January 28, 2023
Is Your Sight Right?
“Jesus saw Nathanael coming to Him, and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!” Nathanael said to Him, “How do You know me?” Jesus answered and said to him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” Nathanael answered Him, “Rabbi, You are the Son of God; You are the King of Israel.” John 1:47-49 (NASB)
I wonder when I hear about those who consult with spirit mediums for guidance. Some of the new relabeling to deter folks from suspicion is now termed as “intuitive counselors.” I’ve never been to one, but I can only imagine the person who visits them waiting for the response by the medium, “I saw you, or I see you.” Most mediums are exploiters, while others dwell in the demonic realm. One thing is true, people are looking for answers. But what if someone gave information about yourself without asking you questions first? What if that person never solicited any information from you to get an idea of where you would or will be? Jesus saw where Nathanael was. He sees where each one of us are too.
Imagine the power of someone knowing something about you that no one knew. You never shared it with anyone. Imagine Jesus’ statement, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” Would that make the hair stand on the top of your head? I’d be rubbing my arms in nervousness if I experienced it. “I saw you.” Even if the person or someone saw you when you were unaware it still brings the thought of the unknown to us. Nathanael had this experience. In the verse above this gives us a glimpse of God’s omnipresence (presence in every place at the same time). He can see all things as they were in the past. He knows our beginning as well. Jeremiah 1:5 reminds us: “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, And before you were born, I consecrated you…” Nathanael’s meeting with Jesus started off with a very unsettling comment from Jesus. He saw him in the past. Nathanael had knowledge of something only known of himself. In any event, Jesus saw something that was not seen by other men.
It was customary for distinguished rabbis to rise early and pursue their studies under the shade of a fig tree. They also gathered there for times of meditation and prayer. Remember, if Jesus could see into Nathanael’s past. “But there is another reason; for as it belongs to God to know men when they are not seen, so also does it belong to Him to see what is not visible to the eyes.”[1] He also could see into his heart of the things he prayed and meditated over. Jesus saw the secrets of his heart. Nathanael comes with a concluding statement, “You are the Son of God, You are the King of Israel.” Nathanael knew at this time that Jesus spoke to him not as a man, but as God. This overpowered him and won him over. Nathanael saw Jesus for who He truly is. This all started because Jesus saw him from the past.
Jesus saw each one of us before we were born. He has seen our lives as in the past. He sees our future in eternity as well. Praise God today for His insight! Thank Him today for His goodness and love for us today!
[1] John Calvin and William Pringle, Commentary on the Gospel according to John, vol. 1 (Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2010), 79.