“Nathanael’s Confession”

Friday, March 22, 2024

Nathanael’s Confession

By Paul Earnhart

The accounts of the life of Christ are filled with testimonies concerning Him.  John the Baptist called Him the “Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” (Jn. 1:29)  Andrew called Him the Messiah (Jn. 1:41), and Philip spoke of Him as the one of whom Moses wrote in the Law and the prophets. (Jn. 1:45)

Some people today dismiss such testimony as mere superstition among primitive people who wanted to believe in a divine messenger.  But many of those who ultimately believed in Jesus were at first skeptical.  When Nathanael was first informed about Jesus he asked, “Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?”  Philip did not argue with him.  He simply said, “Come and see.” (Jn. 1:46)

John 1:47-49 tells of Nathanael’s meeting with Jesus.  Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward Him and said, “Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile.”  Nathanael said to Him, “How did you know me?”  Jesus answered and said to him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.”  Nathanael said, “Rabbi, You are the Son of God; You are the king of Israel.”

Many people in our time who are skeptical of the claims about Jesus have never really met Him.  Now, of course, they cannot meet Jesus in person as Nathanael did.  But the gospels are written to provide us with evidence equal to what Nathanael observed.  John wrote in his gospel, “Many other signs therefore Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these have been written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.”  (Jn. 20:30-31)

When people question the divinity of Jesus, the best thing we can say is, “Come and see.”  Read with them the inspired records of the life of Jesus.  Millions who have read have exclaimed as Nathanael did, “Rabbi, You are the Son of God.”  Those who will not read, must admit to dishonest prejudice.

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