I was wrestling with the Gospel reading for this coming Sunday, John 1:43-51, Where Jesus calls Phillip and Nathaniel. These are some of my notes:

Right after Jesus called Andrew and Andrew collected his brother, Simon (Peter), Jesus calls Phillip, and Phillip goes and finds Nathaniel.

With the parallel accounts of the calling of Andrew and Simon and the calling of Phillip and Nathaniel, it is impossible to avoid comparisons.

For instance, Andrew tells his brother, Simon, ‘we have found the Messiah’. Pretty simple. Simon has no lines.  He is brought to Jesus and Jesus renames him ‘Peter’.

On the other hand, Andrew finds Nathaniel and tells him, in an extended, theologically sophisticated way that,

‘We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.’

The ‘we’ probably includes Andrew and Peter who are are from Phillip’s home town, since John  prefaces this conversation between Phillip and Nathan with the information that Phillip, Andrew and Peter were all from the same fishing village of Bethsaida. The ‘we’ could also include Nathaniel and judging by his response to Phillip’s invitation, I would say that it does. Nathaniel was seeking Messiah too.

The way in which Phillip introduces Jesus into the conversation would indicate something about Nathaniel. This is not just a simple fisherman like Peter. Nathaniel is a student of scripture.

Not only does Phillip refer to prophecy, He also mentions Jesus home town (a Galilean town not too far from Bethsaida) and that Jesus is the son of Joseph. This might indicate that Nathaniel was already aware of Jesus, son of Joseph, of Nazareth. Be that as it may, it is obvious that Nathaniel was a man who wrestled with scripture and the promises of God.

‘Can anything good come out of Nazareth?’

Nathaniel says what he thinks; he is about as subtle and nuanced as a hammer. Nazareth was kind of a frontier town – think the HBO show, Deadwood – and the people there had the reputation of being crude, country bumpkins.

‘Come and see’ – another reference to seeing.  You’ve always got to keep on your toes with St. John. This subject of seeing and sight and vision itself in John’s Gospel is too rich to cover in this little post. Suffice it to say that when someone says ‘come and see’ in reference to coming to see Jesus, it might mean a bit more than just meeting the guy and shaking His hand. This can also be read with a deeper meaning: ‘come, that you might see.’

Jesus sees Nathaniel coming.  ‘Look, a true Israelite in whom there is no deceit’. ‘True Israelite’ is probably a reference to Nathaniel being not only a good Jew, but also a student of Torah.

‘…In whom there is no deceit’ — This could refer to a guileless nature or to a certain lack of subtlety. The comment about Nazareth would indicate the later — Nathaniel’s words and opinions are unvarnished. Since Jesus knew the interchange between Philip and Nathan, Jesus observation may have been a funny way of responding to Nathans insult of Jesus’ home town.

Also, Jesus may be saying that this is an Israelite indeed, a true son even of his father, Israel.

Jacob, whom God renamed Israel, was a man characterized by deceit (his name literally means, ‘heal-grabber’). He also wrestled with God, quite literally. I wouldn’t make these connections except for Jesus’ commentary on Jacob’s dream later in the passage. This saying of Jesus could also be a sort of pun; Jesus probably said it in Aramaic and it could have been heard something like, ‘Behold, a son of Israel in whom there is no Jacob.’

‘How do you know me?’ This question from Nathan betrays that Jesus’ comment hit the mark.

‘Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.’

This is the part where I struggle.

First, upon meeting him Jesus knows about Phillip calling Nathaniel. Along with Jesus’ accurate description of Nathaniel’s character, this would be a bit unsettling, I’m sure.

‘When you were under the fig tree’ — This is an expression found in rabbinic literature referring to the study of Torah, so it could be that. In fact, I think it probably is something like this, since fig trees were used as a place for Torah study and even symbolized Torah study:

He who tends the fig tree will eat its fruit”, compares Torah study to a fig tree (Medrash Bamidbar Rabba 12:9). The Medrash asks, why is Torah compared to a fig tree? Because other trees, such as grape vines and date trees, are harvested all at one time. However, a fig tree is harvested over time because its fruit do not ripen all at once. Just as a fig tree is harvested over time, so too Torah is not studied in one or two years, but is studied over time. (http://www.yiaberdeen.com)

Also fig trees symbolize the peace and safety of the Messianic kingdom (Micah 4:4, Zechariah 3:10).

In the Syriac Dictionary, there is a story that Nathaniel’s Mother hid him under a fig tree when Herod slaughtered the innocents in that region in a quest to eliminate the baby Jesus. If that story were true, the reasons for Nathaniel’s outburst of doxology would be obvious, but we don’t find this in the text. Interesting to note, however.

He could have also been located under a fig tree when Phillip came to him, but this would be a bit of a red herring if it were the case and John wouldn’t waste the ink. John always writes things with a purpose — that you may believe (John 20:30), so the fig tree is a critical component to the retelling of events and important whether we understand it fully or not. The definite article ‘the’ in ‘the fig tree’ would probably point, as strange as it seems, to the rabbinic expression for study of scripture rather than an actual fig tree.

Also the construction of the Greek here is telling. Nathanial asks, ‘From where do you know me?’ Jesus answers, ‘… from under the fig tree’.

Nathaniel’s response is dramatic:

‘Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the king of Israel.’

Wow! Even Jesus seems pleasantly surprised by Nathaniel’s response. Like Peter’s confession, Nathan doesn’t speak this but by the Holy Spirit.

Jesus says,

“You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You will see greater things than that.” He then added, “Very truly I tell you, you will see ‘heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”

Nathaniel will see greater things for sure. This is certainly pointing to the signs that Nathaniel (possibly St. Bartholomew in the other Gospels) will witness as Jesus’ Disciple.

Then Jesus references Jacob’s dream (Genesis 28:10-17) and puts Himself at the center. For Jews, the Fig Tree also symbolizes the Tree of Life in the Garden. It is also a ladder of sorts (Zacchaeus, the diminutive tax collector, even used it to see Jesus in Luke 19:1-10). Rabbi’s talk about climbing it to pray and the value, rather, of staying below its branches for that purpose.

A fig tree is a great tree for climbing (no one should dispute), especially since you sometimes get a reward of fruit for your effort. So, Jesus bringing up a dream about a ladder with angels ascending and descending (on the Ladder or on Jacob is debated. The Hebrew allows for either. Jewish Midrash apparently points to it being on Jacob). What I’m saying is that the Fig Tree and studying underneath it makes for a great backdrop for Jesus cryptic comments. On top of that, Jesus is always talking about heavenly realities in John’s Gospel and the people interacting with Him are always thinking in earthly terms (see John 5:39).

Nathaniel was ‘under the fig tree’ studying Torah. The fig tree, according to these connections would symbolize Jacob’s Ladder and, consequently, Jesus himself.  The story of Jacob’s dream about the  ladder, the Sulam symbolized the giving of Torah, among other things. Jesus, in so many words, is telling Nathaniel that he is Torah. Jesus is Torah in the flesh and the fulfillment of Torah.  Nathaniel would eventually see this greater revelation.

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Endnote: The title Jesus applies to himself, Son of Man, is also a very important title and deserves a treatment. I’m not going to give it here. Perhaps in a later post.

By Steve B