Nathanael Meets Jesus
Scripture Reading — John 1:43-51
"How do you know me?" Nathanael asked. John 1:48
Nathanael heard about Jesus from Philip, another of Jesus' early disciples. Nathanael was skeptical at first, but his meeting with Jesus changed his life.
Nathanael discovered that Jesus had known him even before they met. Jesus had known that Nathanael was sitting in the shade of a fig tree before Philip called him.
Earlier, while sitting in the shade, Nathanael had apparently been thinking about Jacob's dream of a stairway to heaven with angels ascending and descending on it (see Genesis 28:10-12). Jesus used that story to describe himself as the way to God, saying, "You shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man." (See also John 14:6.)
Clearly Jesus knew Nathanael and his longing for fellowship with God before Nathanael knew anything about Jesus. As a result, Nathanael could see that Jesus was the Son of God. Jacob had dreamed of a stairway connecting earth and heaven, and now that dream had become a reality. Jesus was the connector, the channel of prayer, communion, and blessing between believers and God.
The incarnate Son of God is the link between God and his people. What an astonishing revelation!
Lord Jesus, thank you for revealing the truth that you are the way to the Father in heaven. Guide us in truth as we seek to follow you each day. In your name, Amen.
About the author — Roger S. Greenway
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