Isn't today's reading from John's gospel a wonderful story? As always, John gives us something beautiful to read and something mystical to ponder. Already in this chapter, John has defined who Jesus is and who John the Baptist is. John knows who Jesus is. Now it is time for the rest of us.
The story begins with Jesus calling disciples. Unlike the tales of fishermen being called from their boats to follow Jesus from Matthew and Mark, one of the first disciples in John's gospel is called after sitting under a fig tree. Let's look at the story more closely and try to discern its meaning.
"The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee." The region of Galilee is the same place where the other gospels place the calling of the first disciples. "He found Philip and said to him, 'Follow me.' Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter." Andrew and Peter are other disciples of Jesus, the fishermen spoken of in Matthew and Mark.
"Philip found Nathanael and said to him, 'We have found him about whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus son of Joseph from Nazareth.'" Interesting, isn't it, that early in the passage it says that Jesus finds Philip, and here, Philip says to Nathanael that he has found Jesus. Perhaps in being found, Philip felt that he found the one for whom he had been waiting all along. When Philip tells Nathanael about Jesus, he identifies Jesus as the one. The one written of by Moses, the one prophesied to be the Messiah. He also feels that it is important to name the one he feels he has found, naming Jesus and his father and where he is from. This was a common way of introducing new people. You gave their name, their parentage and where they were from to tell of their background and what kind of a family they were from. There is nothing unusual in Philips's introduction.
"Nathanael said to him, 'Can anything good come out of Nazareth?'" Nathanael is more concerned about the lowliness of Nazareth than the wonder of the messianic prophecy fulfilled. He is doubtful of what Philip has said, cautious about the news. There have been false prophets and messiahs before. Surely, this could be one of them. Does Nazareth have a reputation as a city with holy people?
"Philip said to him, 'Come and see.'" Just try it, Nathanael, come and see. When you see what I see, you will change your mind. Philip is confident. "When Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward Him, He said of him, 'Here is truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit!'" Jesus knows Nathanael. He knows all about him. He respects who Nathanael is and proclaims the identity of one whom He respects.
"Nathanael asked Him, 'Where did you get to know me?' Jesus answered, 'I saw you under the fig tree before Philip called you.' Nathanael replied, 'Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!'" In Jesus' proclamation, Nathanael has recognized that there is something extraordinary about this man, this Jesus. He is willing to talk to Jesus more. With Jesus' reply, Nathanael knows that Jesus has truly recognized him, and because of that, Nathanael truly recognizes Jesus. Nathanael then proclaims Jesus' Messiahship and Kingship. Truly, He is the one.
Upon seeing Nathanael's reaction, Jesus continues, "'Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than these.' And He said to him, 'Very truly, I tell you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.'" Oh, Nathanael, do you believe, just because I knew who you were? That is nothing. Just wait-you will see even greater things! The 'you' Jesus is speaking of is plural. That is how John draws us into the story. Not only with Nathanael and Philip see what Jesus is speaking of, but the message is for us all. We will all see these things.
Great story. It tells us so much, and yet it leaves us with so many questions. The first question I'd like to address is, "Who is Nathanael?" He is not mentioned in any of the other gospels. Is he one of the twelve? We do not know. We do know, that like the name 'Matthew' the name 'Nathanael' means 'gift from God.'
There are theories about who Nathanael might be. Some have speculated that Nathanael is the 'beloved disciple', or the 'disciple that Jesus loved' spoken of in John. Since his name is only mentioned in John's gospel, that is a possibility. However, most scholars tend toward the theory that Nathanael is the first name, the Hebrew name, of the disciple Bartholomew. Bartholomew is mentioned in the other three gospels, but not in John. And, Bartholomew is a Greek surname. Perhaps the two are one in the same. It is a real possibility.
It is also possible that Nathanael is the one who is the first to truly recognize who Jesus is, and that itself is important enough for John to mention. In fact, throughout the gospels, Nathanael seems to be the only one who can accurately put words to Jesus' identity. Throughout the gospels, the disciples struggle to define who Jesus is. In Mark especially, they are torn in this regard. John wants the reading audience to have no doubts about the main character of this gospel. John wants to make sure that we are sure about who Jesus is. When Nathanael meets Jesus, and realized that Jesus sees not just who he is on the outside, but knows his character as well, he knows that he is in the presence of the Divine. He remembers Psalm 139, "Lord, you have searched me out and known me." Nathanael knows that only God is capable of the kind of knowledge displayed by Jesus.
The second question for me when I read this passage is this: What are the greater things that Jesus speaks of? Jesus says to Nathanael that this act of recognition is the least that He can do, the least that He will do. Jesus is saying that His ministry is about so much more than miracles. It is about seeing Heaven opened.
What do we see when Heaven is opened? What is the greatest thing?
I believe that what Jesus is speaking of is the revelation of God to humanity, about us being able to see God face to face and recognize that we are in the presence of the Divine, and to know what that truly means.
Pediatric oncologist, Diane Komp, writes of her experiences with children who suffer with cancer and their families. In her book A Window to Heaven she tells of one child who was dying. The parents were trying to be strong, but were unable to hide their suffering. What was truly strange and unsettling to them was the calmness of their child. Here they were, afraid of losing the child that they loved, filled with unbearable sadness, and their child seemed just the opposite-content, happy, at peace. It was such a puzzle. As the young child awoke on the last day that they would live, he spoke to his parents of why he felt no fear. He had met Jesus, he said. Jesus had come to him and told him that everything would be all right. He didn't need to be afraid. That beautiful child had seen Heaven opened. He knew what Jesus was all about.
There are many speculations of what happens when we die to this life and go on to the next. Those who have had near death experiences report the presence of a bright light. Some even say that they see Jesus. I like to believe that the beautiful, bright, irresistible light is Jesus Himself, reaching out to us, calming our fears, and revealing the totality of His being. Face to face with the Divine, the doors of Heaven opened, our longing is fulfilled. One woman that I know of said that what struck her the most was how good it all was. Until that moment, she never really knew what good could mean.
But Jesus says to Nathanael that he doesn't have to die to have such a revelation. The moment that he realizes how Divine work is being done through Christ is the moment that he will see Heaven opened. Jesus tells Nathanael that there is so much more to understanding Him than miraculous works. Jesus is God come to earth, and Nathanael and all of us will know that. That is the greatest thing. That is the message of John's beautiful and mystical gospel.
Really knowing who Christ is, that's what Epiphany is all about. Amen.
Peace,
Rev. Cynthia Bacon
Minister
You may email at:
cbacon@heritagemadison.org
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