THE FIRST DISCIPLES

John 1:45-51

Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one about whom Moses wrote in the law, and also the prophets, Jesus son of Joseph, from Nazareth.”

But Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come from Nazareth?”

Philip said to him, “Come and see.”

Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, “Here is a true child of Israel. There is no duplicity in him.”

Nathanael said to him, “How do you know me?” 

Jesus answered and said to him, “Before Philip called you, I saw you under the fig tree.”

Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel.”

Jesus answered and said to him, “Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than this.”

And he said to him, “Amen, amen, I say to you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”

Reflection:

Many Bible scholars identify Nathanael to be the same person as Bartholomew, one of the Twelve Apostles. It is perhaps common that Christians do not typically identify the calling of the first disciples with this event. We usually recall the story of the fishermen that dropped their nets and followed Jesus. Nonetheless, the story of Nathanael has beautiful layers for us to learn from.

We must wonder what transpired under the fig tree that caused this comment to strike at the heart of Nathanael to compel him to declare Jesus was the Son of God? The story of Nathanael shows us that God wants to channel our friendships, battle our skepticism, affirm our character, reveal Himself, and strike our hearts with the undeniable truth of His divinity. The question we must ask is – am I ready to “come and see”?

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