Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel.
With the titles Son of God and King of Israel Nathanael confesses Jesus as the Messiah, the promised deliverer for whom Israel waited to save them. He came to that confession while bowed in earnest prayer under the fig tree pleading for light to know the truth, when Philip brought him the witness that Jesus of Nazareth is Him of whom Moses and the prophets wrote. When Jesus revealed by divine knowledge that He had seen him under the fig tree before Philip called him, Nathanael's doubt, prejudice and unbelief were swept away and he believed without hesitation with simple, full and abiding faith. His faith in seeing and confessing grew stronger than Philip's, and Jesus commended his trusting belief. So light comes to every earnest seeker as it came to him, and his seeking is the pattern for all who want clearer light to humble themselves and pray rather than rely on the opinions of others, while those who have the light labor faithfully by personal effort to bring relatives, friends and acquaintances to the Saviour as Philip brought Nathanael.
Confession and Its Setting
The titles Son of God and King of Israel are a confession that Jesus is the Messiah, the promised deliverer for whom Israel had waited to save them. Nathanael's confession came when his wavering faith became firm and strengthened, upon recognizing that Jesus had known him before Philip called him and had seen him under the fig tree. The verse marks an early public acknowledgment of that hope, as after seeing and hearing what took place at the Jordan the disciples testified of Him and many hoped God had raised up a deliverer for His people.
That acknowledgment belongs to Bethabara near the Jordan where John preached and baptized. The nearby crossing of the Jordan and overthrow of Jericho recalled God's past deliverance of Israel and stirred hope that He would again act to deliver His people, and this is the setting for Nathanael's recognition of Jesus as Israel's King. The verse belongs to the gathering of the first disciples, when Philip sought Nathanael and brought him to Jesus along with John, Andrew, Simon and Philip, and their calling marked the beginning of the Christian church.
Nathanael was one of the five chosen as Jesus entered the great work of His earthly life, together with John, Andrew, Simon and Philip. These men were called from their humble occupations to accompany Jesus in His ministry, to receive His divine teachings and to witness His mighty miracles, that they might publish them to the world. The same claims, Son of God and King of Israel, were later repeated by His accusers while condemning Him, even though they had witnessed His mighty works and seen the dead obey His command.
How Nathanael Came to Believe
Under the fig tree Nathanael was bowed in earnest, sincere prayer pleading for light to know the truth, holding fast unyieldingly to the light and grace he already had while refusing to be satisfied to grope in darkness and wanting clearer light, and Jesus saw him seeking there. While he was still praying Philip came as a messenger to lead him to the Source of all light with the witness that Jesus of Nazareth is Him of whom Moses and the prophets wrote. Nathanael felt prejudice and unbelief about Nazareth, which Philip did not meet with argument but with Come and see.
When Jesus revealed by divine knowledge that He had seen Nathanael under the fig tree before Philip called him, his wavering faith was strengthened, his doubt and prejudice and inherited unbelief were swept away, and his desire for truth was met. By divine enlightenment he recognized Jesus' true identity and confessed Him without hesitation as the Son of God and the King of Israel with simple, full, complete, firm and abiding faith.
In that perception and confession his faith advanced beyond Philip's and grew stronger than Philip's. Jesus commended his trusting faith when he saw and believed.
Pattern for Seekers and Witnesses
Nathanael bowed under the fig tree earnestly petitioning for light to know the truth, holding fast unyieldingly to the grace and light he had while refusing to be satisfied to grope in darkness but wanting clearer light, and Jesus saw him seeking there in prayer. While he was still praying Philip came as a messenger to lead him to the Source of all light with the witness that Jesus of Nazareth is Him of whom Moses and the prophets wrote, and Nathanael first felt prejudice and unbelief about Nazareth which Philip did not meet with argument but with Come and see. When Jesus showed divine knowledge by telling him He had seen him under the fig tree before Philip called him, Nathanael recognized Him and without hesitation confessed Him as the Son of God and the King of Israel. Light comes to every earnest seeker as it came to him, so his earnest seeking is the pattern for all who want clearer light, who should humble themselves and pray rather than rely on other people's opinions or arguments.
Thousands are like him now in humble homes that never heard the truth, still in the darkness of error while profligacy and heresy and infidelity fill the land and carry a weight of oppression for the dishonor done to God. Though in darkness they are offering sincere and contrite prayer for light, for the revealings of the Holy Spirit, cherishing every ray that shines upon them, and for this they will be accepted of God. Christ's lightbearers must therefore be faithful and labor to bring truth to these souls. His answered prayer shows that prayer is the opening of the heart to God as to a friend, where the eye of faith discerns God very near and the suppliant obtains precious evidence of divine love and care.
The Lord reads the hearts of all and delights in the prayer of the upright, and He is not slow to hear those who open their hearts to Him without exalting self but sincerely feeling their weakness and unworthiness, as Nathanael's sincere heart was heard and answered by Jesus. Bible study is to follow the same spirit, coming as a learner with eager interest and fervent prayer to know what is truth and to understand the foundation principles of the faith of Christ, not to bend Scripture to preconceived ideas. The gathering around Jesus illustrates personal effort to lead relatives, friends and acquaintances to the Saviour, as one disciple brings his brother and Philip seeks Nathanael and brings him to Christ.
Philip shared that Jesus was the Messiah and brought his friend Nathanael to Him, so that Nathanael is among the first brought to Christ through personal connection. Having come, he then joined in winning others for Christ, showing the fruit of true Christian home missionary labor like Philip's.
With the titles Son of God and King of Israel Nathanael confesses Jesus as the Messiah, the promised deliverer for whom Israel waited to save them. He came to that confession while bowed in earnest prayer under the fig tree pleading for light to know the truth, when Philip brought him the witness that Jesus of Nazareth is Him of whom Moses and the prophets wrote. When Jesus revealed by divine knowledge that He had seen him under the fig tree before Philip called him, Nathanael's doubt, prejudice and unbelief were swept away and he believed without hesitation with simple, full and abiding faith. His faith in seeing and confessing grew stronger than Philip's, and Jesus commended his trusting belief. So light comes to every earnest seeker as it came to him, and his seeking is the pattern for all who want clearer light to humble themselves and pray rather than rely on the opinions of others, while those who have the light labor faithfully by personal effort to bring relatives, friends and acquaintances to the Saviour as Philip brought Nathanael.
Confession and Its Setting
The titles Son of God and King of Israel are a confession that Jesus is the Messiah, the promised deliverer for whom Israel had waited to save them. Nathanael's confession came when his wavering faith became firm and strengthened, upon recognizing that Jesus had known him before Philip called him and had seen him under the fig tree. The verse marks an early public acknowledgment of that hope, as after seeing and hearing what took place at the Jordan the disciples testified of Him and many hoped God had raised up a deliverer for His people.
That acknowledgment belongs to Bethabara near the Jordan where John preached and baptized. The nearby crossing of the Jordan and overthrow of Jericho recalled God's past deliverance of Israel and stirred hope that He would again act to deliver His people, and this is the setting for Nathanael's recognition of Jesus as Israel's King. The verse belongs to the gathering of the first disciples, when Philip sought Nathanael and brought him to Jesus along with John, Andrew, Simon and Philip, and their calling marked the beginning of the Christian church.
Nathanael was one of the five chosen as Jesus entered the great work of His earthly life, together with John, Andrew, Simon and Philip. These men were called from their humble occupations to accompany Jesus in His ministry, to receive His divine teachings and to witness His mighty miracles, that they might publish them to the world. The same claims, Son of God and King of Israel, were later repeated by His accusers while condemning Him, even though they had witnessed His mighty works and seen the dead obey His command.
How Nathanael Came to Believe
Under the fig tree Nathanael was bowed in earnest, sincere prayer pleading for light to know the truth, holding fast unyieldingly to the light and grace he already had while refusing to be satisfied to grope in darkness and wanting clearer light, and Jesus saw him seeking there. While he was still praying Philip came as a messenger to lead him to the Source of all light with the witness that Jesus of Nazareth is Him of whom Moses and the prophets wrote. Nathanael felt prejudice and unbelief about Nazareth, which Philip did not meet with argument but with Come and see.
When Jesus revealed by divine knowledge that He had seen Nathanael under the fig tree before Philip called him, his wavering faith was strengthened, his doubt and prejudice and inherited unbelief were swept away, and his desire for truth was met. By divine enlightenment he recognized Jesus' true identity and confessed Him without hesitation as the Son of God and the King of Israel with simple, full, complete, firm and abiding faith.
In that perception and confession his faith advanced beyond Philip's and grew stronger than Philip's. Jesus commended his trusting faith when he saw and believed.
Pattern for Seekers and Witnesses
Nathanael bowed under the fig tree earnestly petitioning for light to know the truth, holding fast unyieldingly to the grace and light he had while refusing to be satisfied to grope in darkness but wanting clearer light, and Jesus saw him seeking there in prayer. While he was still praying Philip came as a messenger to lead him to the Source of all light with the witness that Jesus of Nazareth is Him of whom Moses and the prophets wrote, and Nathanael first felt prejudice and unbelief about Nazareth which Philip did not meet with argument but with Come and see. When Jesus showed divine knowledge by telling him He had seen him under the fig tree before Philip called him, Nathanael recognized Him and without hesitation confessed Him as the Son of God and the King of Israel. Light comes to every earnest seeker as it came to him, so his earnest seeking is the pattern for all who want clearer light, who should humble themselves and pray rather than rely on other people's opinions or arguments.
Thousands are like him now in humble homes that never heard the truth, still in the darkness of error while profligacy and heresy and infidelity fill the land and carry a weight of oppression for the dishonor done to God. Though in darkness they are offering sincere and contrite prayer for light, for the revealings of the Holy Spirit, cherishing every ray that shines upon them, and for this they will be accepted of God. Christ's lightbearers must therefore be faithful and labor to bring truth to these souls. His answered prayer shows that prayer is the opening of the heart to God as to a friend, where the eye of faith discerns God very near and the suppliant obtains precious evidence of divine love and care.
The Lord reads the hearts of all and delights in the prayer of the upright, and He is not slow to hear those who open their hearts to Him without exalting self but sincerely feeling their weakness and unworthiness, as Nathanael's sincere heart was heard and answered by Jesus. Bible study is to follow the same spirit, coming as a learner with eager interest and fervent prayer to know what is truth and to understand the foundation principles of the faith of Christ, not to bend Scripture to preconceived ideas. The gathering around Jesus illustrates personal effort to lead relatives, friends and acquaintances to the Saviour, as one disciple brings his brother and Philip seeks Nathanael and brings him to Christ.
Philip shared that Jesus was the Messiah and brought his friend Nathanael to Him, so that Nathanael is among the first brought to Christ through personal connection. Having come, he then joined in winning others for Christ, showing the fruit of true Christian home missionary labor like Philip's.