Under The Fig Tree

Here in the text, I think Nathanael was simply exhausted. Many of us are like Nathanael today, many of us need our very own fig tree to sit under and rest—because we are exhausted with life and the things of life. And some of the things that cause exhaustion for us are…work; sometimes we are being overburdened with too much to do. We are exhausted and disheartened; we feel a sense of hopelessness when we look around us and see so much worldliness and carnality (fleshly pleasure). It’s almost enough to make you think about canceling your newspaper subscription and just shutting off your TV set. Because everyday you are a witness to the power of the blatant sin that openly takes place in our communities. We witness the power of money and material possessions, the emptiness of fame and fame seekers, rules and regulations, and even the rituals and traditions of Church can sometimes give us the blues. It makes us want to find a fig tree somewhere, and just sit there in order to be by ourselves and then contemplate on life and what it’s all about. Phillip seemed to know just what his dear friend needed—and so he said, “Come and see”!

2. A Confrontation With Jesus—(47- 48)

Jesus knew everything about Nathanael beforehand, He knew what Nathanael believed in and what kind of character Nathanael possessed. This is seen in Jesus calling Nathanael an “Israelite indeed” in essence; Jesus was paying Nathanael a huge compliment. Even after Nathanael’s rude and reactionary behavior, and after Nathanael’s clear prejudice towards Him, the Lord still gives Nathanael a wonderful compliment. Now, just what did Jesus mean when called Nathanael an “Israelite indeed”? He was saying that Nathanael was the epitome of an Israelite, and he was everything an Israelite should be because he believed in the promises of God.

Nathanael wanted desperately to live up to the standards God had set for Israel—and Nathanael was so desperately waiting for the promised Messiah. Could this be the true Messiah his friend Phillip is so excited about it? There is still some doubt, even with Philip—although Phillip believes Jesus is the Messiah; he was looking at the flesh side of Jesus, because he refers to Jesus as the son of Joseph and not the Son of God. Jesus knows everything about everyone. Nathanael is no exception.

Jesus knew Nathanael’s character; He knew that Nathanael was a man without guile. In other words, he did not deceive, try to bait in or mislead anyone. He said whatever he thought without hiding his thoughts; he said and acted upon exactly what he felt. When we look back at Nathanael’s question to Phillip in verse 46, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” we can see for ourselves just how straightforward he was and did not hide his thoughts. One of the great tragedies today, is that there are so many who are full of guile. Now days you have to watch what they do and not what they say. It’s this way on our jobs, in our homes, and especially in politics. And unfortunately even in the Church. The Psalmist said, “Blessed in the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile (Psalm 32: 2).