An Israelite In Whom Is No Guile: An Exposition Of John 1:43-51

If we look at the next statement Jesus makes that Nathaniel would see greater things. Jacob in his flight from Esau after he had used guile to rob his brother of the patriarchal blessing had fallen asleep at Bethel that night. This was the place where Abraham had once built an altar. The place which means “House of God” in English was the place where the exhausted Jacob had found rest that night. His head rested on a stone, and he saw a vision of angels going up and down a staircase from Yahweh in heaven. Here he heard the words of assurance that the LORD would look after Him. Now Nathaniel, a man without guile would see even a greater vision than Jacob. He had become a man without guile, a true member of Israel. By faith, he was transformed and had been gifted by God. It makes me wonder if Nathaniel was reading this passage while sitting under the fig tree. Nathaniel was not part of the house of God and covenantally protected. He would go through trials. Jacob had to endure Laban. But even through, Nathaniel was now in the hands of one from whom no one could pluck.

We too who were once deceivers and deceived have been converted by the grace and the Word of God. It is nothing we have done. It is entirely the gift of God. So we have to see ourselves through the eyes of Nathaniel. Perhaps we might even have been a little self-righteous and dismissed the testimony of others about Jesus because it did not fit our picture of what our Messiah ought to be. In spite of this, this skeptic is saved by God’s grace and his doubts about Jesus were taken away just like Thomas’ doubts were removed by the call to touch the hands and side of Jesus. For this, we should be grateful. We did not turn on our own light bulb. We must instead boast in God’s grace.