Encounters with Jesus : Nathanael

14.03.2021

Sunday March 14, 2021

Nathanael said to him (to Philip) : Can anything good come out of Nazareth ? Philip answered him : Come and see. John 1.46

Nathanael is far from being convinced when his friend Philip tells him about Jesus, the son of Joseph, from the city of Nazareth (John 1:45). How can Jesus of Nazareth be the one the prophets foretold (John 1:45) ? The city of Nazareth does not have a good reputation, it is even the subject of the unflattering saying quoted by Nathanael ! But he is ready to question his prejudices, he does not want to confine himself to what is said about Nazareth. He therefore accompanies his friend and meets Jesus himself. The result : he completely changes his mind. Something - or rather someone - good can indeed come from Nazareth! And not just a "good" person : the man before him is the Son of God, the King of Israel (v.49).

Why did Nathanael change his mind so drastically ? He seems to have been touched by the fact that Jesus knows his heart and his actions (verses 47 and 48). Jesus repeatedly showed that he knew the thoughts of men without being expressed (Mark 2.8 ; John 2.25). Such knowledge could scare us, right ? God alone knows our heart (1 Kings 8:39) ! But let's not be afraid : Jesus, who knows Nathanael's heart - and ours - is the one the prophets foretold. He is the Savior of the world : believe in him !

Allan Kitt

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Proposed Reading : Gospel according to John, chapter 1, verses 43 to 51.

Source (Live Today)