John 1:44-51 CSB
Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the hometown of Andrew and Peter. [45] Philip found Nathanael and told him, "We have found the one Moses wrote about in the law (and so did the prophets): Jesus the son of Joseph, from Nazareth." [46] "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Nathanael asked him. "Come and see," Philip answered. [47] Then Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said about him, "Here truly is an Israelite in whom there is no deceit." [48] "How do you know me?" Nathanael asked. "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you," Jesus answered. [49] "Rabbi," Nathanael replied, "You are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel!" [50] Jesus responded to him, "Do you believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than this." [51] Then he said, "Truly I tell you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man."
Greater Things
In the area where I used to live, the first question someone would ask when they met you was, “What high school did you attend?” It is so easy to judge others by where they are from, the house they own, or the car they drive. To be prominent in this world is to be judged by what we have and the small kingdoms we have set up for ourselves on earth—the job titles or positions that put us above others. In a way, this was Nathanael’s response to Philip: “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?”
Nazareth was a small and insignificant town in Galilee, often overlooked by most. Many expected the Messiah, the King of the Jews, to arrive with royalty, grand parades, and the sound of trumpets blaring—yet this was not the Father’s plan. Nathanael’s skepticism was understandable; after all, many had not yet connected prophecies like Micah 5:2 to such a humble reality. People envisioned the Messiah coming from a place of notable honor. Instead, we see the Messiah emerge from humble beginnings. Bethlehem, where Jesus was born, was a tiny village with likely fewer than 600 people, and now He was beginning His ministry from the unassuming town of Nazareth.
The book of James warns us against showing favoritism to the rich. Jesus Himself was born in a manger and, during His ministry, often had no permanent place to call home, even though He had a family home growing up and later a base in Capernaum. This humble lifestyle reveals the heart of our loving Lord. Throughout His life, He modeled humble service—caring for others and teaching that the needs of widows and orphans take priority over social status.
Nathanael put his bias aside and went to see the one Philip mentioned—the one Moses and the prophets wrote about. And Nathanael’s world changed. Jesus saw him walking up and immediately met the need for Nathanael’s belief: “Here truly is an Israelite in whom there is no deceit.”
Since Nathanael had never met Jesus, his response was naturally human: “How do you know me?”
While we don’t know for certain what Nathanael was doing, many scholars assume he may have been sitting under the fig tree for meditation and prayer, as was common for faithful Jews of that day. We cannot say for sure what his thoughts were, but we do know that Jesus took notice of him in that private moment. The fact that Jesus saw him when no one else was around had deep meaning for Nathanael. His faith was ignited by this one act of being truly “seen” by the Son of God.
Jesus promised that Nathanael would see much more. In Jeremiah 32, the Father says, “Look, I am the LORD, the God over every creature. Is anything too difficult for me?” Nathanael would go on to see many miraculous acts at the feet of Jesus, building upon that initial seed of faith. Have we listened to the Lord and taken notice of His miracles in our lives so that our faith can grow?
Reflection Questions
- Have you ever “written off” a person or a situation because it didn’t look impressive on the outside? How might God be working in the “Nazareth” areas of your life?
- Jesus was born in a manger and had no home of His own. How does His choice of humility challenge the way you view status and “important” people?
- Jesus saw Nathanael in a private, hidden moment. How does it comfort you to know that the Lord sees you in your quietest moments, even when you feel unnoticed by the world?
Prayer
Father,
Forgive us for the times we judge by outward appearances and social status. Thank You for the reminder that You often choose the humble and the overlooked to do Your greatest work. Thank You for “seeing” us even when we are alone—in our quiet moments, our struggles, and our prayers. Help us to put aside our biases and “come and see” what You are doing today. Lead us into the “greater things” You have promised.
Amen.
