Graced With a Word from The Lord

by Jonathon Wright

“Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward Him, and said of him, Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit! 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. Nathanael answered and said to Him, ‘Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!’ 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. 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.” (John 1:47-51, NKJV)

In John 1:43-46, Philip found Nathanael and told him about Jesus the Son of Joseph from Nazareth. This is the one that Moses and the prophets have foretold. Nathanael very honestly and bluntly replied, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip simply said, “COME AND SEE.” Those words would prove to be the beginnings of a great prophetic word. Despite his reluctant skepticism, Nathanael went to see Jesus.

The very moment Jesus saw Nathanael, He gave him the ultimate compliment for a Jew. Here is an honest and true Israelite. Nathanael was very surprised by this comment, so he asked how do you know me? Jesus makes another shocking statement. He told Nathanael that He had seen him under the fig tree before Philip came. Nathanael quickly exclaimed, “You truly are the Son of God and King of Israel.” It did not take long for Jesus to change his skepticism into faith.

Jesus then gives him an encouraging prophetic promise. His choice to believe in Christ brought even greater things into his life. He would see angels ascend and descend upon Christ, the Son of Man. This seems to be a reference to the Ascension that the apostles and 120 believers saw in Acts 1. However, there were many other miracles Jesus could be referring to.

May we all be like Nathanael—honest, pure in heart, and quick to believe in Christ. Those were the things that brought more of Jesus into Nathanael’s life. They also will bring more of God into our lives. The fact that Jesus saw Nathanael under the fig tree also reminds us that God sees us even when no one is there. He is the God who sees and cares for our needs. Nathanael may have had a very private conversation with God, and Christ let him know He heard

his prayer. God showed Nathanael that He saw and cared for him.

I am also reminded of another story in Genesis 21:14-19 of Hagar and her child alone in the desert. They were about to die of thirst and had no hope, but God saw and helped her find water and hope to survive. I am so glad the Lord sees and meets our needs in such profound ways. This was not the first time she had encountered the God who sees her. See Genesis 16:1-13. And to think, some say the first miracle was turning water into wine. See John 2:1-11. I say it was Nathanael being graced with a word from the Lord.

About The Author

Jonathon Wright currently lives in Cleveland, Tennessee, and has been a member of the Church of God for about twenty years. He is a graduate of Lee University and Beacon University where he earned a BA and MA in Biblical Studies. He loves studying the Bible and has done so for over thirty years, but only now has God given him a desire and the opportunity to be a writer. He is currently beginning the process of writing a book on Genesis entitled, God’s Good Prophetic Plan: From Beginning to End.