Why does the Apostle Nathanael make that profession of faith after Jesus told him he had seen him under the fig tree?

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Dear Father Angelo,

Thanks for everything you do. Why does Apostle Nathanael make that profession of faith after Jesus told him he had seen him under the fig tree? Today’s gospel Jn 1:43-51.

Thank you

Answer from the Priest

Dear friend,

1. For the benefit of our visitors, it is appropriate to present the gospel passage you are referring to.

“Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one about whom Moses wrote in the law, and also the prophets, Jesus son of Joseph, from Nazareth.” But Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, “Here is a true Israelite. There is no duplicity in him.” Nathanael said to him, “How do you know me?” Jesus answered and said to him, “Before Philip called you, I saw you under the fig tree.” Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel’” (Jn 1:45-49).

2. Nathanael is amazed that the Lord knows him and asks: How do you know me? Has someone spoken to you about me?

Jesus answers him, “Before Philip called you, I saw you under the fig tree.”

By revealing some important fact of his life that happened precisely when he was under the fig tree, he shows that He knows it by his divine virtue, for which it is read in Sirach 23:28: “The eyes of the Lord are far brighter than the sun”

By his divine virtue he is present everywhere and sees into the depths of the heart.

3. Faced with such a statement, Nathanael bursts out in recognizing the divinity of Jesus (the Son of God) and that he is the awaited Messiah (the king of Israel!).

4. According to Saint Thomas, at that moment Nathanael recognizes the power of God in Christ.

Indeed, he recognizes his fullness of knowledge because he calls him “Rabbi,” which means, teacher.

He recognizes his divine nature by calling him “the Son of God,” who is the eternal Wisdom of God.

He recognizes that he is the Messiah because he is the awaited one of Israel, as his king and defender, according to the words of the prophet Daniel: “His dominion is an everlasting dominion” (Dn 7:14).

With the hope that the Lord may recognize in you what he said of Nathanael: “Here is truly an Israelite”, here is a person who has everything that I expect from him, I bless you and remember you in prayer.

Father Angelo