(John 1:43-51; 21:2; Matthew 10:3; Mark 3:18; Luke 6:14).
Philip had found the Messiah, Jesus of Nazareth. News he was not going to keep from his friend, Nathanael.Nathanael would have been familiar with the small and insignificant town of Nazareth. So, asking: “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” (Jn.1:46), was probably said more out of surprise than anything else. As Nathanael approached Jesus, the first thing that Jesus did was to expose the pure thoughts and intentions of his heart: “Here is a true Israelite, in whom there is nothing false” (Jn.1:47). Nathanael not only met the man who miraculously saw him praying in secret, he actually met The God who was listening to those secret prayers.Nathanael’s Messianic dreams had all come true at once. Worship was the natural response: “Rabbi,” he said, “you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel” (Jn.1:49). Jesus assured him that, if the events of that day caused belief in him, then that was nothing compared to what was to come. Jesus prophesied: “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see the heavens opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man” (Jn.1:51).Nathanael was blessed to be one of the seven who witnessed the appearance of the risen Jesus at the Sea of Tiberias in John 21.It is widely accepted that Nathanael was called Bartholomew in the Synoptic Gospels. If so, he is thus listed among the twelve.O that Jesus could meet us and say: “Here is a true Christian, in whom there is no guile.”
0 Comments