Tag: Evangelism

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Understanding Nathanael: Jesus and the Fig Tree Connection (John 1:47)

On By Ben JenningsIn Devotional1 Comment

(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.
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The Role of Relationships in Disciple-Making (John 1:44-46)

On By Ben JenningsIn DevotionalLeave a comment

(44) Now Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. (45) Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph. (46) And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see. (John 1:44-46)

Explain

v.44 – Geography and relationships

Jesus had already impacted Andrew and Peter. Now he was calling Philip as a disciple. This new way of getting disciples was interesting to Philip. The Messiah had arrived and he was doing things differently. No doubt Philip knew Andrew and Peter which explains the next verse.

v.45 – Sharing their discovery

Philip is already imitating Jesus in that he “findeth Nathanael”. Notice the pronoun “we”: “We have found him”. Who? The messiah was written of in the books of Moses and the prophets. This would have been an expression of all of the scriptures then written. Moses wrote the first five books, and the prophets wrote the rest.

Where did Moses write about the Messiah? Insert Deuteronomy 18:15-19.

Where did the prophets write about the Messiah? Psalm 22. Isaiah 53. Many more places speak of this Messiah who would come.

v.46 – A cynical response

Nathanael’s response reveals his doubt that anything of this worldwide, historic, prophetic importance could come from Nazareth. Instead of arguing, Philip simply replies, “Come and see.”

Apply

Relationships are key in evangelism and discipleship. All of these people – John the Baptist, Andrew, Peter, John, Philip, Nathanael, and even Jesus himself are interacting not only on the basis of the person of Christ, but on the relationships they had with each other.

Jesus Christ sells himself. What do I mean? Yes we proclaim Christ, and of course we “prepare to give an answer to every man that asketh…”. Yes we want to grow in our boldness and our ability to articulate. But in the sum of it all, Jesus Christ Himself can be experienced through the power of the Word of God, and through the convicting, regenerating, sealing, indwelling, and illuminating work of the Holy Spirit. Philip’s answer to Nathanael before he had much training at all was enough. “Come and see.” Jesus did the rest.

Respond

  1. What relationships do you have in your life that are ripe for evangelism and “discipleship”?
  2. How are you experiencing Christ daily?
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Andrew’s Evangelism (John 1:40-41)

On By Ben JenningsIn DevotionalLeave a comment

(40) One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. (41) He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ. (John 1:40-41)

Explanation

Here we are given the name of one of those two disciples, Andrew. He was one of the 12. He is known in the scripture for bringing people to Jesus. We see that he does that here.

He experiences Jesus, and is convinced of his position as Messiah. He then goes and finds someone he loves, in this case Simon, and declares the good news to him. 

We see faith exhibited here. Andrew believes that Jesus is the Christ strongly enough to take that position with Simon.

We see the idea of going here as well. He didn’t stay silent with that good news. He went and told someone that He loved about it.

Application

Let’s not complicate our spiritual lives and our spiritual responsibilities. We who believe that Jesus is the Christ, once we have experienced Him, should share this good news of who He is with others. A good starting place may well be with our family who we have influence with and whom we love. 

Response

  1. How is your faith?
  2. When was your last trip to “go tell” someone about Jesus?
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Understanding John the Baptist’s Role as a Forerunner (John 1:6-7)

On By Ben JenningsIn DevotionalLeave a comment

(6) There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.  (7) The same came for a witness, to bear witness of that Light that all men through him might believe.”

John 1:6-7

Explain:

Verse 6 introduces us to a man “sent from God” named John.  This is not the namesake of the Gospel, but John the baptist.  He came as a forerunner of the messiah who proclaimed who Jesus was and why He was coming.  This was predicted in the Old Testament.

Isaiah 40:3-5

[3] The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. [4] Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain: [5] And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.

Isaiah has been called “the Bible within the Bible.”  As the Gospels begin with the proclamation of the witness of the forerunner, the 40th chapter of Isaiah foretells of this prophet coming proclaiming the Messiah’s coming, and preparing people for His ministry.

This is also predicted in Malachi.

Malachi 3:1

[1] Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts.

What John the Apostle says here about John the Baptist is literally what John the Baptist said about himself.

Luke 3:15-18

[15] And as the people were in expectation, and all men mused in their hearts of John, whether he were the Christ, or not; [16] John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire: [17] Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and will gather the wheat into his garner; but the chaff he will burn with fire unquenchable. [18] And many other things in his exhortation preached he unto the people.

John the Baptist was not the Light, but he prepared people about Jesus Christ.

What was his aim?

“that all men through him might believe.

Who is “him”? Some say that “him” here is John the Baptist.  Some say that “him” here refers to the Light.  It works either way.  All people who believe eventually believe because of the evidence of who the Light is and was. John’s whole ministry was to get everyone to believe.

Apply:

The ministry of John the Baptist should be imitated by every person who is a Christ follower. We bare witness of the person and work of Jesus Christ. We point people to faith and repentance. We testify that we are not God, we are not the Savior, we are not the answer for people’s sins.  Jesus Christ is.

Respond:

God, I pray that today you’d help me to be a good witness for You.  I love you!  Amen.