(47) Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith to him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile! (48) Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee. (49) Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel. (John 1:47-49)

Explain

There are two interesting phrases in this text that may be true, but in some ways are conjecture.  I know what the text says happens here and I affirm it and believe it.  Yet these conjectures make sense to me based on Old Testament texts.

First, I want to note what Jesus called Nathan, “an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!”

The first person named Israel was originally named Jacob, which means supplanted or deceiver.  Guile is deceit. Jesus says that Nathanael is a genuine person.  Now we know that Jesus does not think that Nathanael is perfect, and this expression does not go that far to say that he is.  What is Jesus trying to do?  He is connecting to Nathanael where he was.

Nathanael is perplexed at the expression.  How do you know me?  Jesus’s answer is interesting.  

Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee. 

The second phrase about being “under a fig tree” is interesting.

In Jewish tradition, particularly in rabbinic literature including the Talmud, sitting “under a fig tree” (or “under one’s vine and fig tree”) has special significance.

The phrase appears in the Old Testament where it describes a state of peace, security, and prosperity – essentially the ideal life where each person can sit peacefully under their own vine and fig tree without fear.

In rabbinic tradition, this image took on an additional meaning: studying Torah. The fig tree became associated with Torah study because:

1. Just as a fig tree yields fruit continuously over a long season (rather than all at once), Torah study is ongoing and yields insights over time
2. The shade of the fig tree provided an ideal, peaceful place for contemplation and learning

So when you encounter references to someone sitting “under a fig tree” in Jewish texts, it often carries this double meaning – both literal rest/prosperity and the devoted study of Torah.

But the phrase wasn’t just general.  It had a very specific messianic connotation. 

The key passage is Micah 4:1-4, which is explicitly messianic in nature. 

Micah 4:1-4

1 But in the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow unto it.

2 And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.

3 And he shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.

4 But they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree; and none shall make them afraid: for the mouth of the LORD of hosts hath spoken it.

This passage describes the end of days when:

• The mountain of the Lord’s house will be established
• Nations will stream to it to learn God’s ways
• God will judge between nations and they’ll beat swords into plowshares
• 4 But they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree; and none shall make them afraid: for the mouth of the LORD of hosts hath spoken it.” (Micah 4:4)

This imagery of sitting under one’s vine and fig tree became a standard prophetic symbol for the messianic age – a time of universal peace, security, and the reign of God’s justice.

The similar passage in Zechariah 3:10 reinforces this: 

10 In that day, saith the LORD of hosts, shall ye call every man his neighbour under the vine and under the fig tree. (Zechariah 3:10)

Again in a context about the coming messianic era.  So in Jewish messianic expectation, the fig tree imagery represented:

• The cessation of war and threat
• Economic security and prosperity for all
• The peaceful study of Torah
• The fulfillment of God’s promises to Israel

This makes the New Testament reference to Nathanael “under the fig tree” even more intriguing if this is in Jesus’ thinking when he made this statement to Nathanael.  It could suggest not just that he was studying Torah, but that he was perhaps contemplating or longing for the messianic age.

Jacob (later named Israel, whose name meant deceiver, or one with guile)  had a vision of a ladder going to and from heaven.  Perhaps Nathanael had visions of a coming Messiah while he was literally  “under the fig tree”, and when Philip brought him with the claim that he had found the Messiah, Christ used that experience to connect to Nathan to his own real Messianic reality.

Whatever the case, it worked.  Look at Nathanael’s response.

49) Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel.

Nathanael went form cynical to believing pretty quickly.  Jesus met him where he was, and proved Himself to Nathanael.  How cool is that?

Apply

My pastor friend,  Bob Butler, has influenced my thinking on this passage.  He made a statement that stuck with me about Jesus.

Every person that Jesus ever met had offended him.

Jesus never stopped being God.  He was, is, and ever will be God.  Jesus was born with no sin nature, and never sinned himself.Every sin that has ever been committed was a sin first and foremost against God.  This means that Jesus lived among sinners.  This means that Nathanael had offended Jesus.

Yet this is not where Jesus started with him.  Jesus was called “a friend of sinners.”  I am so grateful for that. He came to seek and to save that which was lost.

Jesus starts with Nathanael where he was to bring him where he needed to be.

We ought to be like Jesus in that way.  We should not start with people where we would argue.  We don’t start with people where there will be offense.  We certainly have to get there, to call out sin.  Yet loving people and connecting with people where they are is the pattern that Jesus displays for us here.

People respond to love.  Don’t ever forget that.

Respond

1. Who can you connect to in a loving way today?  What would it take to connect with them?  
2. Are you grateful for how Jesus came for you?  Take a few moments to describe what Christ has done for you.