Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!” 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.” Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” Jesus answered 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, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”
What was there about the statement that Jesus had seen Nathanael under a certain tree that caused Nathanael to acknowledge that he was in the presence of the Son of God? Nothing remarkable if a friend mentions that he saw my car at the drive through at McDonald's. What made this statement so startling to Nathanael?
What is not important or it would have been included in the record. But I can conclude that Nathanael recognized immediately that the statement indicated conclusively that he was in the presence of One who was supernatural. I remember that moment for me. It was in the breaking of the bread (Luke 24:35) on a Friday afternoon in the summer of 1979. When was yours?
Today's readings in the Psalms:
Morning: Psalm 14
Mid-day: 119:17-24
Evening: Psalm 89
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