John 1:50
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. 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.
By divine sight Jesus knew Nathanael beneath the fig tree, seeing his secret prayer for light to know the truth and answering it. On that evidence Nathanael's prejudice and wavering faith gave way to firm belief, and he confessed Jesus as the Son of God and King of Israel with a sincere, guileless trust. To him and the other new disciples Jesus promised still greater evidence to come than that knowledge, when they would see heaven opened with the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man. That opened heaven shows Jesus joining humanity to God as the link between earth and heaven, through whom angels carry the prayers of the needy to the Father and bring back blessing, hope, courage, help, and life. Each fresh revelation of his love to a receptive, believing heart opens the way to still greater things, so abiding in him enlarges the capacity to receive and a rich gift today assures a richer gift tomorrow. The calling of Nathanael through Philip's witness lays the pattern for all followers to make personal effort to bring relatives, friends, and acquaintances to the Saviour.
Seeing Under Fig Tree
Jesus saw Nathanael under the fig tree by divine sight, knowing the secret prayer he was offering there and answering that prayer. Nathanael was pleading with his Father in heaven for light to know the truth, holding fast unyieldingly to the light he already believed though he had grace but less light and was not satisfied to grope in darkness but wanted clearer light. The Lord did not leave him in darkness but gave him what he sought.
He had been brought to Jesus through Philip's witness, as friend brought friend to Jesus. The words were spoken at the entering upon Jesus' earthly work, when He chose five disciples — John, Andrew, Simon, Philip, and Nathanael. He called them from their humble occupations to accompany Him in His ministry, to receive His divine teachings, to witness His mighty miracles, and to publish them to the world.
On the evidence of being seen under the fig tree Nathanael believed in Jesus. That evidence swept away his inherited prejudice, and his prejudice and unbelief gave way. His wavering faith was strengthened to firm, abiding belief. It was divine enlightenment that brought him to this recognition.
In that belief he confessed Jesus as the Son of God and King of Israel. His faith was sincere and guileless, a trusting faith. Such faith pleased Jesus. Jesus recognized that belief and commended it.
Greater Things Promised
The promise looks beyond the convincing sign beneath the fig tree to greater evidence and experiences still to come for Nathanael and the other disciples. That greater sight is heaven opened, with God's angels ascending and descending upon the Son of Man. It was given after belief awakened by being seen under the fig tree swept away inherited prejudice and strengthened wavering faith into firm recognition of Jesus as the Son of God and King of Israel.
The opened heaven reveals Jesus as the link between heaven and earth, joining humanity to God through His human and divine nature. He is the means of continuing communication between God and humanity, by which faith in Him as the Son of God is strengthened. In that communication angels carry the prayers of the needy and sorrowing to the Father above and bring back to people blessing, hope, courage, help, and life.
Each fresh revelation of Jesus' love to a receptive, believing heart opens the way to greater things. Abiding in Christ increases the capacity to receive and enjoy blessing, so that a rich gift received today assures a richer gift tomorrow. The promise therefore invites deeper faith and expectation rather than resting content with what has already been seen.
To believers in trial and affliction it promises growing knowledge of Jesus and still greater revelations of God in Christ. All trials and afflictions serve to open the eyes of understanding to the love of God, to give the light of the knowledge of His glory in the face of Jesus Christ, and to inspire hope and faith and confidence resting in Him. Honoring God therefore means belief rather than unbelief, receiving this rich treasure of knowledge, and living as a clear reflection of the matchless love of Jesus.
Those who have listened to His words, enjoyed His lessons, and acknowledged Him as the Son of God have only touched the margin of faith. There are depths in His character demanding homage, perfect trust, and unshaken confidence. Jesus stands ready to reveal more of Himself to fulfill the promise, and in great love He reveals defects of character and the need to distrust self and depend on His strength alone. So it was with Peter, who had only begun to know Christ when told of his coming denial; after he did the very thing foretold he was filled with shame and sorrow and became a repentant, thoroughly converted man, revealed as tender, charitable, meek, and forgiving.
To those who follow Him closely in a great and solemn work, He will lead diligent students to higher and still higher planes of truth where they will see greater things. Those greater things include the opened books where the name of each follower is inscribed. They will be seen with astonishment as a record both of actions dishonoring to God and of actions commended by Him, with each day's record showing the workings of providence in His efforts to keep people meek and lowly, tenderhearted and pitiful.
Bringing Others To Christ
In John 1:35-51 the foundation of the Christian church is laid by individual effort, as John first directs two of his disciples to Christ, then one of these finds his brother and brings him to Christ, and then after Christ calls Philip, Philip goes in search of Nathanael. This chain shows the example of the first disciples bringing others to Christ, with Nathanael himself brought to Jesus through a friend's witness.
That example makes personal effort and direct appeals to relatives, friends, and acquaintances to come to the Saviour important for all followers of Christ. The work of bringing souls to Christ is not left to the minister alone but belongs to the members of the church. Philip's labor in bringing Nathanael to Jesus is true Christian home missionary labor.
Those who profess to know Christ yet never labor to bring others to Him selfishly enjoy grace while neglecting the work God leaves them in His vineyard. Those who do nothing to gain a living experience fail to advance in the divine life. Unselfish, interested, faithful workers share largely of His grace here and of His reward hereafter, for faith is called into exercise by good works, and courage and hope grow with working faith.
Nathanael's earnest seeking for truth is the pattern to follow for those seeking truth. He had grace but less light, yet he held fast unyieldingly to the light and truth he already believed and was not satisfied to grope his way in darkness but wanted clearer light. He humbled himself, prayed, pleaded with his Father in heaven for light to know the truth, and sought to know it for himself. The Lord did not leave him in darkness but gave him greater things than belief from being seen under the fig tree, even heaven open with God's angels ascending and descending upon the Son of man. His sincere, guileless faith pleased Jesus. God's word is to be recognized and obeyed in daily life, and a heart living in connection with God recognizes the voice from above.