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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.” John
1:45–46
Nathanael, who also goes by the name Bartholomew, reacted strongly
to the news from his friend Philip that they had found the promised
Messiah. Why did Nathanael react this way? Most likely because it
was common knowledge among the Jews that the promised Messiah would
come from Bethlehem, not from Nazareth. So Nathanael immediately
raises this doubt because of Jesus’ supposed origin. Of course,
Jesus actually was born in Bethlehem and only later moved to
Nazareth, but Nathanael did not immediately realize this.
The first lesson to ponder today is that, just like Nathanael, we
can easily doubt matters of faith because we do not fully
understand. Perhaps if Philip had come and said that Jesus was born
in Bethlehem but raised in Nazareth, then Nathanael may have been
more immediately open. But this encounter most likely unfolded as
it did, with Nathanael’s initial doubt, because the Holy Spirit,
Who inspired these Scriptures, wanted us to learn an important
lesson. The lesson we must learn is that we must not close the door
on the Truth just because something doesn’t immediately make sense
to us. Doubts are never from God. The good news in this Gospel
passage is that, even though Nathanael did immediately express a
certain doubt, he remained open to what Philip was saying. Philip,
in answer to this doubt, said the best thing he could have said. He
said, “Come and see.”
What is it in your life that seems confusing to you in regard to
your life or in regard to the many truths of our faith? If there is
something that you struggle with in this way, then listen to the
words of Philip and allow them to be spoken to you: “Come and
see.”
Once Philip brought Nathanael to Jesus, Nathanael quickly professed
his full faith in Jesus as the “Son of God” and the “King of
Israel.” Jesus said very little to Nathanael to convince him of
these truths. Jesus simply told Nathanael that he had seen him
sitting under the fig tree and that He knew that Nathanael was a
man without guile. To be without guile means that you are not
two-faced; rather, you are a very honest and straightforward
person. Nathanael’s immediate realization of the greatness of Jesus
could have only come by the gift of grace working in his soul. He
came to see Jesus and believed through the interior gift of
faith.
The lesson of Nathanael tells us that if we bring our confusion to
our Lord in faith and openness, all will be made clear. We will
have our temptations to doubt removed, and we will be able to have
faith that goes far beyond human reason alone.
Reflect, today, upon the genuineness and openness of the heart of
Nathanael. Bring to our Lord any and every question you have with
the expectation that you will receive what you need. Faith does not
usually come through convincing arguments or detailed deductive
reasoning. It normally comes through a pure and simple openness to
the Voice of God speaking within our soul. But when the gift of
faith is given, it brings with it a holy certainty that cannot be
doubted.
My loving Lord, You invite all of us to come to You, to see You
and to have faith in You. You truly are the Son of God and the King
of all. Please open my mind to all that You wish to say to me so
that I may shed my doubts and come to a transforming faith in all
things. Jesus, I trust in You.
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Featured image above: Exhibit in the Princeton
University Art Museum By Daderot, via Wikimedia Commons
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