Gò0dNews for Everyone
Graced With a Word from The Lord
“J
by Jonathon Wright
esus saw Nathanael coming toward Him, and
May we all be like Nathanael—honest, pure in heart,
said of him, Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom
and quick to believe in Christ. Those were the things that
is no deceit! Nathanael said to Him, ‘How do
brought more of Jesus into Nathanael’s life. They also will
you know me?’ Jesus answered and said to him, Before
bring more of God into our lives. The fact that Jesus saw
Philip called you when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.
Nathanael under the fig tree also reminds us that God sees
Nathanael answered and said to Him, ‘Rabbi, you are the
us even when no one is there. He is the God who sees and
Son of God! You are the King of Israel!’ Jesus answered and
cares for our needs. Nathanael may have had a very private
said to him, Because I said to you, I saw you under the fig tree,
conversation with God, and Christ let him know He heard
do you believe? You will see greater things than these. And He said to him, Most assuredly, I say to you, hereafter you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.” (John 1:47-51, NKJV) In John 1:43-46, Philip found Nathanael and told him about Jesus the Son of Joseph from Nazareth. This is the one that Moses and the prophets have foretold. Nathanael very honestly and bluntly replied, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip simply said, “COME AND SEE.” Those words would prove to be the beginnings of a great prophetic word. Despite his reluctant skepticism, Nathanael went to see Jesus. The very moment Jesus saw Nathanael, He gave him the ultimate compliment for a Jew. Here is an honest and true Israelite. Nathanael was very surprised by this comment, so he asked how do you know me? Jesus
his prayer. God showed Nathanael that He saw and cared
makes another shocking statement. He told Nathanael that
for him.
He had seen him under the fig tree before Philip came.
I am also reminded of another story in Genesis 21:14-19
Nathanael quickly exclaimed, “You truly are the Son of God
of Hagar and her child alone in the desert. They were about
and King of Israel.” It did not take long for Jesus to change
to die of thirst and had no hope, but God saw and helped
his skepticism into faith.
her find water and hope to survive. I am so glad the Lord
Jesus then gives him an encouraging prophetic promise.
sees and meets our needs in such profound ways. This was
His choice to believe in Christ brought even greater things
not the first time she had encountered the God who sees her.
into his life. He would see angels ascend and descend upon
See Genesis 16:1-13. And to think, some say the first miracle
Christ, the Son of Man. This seems to be a reference to the
was turning water into wine. See John 2:1-11. I say it was
Ascension that the apostles and 120 believers saw in Acts
Nathanael being graced with a word from the Lord.
referring to.
46 // May 2022
About The Author
1. However, there were many other miracles Jesus could be Jonathon Wright currently lives in Cleveland, Tennessee, and has been a member of the Church of God for about twenty years. He is a graduate of Lee University and Beacon University where he earned a BA and MA in Biblical Studies. He loves studying the Bible and has done so for over thirty years, but only now has God given him a desire and the opportunity to be a writer. He is currently beginning the process of writing a book on Genesis entitled, God’s Good Prophetic Plan: From Beginning to End.
