Reading
John 1:34-51
43 The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Follow me.” 44 Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. 45 Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” 46 Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” 47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!” 48 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.” 49 Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” 50 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.” 51 And he said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you,[m] you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”
Meditation
Like Andrew before him, Philip cannot contain the joy of meeting the Messiah and immediately goes to Nathanael - whom most scholars identify with Bartholomew - to tell him that Jesus is the one about whom Moses in the Law and the Prophets wrote. (v. 45). This statement of Philip contains the essential message of the whole Gospel of John, which presents Jesus as the fulfillment of the Scriptures of the Old Testament.
Nathanael comes from Cana, a city of Galilee. There was mutual contempt between Galileans and the Jews. Hence the doubt about the fact that something good could come from Nazareth, since it is a city without importance in the prophetic writings. Nathanael wanted to examine what is said about Jesus - "Can anything good come from Nazareth?" (V. 46) - and Jesus was amazed by the frankness of his words and by the honesty of his heart, which demonstrated in him the absence of falsehood (v. 47). When we approach Jesus in prayer, we must not be afraid to express the difficulties we encounter in faith.
The Bible presents numerous examples of people who in some way "contend" with God or do not deny their own misunderstandings (i.e. the obstinacy with which Job professes his innocence); but God appreciates a sincere heart more than a false attitude of submission.
Nathanael was surprised of the supernatural knowledge that Jesus had of him: "From what do you know me?" (v. 47). We hardly know the intentions of a person by scrutinizing his face, Jesus looks directly into our hearts and nothing remains hidden to his light. That is why we must judge everything only after having sought the Spirit of Christ in the Scriptures and in prayer. The love for the Word of God was present in Nathanael, who was found "under the fig tree" by Jesus: a Semitism to indicate the study of the Law. Resting under the fig tree is also a sign of messianic peace (Mi 4:4; Zc 3:10).
The title "Son of God" (v. 49) is used in the Old Testament as the adoption title of King David, but its use with the article indicates here the divinity of Jesus and, paired with "king of Israel" it has a messianic meaning. The desire of Nathanael to follow Jesus was dictated by Jesus' ability to know him deeply; but the promise for the disciples is to see much greater things.
Jesus describes the fulfillment of the messianic promises by recalling the image of Jacob's ladder (Gen 28:12). He himself is this "ladder", the mediator between God and men, which allows us to grow "transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit" (2 Cor 3:18).
The words of Jesus testify that faith allow us to participate in ever higher mysteries, which in turn confirm us in faith, one step after another.
Prayer
Lord you search us and know us; grant us to continually grow in your knowledge and in your love and open the doors of your grace to us. Amen.
- Rev. Dr. Luca Vona
