Nathanael: Skeptical, Honest, Seen

Dear Listeners,

Today's episode marks the halfway point of Season 2, and I'm so glad you've joined me on this podcast adventure.

Have you ever heard of Nathanael? If not, I understand. He was one of Jesus' 12 disciples, yet he remains little-known. May this message inform and inspire you regarding Nathanael's character as well as truths about the Lord Jesus Christ.

Thank you for tuning in. Please let me know if you have any prayer requests by e-mailing emily@proclaiminghimtowomen.com.

In Christ's Love,
Emily

Transcript

Did you know that in Christ you have an indestructible life?

That’s fantastic news all the time, but it’s especially encouraging when life gets hard or feels uncertain.

Don’t give up!

Satan can’t have you, the world can’t overcome you, and the challenges you face can’t stop you!

In Christ, you’re indestructible.

***Music Interlude***

Hello everyone, and welcome to Indestructible Life, a podcast for women who want to learn more about God and themselves through the lives of Bible people.

I’m Emily Wickham, a wife and mom plus a writer and speaker—but most importantly—I’m a woman loved by God, just like you.

Well, time is moving right along, and today’s message brings us halfway through season 2 and our study of people in the book of John.

Wow! Thank you for being part of this ministry.

I hear from some of you every now and then, and your feedback encourages me.

Please know I value you and pray God uses these Bible teachings for His glory in your life.

And speaking of God using these teachings in your life, I have an idea.

I’d love to feature your testimony of how God is using this podcast in your life.

You can share your thoughts as a review, and I might decide to share part or all of it with everyone at the beginning of the next episode.

I really think this will be a fun way to connect and celebrate what God is doing through Indestructible Life.

Also, just a couple other things:

·      First, if you’re ever interested in being kept in the loop with what God is doing through my overall ministry, please subscribe to my monthly ministry update at proclaiminghimtowomen.com.

·      And secondly, episode 5 will be coming to you earlier than normal in June. I haven’t narrowed down a date, but Lord willing, it will be before June 13th.

Alright, let’s move on to today’s message.

You know, it took me longer than normal to decide who should be our focus for this episode.

But somehow the Lord took me back to John 1, and I wondered how I had missed Jesus’ interactions with Andrew, Peter, Philip, and Nathanael.

It became clear the Holy Spirit was directing me to take a closer look at Nathanael, one of the 12 disciples who doesn’t appear much in Scripture.

In fact, he’s only covered in John 1 and John 21 although there are other Bible verses that refer to him as Bartholomew, his other name.

Now, that in itself was a discovery for me, because I did not know Nathanael and Bartholomew were the same person.

One article stated, and I quote, “Most Bible scholars believe Nathanael and Bartholomew were the same person. The name Bartholomew is a family designation, meaning "son of Tolmai." Nathanael means "gift of God." In the synoptic Gospels, the name Bartholomew always follows Philip in lists of the Twelve. In the Gospel of John, Bartholomew is not mentioned at all;
 Nathanael is listed instead, after Philip”[1] (end quote).

So, although the Bible doesn’t specifically state Nathanael and Bartholomew were the same person, I tend to agree with the assessment I just read.

Also, the fact that the gospel of John puts Nathanael in the direct company of other disciples when they were called by Jesus as well as when they met with their risen Lord at their seaside breakfast compels me to consider Nathanael and Bartholomew as the same person. 

And the more I’ve considered Nathanael’s interaction with Jesus, the more curious I’ve become.

Aspects of their dialogue in John 1 puzzled me at first, and it’s been an enlightening experience as I’ve researched and learned in preparation for this message.

So, I hope you’re excited to learn more from aspects of Nathanael’s character.

Let me get us started by reading today’s passage, John 1:35-51…

Please pray with me…

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Why did Nathanael ask if anything good could come from Nazareth?

It seems like a negative statement for him to make right after Philip told him they’d found the One Moses and the prophets wrote about.

But evidently, Nazareth didn’t have the greatest reputation.

According to gotquestions.org, and I quote, “Nazareth, and all of the area around Galilee, was seen as a low and wicked place”[2] (end quote).

Also, Joel Ryan at biblestudytools.com referred to the people of Nazareth as rough, uncultured, and uneducated.[3]

This information reveals why Nathanael was skeptical about anything good coming from Nazareth.

And I have to say, learning about this unfavorable perspective of Nazareth makes me love Jesus even more.

He was willing to come to earth in the most inconspicuous manner.

He wasn’t born into a prominent, wealthy family but entered this world into a lowly and poor situation.

Now we find out even the area He grew up in, Nazareth, was looked down upon.

There was nothing about Jesus’ appearance or societal standing that impressed people, yet He succeeded in securing salvation and eternal life for all who believe in Him.

He conquered death and rose back to life!

Our Lord is more than amazing, and I trust seeing this detail will inspire you to worship Him yet again.

Okay, back to Nathanael’s question.

First of all, let’s keep in mind he was speaking with Philip, who appears to have been a good friend.

I think Nathanael felt safe expressing his innermost thought to his friend, and I’m sure you know what I’m talking about.

There are certain people in our lives who we can share with in a transparent way.

We can tell them things we wouldn’t necessarily tell everyone, and each of these people are a gift from God.

The Lord knows we need trusted people to confide in because it lightens our load.

Yet we need to choose these people carefully.

We should entrust ourselves to those who love the Lord and walk in His ways… people who sincerely seek God and aim to live for Him.

As for Nathanael, he spoke his mind to Philip about the condition of Jesus’ hometown, Nazareth.

But even though he was skeptical, he respected Philip enough to follow him to Jesus.

I love that.

God is so kind to put people in our lives who can help us grow closer to Him.

Let’s not miss their efforts to point us to Jesus. 

Let’s not disregard their godly advice.

Even though we might be initially skeptical like Nathanael, let’s give credence to the wise counsel of Christian friends because it might be God’s way of directing us into Christ’s presence.

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Now, there’s another aspect of Nathanael’s character I want us to see.

He was honest.

Listen to Jesus’ evaluation in verse 47.

When He saw Nathanael, He said, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!”

The more I’ve thought about this, here’s what I find remarkable.

Think back with me to the founding fathers of the nation of Israel: Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

Despite their faith and other positive qualities, each of them practiced deceit at least once. 

Abram asked his beautiful wife, Sarai, to tell the Egyptians she was his sister because he was afraid they would kill him in order to have her.

Years later, Abraham and Sarah’s son, Isaac, deceived the men of Gerar for the same reason concerning his wife, Rebekah.

He was afraid they would kill him since she was beautiful.

And then there was Jacob.

He deceived his father, Isaac, by pretending to be his twin brother so he could receive Esau’s blessing.

We can see from these three examples that deceit tainted the testimony of Israel’s founding fathers.

And to me, their failure in this area makes Jesus’ statement about Nathanael being without deceit especially noteworthy.

It reminds me of Psalm 51:6, which says, “Behold, Thou dost desire truth in the innermost being, And in the hidden part Thou wilt make me know wisdom.”

God delights in honesty.

He wants us to be honest with ourselves, honest with others, and honest with Him.

Nathanael didn’t follow in the footsteps of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the realm of deceit.

And let me add another thought.

One source I read commented on Philip and Nathanael’s dedication to studying the Old Testament Scriptures along with looking for their Messiah.[4]

This is supported by Philip’s first mention of Jesus in verse 45 in which he said, “We have found Him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote.”

You know, I didn’t appreciate all these details about Nathanael the first few times I read through this entire passage.

But by meditating on this Bible portion, talking to the Lord about what I didn’t understand, and reading other people’s insights, I’ve gained a better grasp of this little-known disciple.

I’ve come to see Nathanael’s devotion to Scripture and desire for the Lord indicate the honorable nature of his character.

Nathanael cared deeply about God’s ways and sought the Scriptures to understand more about the Messiah who had been promised to the nation of Israel.

I’m convinced Nathanael was a true and honest man.

What about us?

Are we honest with others, or do we try to arrange details to our liking?

Are we honest with God, confessing to Him by admitting when we’re wrong and asking for forgiveness?

Are we honest with ourselves, or do we attempt to avoid truth by staying busy, doing good things, and so on? 

Let’s remember Nathanael, a man Jesus credited for his honesty.

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I also want us to consider Nathanael’s response to Jesus’ opening words.

He heard the Lord describe him as an Israelite without deceit, and he wondered out loud, asking Jesus, “How do you know me?”

Because think about it.

Jesus had never met Nathanael, so how could He know what kind of person he was?

Nathanael instantly—and very understandably—wondered how Jesus knew him.

And Jesus’ answer takes us to the final aspect I want us to grasp about this man of God.

In verse 48, the Lord said, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.”

I considered a few options about my last descriptive word for Nathanael, but I just sensed someone—or maybe even more than one—needed to hear this description: Nathanael was seen.

Not only did the Lord Jesus Christ know Nathanael to the core of his being, He also saw him in every part, every activity of his life.

Psalm 139:3 says, “Thou dost scrutinize my path and my lying down, And art intimately acquainted with all my ways.”

Verses 15 and 16 continue, “My frame was not hidden from Thee, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth. Thine eyes have seen my unformed substance; And in Thy book they were all written, The days that were ordained for me, When as yet there was not one of them.”

In Genesis 16:13, Hagar identifies God as the God who sees because He saw all she experienced at the hands of Abram and Sarai.

And Matthew 10:30 tells us “the very hairs of your head are all numbered.”

Jesus saw Nathanael as he sat under the fig tree, and a blogger named Mimi Davis provides further insight regarding this detail.

She explained, and I quote, “Fig trees provided excellent shade from the sun and a common practice was to sit under the tree’s branches to contemplate and meditate on scripture”[5] (end quote).

Jesus saw Nathanael as he sat and studied the Scriptures, and when He revealed this fact, Nathanael saw Jesus for who He is: the Son of God and King of Israel.

God has the perfect way of reaching individual hearts.

He doesn’t draw every person to Christ in exactly the same way.

He connects with us based on how He made us and in accordance with what will resonate with us.

For Nathanael, knowing Jesus saw him first totally awed him and led him to faith in Christ.

Your story might differ, but even though God is creative and reaches hearts in different ways, He always leads people to His One and only Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Now, I realize most if not all of you who listen to this podcast already believe in Christ.

But if you don’t, I invite you to see Jesus just as Nathanael saw Him that day long ago.

Jesus is fully God and fully Man, the promised King of Israel.

Nathanael’s faith in Christ stands out as a lifechanging moment, and it will be the same for you.

Jesus died on the cross for our sins, was buried, and rose again on the third day.

Do you believe in Him?

And for those who already have trusted Christ as Savior, may you be encouraged today by knowing Jesus sees you just as He saw Nathanael.

Wherever you are, whatever you’re doing, or whatever’s being done to you, the Lord sees you and loves you.

Open your heart again to Jesus and ask Him to show you even greater things.

I say this in reference to John 1 verses 50 and 51.

You see, Jesus told Nathanael he’d see greater things than the fact He saw him under the fig tree.

The Lord promised Nathanael he’d see the heavens opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”

Now, you might wonder like I did what that means, so let me paraphrase an insight from a writer named Nick Cady. 

When Jesus made this statement, He was referring to an Old Testament story in Genesis 28.

Jacob had a dream about a ladder that touched heaven and earth, and the angels were ascending and descending on it.

And let me quote this next part:

“What Jesus was saying to Nathanael in John 1:51 is that HE is Jacob’s ladder! He is the bridge that spans the gap between Heaven and Earth that God pictured to Jacob in that vision! It is in Him that God has come from Heaven to Earth in order to do for us what we cannot do for ourselves: to lift us up into relationship with Him and give us eternal life”[6] (end quote).

The Lord revealed some amazing truths to Nathanael when they met in person.

And most significantly, the Lord revealed Himself.

Let’s pray…

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Thanks for listening to this message about Nathanael, the disciple who was skeptical, honest, and seen.

Please share a review about how this podcast is helping you, and until next time, this is Emily Wickham.

Remember, God loves you!

In Christ, you’re indestructible.

[1] https://www.csmedia1.com/southhillsbc.org/the_apostles_lesson7.pdf
[2] https://www.gotquestions.org/Bartholomew-in-the-Bible.html
[3] https://www.biblestudytools.com/bible-study/topical-studies/what-do-we-know-about-nathanael-the-disciple-without-deceit.html
[4] https://www.biblestudytools.com/bible-study/topical-studies/what-do-we-know-about-nathanael-the-disciple-without-deceit.html
[5] https://sweeterthanhoneyministry.com/2016/07/25/the-twelve-apostles-of-jesus-bartholomewnathanael/
[6] https://nickcady.org/2020/07/02/reader-questions-was-jesus-promise-in-john-151-ever-fulfilled/