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+++ title = "John 1:43–51" date = "2025-12-26" +++
Read the passage.
While it is certainly true that the Lord was sovereign over the way the disciples were called, the way it was portrayed to us feels rather haphazard to me. Maybe I just want more details, but it seems like Jesus's thought process was something like, "OK, time to Galilee, but first, where's Phillip? Ah there he is, and he'll get Nathaniel to come too." I just find it strange that we know so little about the apostles, particularly before Jesus called them. Maybe once we get to talk to them in heaven we'll find out what these days were like.
Phillip goes to get Nathaniel because he is convinced that Jesus is the long-awaited Messiah. I suspect it's because he had been talking with Andrew, who was from the same town so they probably knew each other. Nathaniel is skeptical at first because he doesn't expect the Messiah to be from Nazareth. Nazareth was a back-water town that is never connected to the Messiah (or even mentioned at all) in the Old Testament. Nevertheless, Nathaniel goes to see who this Jesus person is.
As Nathaniel approaches, Jesus makes a mysterious proclamation. The reason for it appears to contrast Nathaniel with the original Israel, i.e. Jacob, because both of them have seen angels ascending and descending. (v. 51) Jacob was known as a conniver and deceiver, though God used him to found the nation named after him, and he was shown the dream of angels going up and down from heaven at Bethel. Jesus declares that there is no deceit in Nathaniel, though Nathaniel's reaction is kind of odd. "How do you know I'm not deceitful?" is a weird sentiment. Or maybe it's really just that Nathaniel really does have a reputation for always telling the truth, but he wonders how Jesus knows. Jesus's answer is that he saw Nathaniel sitting under a fig tree before Phillip brought him over. Clearly this was the case, but it's also a weird thing to give as proof. Fig trees were common in the area, and I don't expect it to be that unusual for someone to sit under one. Remember, though, that Nathaniel wasn't trying to be skeptical. He already had Phillip's testimony that Jesus was the Messiah, and he wanted to believe this too. This validation was the tiny nudge needed to convince him. It's also funny to me that Jesus points out to him how little convincing he needed. (v. 50) In my opinion, this is further evidence that Jesus was truly God, applying just the right amount of "pressure" needed to set people on their proper course.
Help us to listen carefully to Your voice and pay attention to gentle guidance, so that You do not have to catch our attention more forcefully.