1:48
Nathaniel is amazed that Jesus knows anything about him. God knows and understands us better than we do ourselves. What is motivating Nathaniel’s question? Is it curiosity as to how Jesus could know him, or is there some indignation in the question as well?
Jesus replies that He has seen Nathaniel before Philip called him. So perhaps Nathaniel was wondering if Philip had been telling Jesus about him.
A fig tree was associated with prosperity, and it was a place where rabbi’s sat for contemplation of the Law.
1:49
Nathaniel’s response is amazing. Suddenly he declares that Jesus is the Son of God and the king of Israel. Now this is a more amazing declaration than the one Jesus gave about Nathaniel.
Rabbi is used as a term of respect. Son of God is a messianic title, and any doubt over whether it was intended in that sense is removed by the following bit where he says that Jesus is the king of Israel.
How did Nathaniel know all this? It must have been revealed by the Holy Spirit, for he has received far too little information to deduce this by human reason alone.
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