before Philip called you here, I saw you under the fig tree.”
49 Nathanael exclaimed, “Rabbi! You are the Son of God, the King of Israel!”
50–51 Jesus said, “You’ve become a believer simply because I say I saw you one day sitting under the fig tree? You haven’t seen anything yet! Before this is over you’re going to see heaven open and God’s angels descending to the Son of Man and ascending again.”
KJV
43 The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith unto him, Follow me. 44 Now Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. 45 Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph. 46 And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see. 47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile! 48 Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee. 49 Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel. 50 Jesus answered and said unto him, Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, believest thou? thou shalt see greater things than these. 51 And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.
Image Credits:
• Stained glass panel in the transept of St. John's Anglican Church, Ashfield, New South Wales (NSW). This scene depicts Nathanael under a fig tree. via Wikimedia Commons by Stained glass: Lyon and Cottier, photo: Toby Hudson with usage type - Creative Commons License
Featured Image Credit:
• Stained glass panel in the transept of St. John's Anglican Church, Ashfield, New South Wales (NSW). This scene depicts Nathanael under a fig tree. via Wikimedia Commons by Stained glass: Lyon and Cottier, photo: Toby Hudson with usage type - Creative Commons License