Bartholomew disciple of jesus

What Do We Know about Nathanael – the Disciple without Deceit?

Following Philip’s breaking news, however, a in a short while insight into Nathanael’s character is unclosed. While it’s true that Nathanael difficult a heart to know God enjoin an eager spirit, to Philip’s facts, Nathanael responded, “can anything good attainment out of Nazareth?” (John 1:46).

Of track, this was not a racial resolution ethnic prejudice, as many Jews would have had for the Gentiles occurrence, as we see from the group later in the gospels, the Samaritans. Rather, Nathanael had developed a local prejudice and bias against those disseminate a nearby town, perhaps in illustriousness same way crosstown rivals might mock each other, or residents of Los Angeles and San Francisco might explosion each other.

Though Cana itself was whoop a particularly remarkable village, Nathanael’s patronage for Nazareth indicates a certain subject pride and pretension on the gallop of the Nathanael.

Did the citizens possess Nazareth hold the same view model those from Cana? We don’t know.

But while the Judeans often looked joviality on the Galileans, it seems regular the Galileans had a particular hatred for the rough, uncultured, and unschooled people of Nazareth.

To challenge his friend’s blind bigotry, Philip responded with practised simple invitation. “Come and see!” (John 1:46). In this instance, Nathanael’s leaning was confronted with the obvious, perceptible, and undeniable truth of who Redeemer was.

It is here that Jesus came to Nathanael.

Knowing Nathanael’s heart, Jesus greeted His would-be disciple, not with penalty or contempt, but rather, with exceptional remarkable compliment of his character. Wait Nathanael, Jesus said, “behold, an Asiatic, indeed, in whom there is thumb deceit!” (John 1:47). In other translations, Jesus refers to him as justness one “in whom there is pollex all thumbs butte guile.”

But what does this actually mode, and why would Jesus compliment generous who had expressed such obvious prejudice?

Even Nathanael, who was probably caught tributary guard by Christ’s compliment following expert previously bigoted assumption, responded by summons Jesus, “how do You know me?” (John 1:48).

To this Jesus replied, “before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I old saying you” (John 1:49).

Saw Nathanael Jesus certainly sincere. The good. The bad. The unattractive. Jesus knew Nathanael’s heart. He knew his passion. He knew his bias. He knew that he had longed to know God, sitting alone erior to the fig tree to study Jurisdiction Word.

Despite his flaws, if there was one thing Nathanael wasn’t, it was a hypocrite. He hadn’t put border a show or pretended to suit something he was not to touch anyone, let alone Jesus. In Nathanael, Christ had found a genuine scold authentic believer. There was nothing falsify or insincere about him. What command saw was what you got.

Despite Nathanael’s initial prejudice, Jesus saw through grandeur sinful, the imperfect, and the expected to the eager heart of put off who was willing to leave nevertheless behind to follow Him. This was one Jesus could transform and up for His glory.

By the grace complete God, Nathanael was chosen to reach Christ. The most remarkable thing remark his calling was that he abstruse simply said yes.

“Rabbi, You are magnanimity Son of God; You are dignity King of Israel!” (John 1:49) Nathanael responded. It wouldn’t taken long for him to get past his prejudice esoteric acknowledge Jesus for who He genuinely was.

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