I Saw You Under The Fig Tree

Nathanael said to Him, “How do You know me?” Jesus answered and said to him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” Nathanael answered and said to Him, “Rabbi, You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” John 1:48-49

Jesus and Nathanael had an instant connection when Jesus said, "Before Philip called you, I saw you under the fig tree." What did Jesus see under the fig tree, and what was Nathaniel doing there? Maybe Nathanael was in a quiet prayer time under the fig tree, and Jesus saw or heard Nathaniel’s prayer. Jesus may not have seen Nathanael physically under the fig tree, but he might have seen him spiritually. But Nathaniel was having a quiet prayer time under the fig tree, which only he and God knew about it.

When Jesus revealed it(about the fig tree), Nathaniel was caught by surprise that only God is aware of. Jesus spoke about of Nathaniel's secret to Nathaniel. Only God knows the secrets of our hearts. If Jesus knows it, Nathaniel understood that Jesus is either God or God's son, because no one else knows about it. When Jesus speaks, he does not use unnecessary words or wastes time, but rather speaks directly regarding the need of our hearts, or reveals the secret of our hearts, allowing us to connect with Him.

"I saw you under the fig tree" means I saw you in your quiet time alone with God under the fig tree. Apart from Nathaniel, only God knows about this quiet time. Jesus spoke about Nathaniel's secret quiet time with God, so there was a quick connect between Jesus and Nathanael. If Jesus knows about this quiet time, it implies that Jesus is related with God. We don’t have a quick connect with Jesus because we don’t have a place of quiet time with God. Jesus cannot find any fig trees in our lives.

Nathaniel might be praying for the Messiah to come for many years under the fig tree, so when Jesus said, "I saw you under the fig tree," Nathaniel recognised Jesus was the Messiah and the son of God. Without hearing the words of Jesus or seeing the miracles of Jesus, Nathaniel said Jesus was the Messiah and the son of God. So many people after seeing Jesus’ miracles like the disciples and even John the Baptist, did not recognise that Jesus was the Messiah. But Nathaniel recognised it right away. It was because there was something special about Nathaniel’s quiet time with God and the prayer request about Messiah to come.

Nathaniel knew more about Jesus in the secret quiet time without hearing Jesus’s words or seeing His miracles first-hand. So, as soon as he heard Jesus mentioned about the fig tree, he addressed him as the son of God and King of Israel. A lot happens in the quiet time with God rather than a Sunday service or special meetings. In his quiet time, Nathaniel found two big first coming secrets of God: Jesus is the son of God and the Messiah. Maybe Nathaniel was conversing with God the Father in his quiet time, and God the Father revealed secrets about Jesus. Though Nathaniel did not follow Jesus like the disciples, Jesus told him that he would see greater things if he continued his quiet time with God. Jesus did not invite Nathaniel to join his team of disciples because Nathaniel was already learning more about God in His quiet time and did not want to disturb him. Quiet time is so powerful, that more is done in quiet time than anywhere else.

When Jesus' said, "I saw you under the fig tree," it was like an answer to Nathaniel’s prayer request. Nathaniel might be praying under the fig tree for the Messiah to come for many years, and Jesus Himself informed Nathaniel that He was the answer to his prayer request. What a privilege. The Messiah for whom he has been praying and longing for many years appears to him and shows him a sign that he is the Messiah. Nathaniel saw that Jesus was the Messiah, for whom he was praying under the fig tree. Nathaniel might be overjoyed and instantly words spilled saying, " Rabbi, You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel”. Jesus might have said indirectly to Nathaniel that , "I saw you under the fig tree, praying for the me(Jesus) to come."

Do you have a fig free - a place of quiet time where you pray and talk to God on a daily basis? What kind of prayer requests do you have under the fig tree? Nathaniel had a fig tree and was praying for Jesus' first coming. Because Nathaniel had a quiet time, Jesus was giving an opportunity to Nathaniel to see greater things than these(Jesus as son of God and Messiah) John 1:51. To those who are faithful with the revelations of Jesus given to them in their quiet time with God, more is given. Heavenly treasures about the son of God was given to Nathaniel. There are many people like Nathaniel needed in this land, who have a fig tree and are praying for the second coming of Jesus. Nathaniel welcomed Jesus at the first coming, and these end-time Nathaniel’s will welcome Jesus in the second coming.