1Start
When Philip told his friend Nathanael about Jesus, Nathanael asked, “Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth?” (John 1:46).
2Read Together
Nathanael came from Cana, a village a few miles from Nazareth (John 21:2). Philip had just been called by Jesus himself with two words, “Follow me” (John 1:43).
John 1:45–49 · King James Version
45Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph. 46And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see. 47Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile! 48Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee. 49Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel.
3What It Teaches
Philip skipped the argument and used the words Jesus had used the day before, “Come and see” (John 1:46).
As Nathanael came near, Jesus said, “Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!” (John 1:47). Guile means trickery. Jesus also told him, “when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee” (John 1:48).
John never tells us what Nathanael was doing under that tree. Jesus had seen him there, and Nathanael answered, “Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel” (John 1:49).
Jesus promised him, “thou shalt see greater things than these” (John 1:50). He knows each of us that well, and he has greater things ahead for us as we follow him.
4Talk About It
Jesus knew where Nathanael had been before they met. How does it help you to know that the Savior knows you that well?