God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth

Ladder of Divine Ascent (St. John Climacus), 12th century.  St. Catherine's Monastery, Sinai Peninsula, Egypt

 

 Therefore, when the Lord knew that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John (though Jesus Himself did not baptize, but His disciples), He left Judea and departed again to Galilee.  But He needed to go through Samaria.  

 

So He came to a city of Samaria which is called Sychar, near the plot of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph.  Now Jacob's well was there.  Jesus therefore, being wearied from His journey, sat thus by the well.  It was about the sixth hour.  A woman of Samaria came to draw water.  Jesus said to her, "Give Me a drink."  For His disciples had gone away into the city to buy food.  

 

Then the woman of Samaria said to Him, "How is it that You, being a Jew, ask a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?"  For Jews have no dealing with Samaritans.  

 

Jesus answered and said to her, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, 'Give Me a drink,' you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water."  The woman said to Him, "Sir, You have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep.  Where then do You get that living water?  Are You greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well, and drank from it himself, as well as his sons and his livestock?"  Jesus answered and said to her, "Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst.  But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life."  The woman said to Him, "Sir, give me this water, that I may not thirst, nor come here to draw." 

 

Jesus said to her, "Go, call your husband, and come here."  The woman answered and said, "I have no husband."  Jesus said to her, "You have well said, 'I have no husband,' for you have had five husbands, and the one whom you now have is not your husband; in that you spoke truly."  The woman said to Him, "Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet.  

 

"Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, and you Jews say that in Jerusalem is the place where one ought to worship."  Jesus said to her, "Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father.  You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews.  But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.  God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth."  

 

The woman said to Him, "I know that Messiah is coming" (who is called Christ).  "When He comes, He will tell us all things."  Jesus said to her, "I who speak to you am He."

 

- John 4:1–26 

 

Yesterday we read that Jesus and His disciples came into the land of Judea, and there He remained with them and baptized.  Now John also was baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was much water there.  And they came and were baptized.  For John had not yet been thrown into prison.  Then there arose a dispute between some of John's disciples and the Jews about purification.  And they came to John and said to him, "Rabbi, He who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have testified -- behold, He is baptizing, and all are coming to Him!"  John answered and said, "A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven.  You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, 'I am not the Christ,' but, 'I have been sent before Him.'  He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom's voice.  Therefore this joy of mine is fulfilled.  He must increase, but I must decrease.  He who comes from above is above all; he who is of the earth is earthly and speaks of the earth.  He who comes from heaven is above all.  And what He has seen and heard, that He testifies; and no one receives His testimony.  He who has received His testimony has certified that God is true.  For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God does not give the Spirit by measure.  The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into His hand.  He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him."

 

  Therefore, when the Lord knew that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John (though Jesus Himself did not baptize, but His disciples), He left Judea and departed again to Galilee.  But He needed to go through Samaria.  Samaria was a region to the north of Jerusalem, between Judea and Galilee.  

 

 So He came to a city of Samaria which is called Sychar, near the plot of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph.  Now Jacob's well was there.  Jesus therefore, being wearied from His journey, sat thus by the well.  It was about the sixth hour.  A woman of Samaria came to draw water.  Jesus said to her, "Give Me a drink."  For His disciples had gone away into the city to buy food.  According to my study Bible, the Old Testament does not mention Jacob's well, although Jacob dwelt in this area (Genesis 33:19).  It notes that wells were significant because of their rarity and value in desert life.  Because of this, wells came to symbolize life itself (Psalms 36:9-10, 46:4; Isaiah 55:1).  This particular well, we're told, is maintained as a shrine even today, and pilgrims can drink from it.  The text tells us that Jesus is wearied from His journey, which shows us His complete humanity.  Not surprisingly the sun is hot and high overhead, for it is the sixth hour, which is noon.   In Church tradition, this woman is known as St. Photini.  

 

 Then the woman of Samaria said to Him, "How is it that You, being a Jew, ask a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?"  For Jews have no dealing with Samaritans. The Samaritans were a mixed race, and traditional enemies of the Jews, my study Bible tells us.  Although they worshiped the God of Israel, and they were also awaiting the Messiah, they accepted only the first five books of the Old Testament (the Pentateuch) as their Scriptures.  They had built their own temple on Mt. Gerizim, which the Jews destroyed in 128 BC. 

 

 Jesus answered and said to her, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, 'Give Me a drink,' you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water."  The woman said to Him, "Sir, You have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep.  Where then do You get that living water?  Are You greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well, and drank from it himself, as well as his sons and his livestock?"  Jesus answered and said to her, "Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst.  But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life."  The woman said to Him, "Sir, give me this water, that I may not thirst, nor come here to draw."   In the ordinary sense, the term living water applies to fresh, flowing water, from a stream or spring rather than a pond or cistern.  Jesus uses this term to indicate the grace of the Holy Spirit that leads to eternal life (John 7:37-39).  This gift not only remains in a person, my study Bible says, but it is so abundant that it overflows to others.  The Samaritan woman misunderstands Christ, and she asks, "Are You greater than our father Jacob?"  In the Scriptures, my study Bible explains, Jacob is a type of Christ, for it is Jacob who received the vision of the divine ladder (Genesis 28:12), which Christ fulfills.  Moreover, as Jacob gave this well for earthly, so Christ now gives the well of the Holy Spirit for eternal life.  

 

 Jesus said to her, "Go, call your husband, and come here."  The woman answered and said, "I have no husband."  Jesus said to her, "You have well said, 'I have no husband,' for you have had five husbands, and the one whom you now have is not your husband; in that you spoke truly."  The woman said to Him, "Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet."   Because Jesus knew that she was living with a man without being married, and as He also knew of her string of husbands, this woman perceives that He is a prophet.  As the Samaritans did not accept any prophets after Moses, my study Bible explains, the only prophet they expected was the Messiah foretold by Moses (Deuteronomy 18:15-18).   Christ's insight into people's hearts is recorded many times in the Gospels, and this underscores His divine nature.  

 

"Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, and you Jews say that in Jerusalem is the place where one ought to worship."  Jesus said to her, "Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father.  You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews.  But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.  God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth."  My study Bible comments that, if Jesus was truly the expected Prophet, then He is the One who could settle the historical argument about where worship was to take place.   However, He refuses to answer this earthly question, and instead elevates the discussion to the manner in which people ought to worship.  Moreover, He turns the attention to the One we worship:  God Himself.  The Father is worshiped in spirit -- that is, in the Holy Spirit, my study Bible says, and in truth -- that is in Christ Himself (John 14:6) and according to Christ's revelation.   That God is Spirit means that God cannot be confined to a particular location.  Jesus teaches that salvation is of the Jews:  My study Bible calls this an affirmation by Christ that true revelation comes from Judaism.  St. Athanasius the Great has written, "The commonwealth of Israel was the school of the knowledge of God for all the nations."  Even more importantly, here Jesus testifies that the Messiah, who was prophesied among the Jews, has now risen from among the Jews.  My study Bible comments that while the gift of salvation in Christ is to all nations, it has come to us from within Judaism.  The hour is a reference to the death and Resurrection of Christ and to the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, which inaugurates the worship of the new covenant.  

 

 The woman said to Him, "I know that Messiah is coming" (who is called Christ).  "When He comes, He will tell us all things."  Jesus said to her, "I who speak to you am He."  I who speak to you am He is literally translated "I AM (εγω ειμι/ego eimi), who speak to you."  I AM is the divine Name of God.  Its use here indicates a theophany, or revelation of God Himself, my study Bible says.  The use of this Name by a mere human being was considered blasphemy and punishable by death (see John 8:58; Mark 14:62). But, as Jesus Himself is divine, His use of this Name is a revelation of His unity with the Father and the Holy Spirit; truly, He is God Incarnate.

 

 Jesus reveals Himself to this woman at this place of mixed populations that the Jews don't acknowledge as their own, and apparently, neither does anyone else.  In fact for the Samaritans, their constant struggle is with the Jews over the location of the temple, and the correct understanding of their faith.  Jesus sets down a kind of precedent though, that works in a type of way that fulfills a type from the Old Testament.  Solomon's wisdom in deciding the oft-repeated case of the two women fighting over an infant, each claiming it as their own, is a kind of foreshadowing of Christ the Judge.  In the end, it was the woman who showed her compassion for the baby was the true mother, and Solomon's decision is lauded in the Scriptures as the "wisdom of God" (see 1 Kings 3:16-28).  In some sense, the Jews and Samaritans struggle over the place of the temple, but Jesus is the One who is Himself the Wisdom of God (1 Corinthians 1:30), whose character is marked by compassion.  And so, He offers the wisdom of God to this woman, in this crossroads of Jacob's well, for He is also the Ladder of which Jacob dreamed at this spot.  He tells her, "But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.  God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth."  It's utterly remarkable to contemplate that Jesus' revelations to this woman take place in this seemingly isolated spot outside the town where only the two of them speak alone.  Why this woman?  Perhaps to truly deliver the message that God is not about a place, but about where one is capable of worship in spirit and truth, wherever and in whomever that teaching can be received and lived. Finally, Jesus even reveals Himself.  She has faith enough to say with confidence of the Messiah, that "when He comes, He will tell us all things."   Jesus reveals, ""I who speak to you am He."  Why here?  Why this woman?  He reveals He is the Ladder of Jacob (Israel) that links heaven and earth.   Perhaps because she seems to be the least likely person who would be given this revelation, it is given to her to teach us about the transcendent reality of faith and the heart that can be illumined, which, incidentally is the meaning of her name, St. Photini.  In tomorrow's reading, we'll see her response, and find out more about her and the mission that lies ahead in her life.  

 

 

 

 

Come and see

 

 The following day Jesus wanted to go to Galilee, and He found Philip and said to him, "Follow Me."  Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter.  Philip found Nathanael and said to him, "We have found Him of whom Moses in the law, and also the prophets, wrote -- Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph."  And Nathanael said to him, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?"  Philip said to him, "Come and see."  Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward Him, and said of him, "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!"  Nathanael said to Him, "How do You know me?"  Jesus answered and said to him, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you."  Nathanael answered and said to Him, "Rabbi, You are the Son of God!  You are the King of Israel!"  Jesus answered and said to him, "Because I said to you, 'I saw you under the fig tree,' do you believe?  You will see greater things than these."  And He said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, hereafter you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man."

 

- John 1:43-51

 

Yesterday we read about the second and third day given in the Gospel of St. John.  On this day John the Baptist saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold!  The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!  This is He of whom I said, 'After me comes a Man who is preferred before me, for He was before me.'  I did not know Him; but that He should be revealed to Israel, therefore I came baptizing with water."  And John bore witness, saying, "I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and He remained upon Him.  I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, 'Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.'  And I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God."  Again, the next day, John stood with two of his disciples.   And looking at Jesus as He walked, he said, "Behold the Lamb of God!"  The two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.  Then Jesus turned, and seeing them following, said to them, "What do you seek?"  They said to Him, "Rabbi" (which is to say, when translated, Teacher), "where are You staying?"  He said to them, "Come and see."  They came and saw where He was staying, and remained with Him that day (now it was about the tenth hour).  One of the two heard John speak, and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother.  He first found his own brother Simon, and said to him, "We have found the Messiah" (which is translated, the Christ).  And he brought him to Jesus.  Now when Jesus looked at him, He said, "You are Simon the son of Jonah.  You shall be called Cephas" (which is translated, A Stone).

 

 The following day Jesus wanted to go to Galilee, and He found Philip and said to him, "Follow Me."  Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter.  Philip found Nathanael and said to him, "We have found Him of whom Moses in the law, and also the prophets, wrote -- Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph."  And Nathanael said to him, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?"  Philip said to him, "Come and see."  Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward Him, and said of him, "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!"  My study Bible comments here that no deceit means both having a pure heart and being straightforward with others.  

 

  Nathanael said to Him, "How do You know me?"  Jesus answered and said to him, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you."  Nathanael answered and said to Him, "Rabbi, You are the Son of God!  You are the King of Israel!"  It is not given to us what exactly happened under the fig tree (just as Christ's introduction to Philip is not detailed either).  According to St. John Chrysostom, my study Bible reports, this was the meeting place of Philip and Nathanael, and Jesus here is praising Nathanael for being so diligent and careful in is search for the Messiah.  (See also Psalm 32:2, for this phrase of praise.)  Christ's foreknowledge and His ability to see into Nathanael's heart stir him to this confession of faith.  

 

Jesus answered and said to him, "Because I said to you, 'I saw you under the fig tree,' do you believe?  You will see greater things than these."   And He said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, hereafter you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man."  My study Bible explains that the title Son of Man is a title of the Messiah that had a level of mystery in its meaning, indicating a man of heavenly origin who would usher in the Kingdom of God (Daniel 7:13-14).  In an Old Testament prophecy, Jacob saw in a dream a ladder connecting earth to heaven, upon which the angels of God were ascending and descending (Genesis 28:12-15).  Jesus is this "ladder" uniting earth and heaven, and is therefore this Son of Man.  In today's reading, we are given the fourth day of Christ's public ministry.  Jesus calls Philip and Nathanael, who see Christ as the true Light; the One who was revealed in the Old Testament, a lesser light.  According to my study Bible, this is a parallel to the fourth day of creation, in which was established the lesser and greater lights governing the night and the day respectively in Genesis 1:14-19.  

 

Jesus says of Nathanael, "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!"  As we begun reading St. John's Gospel on Monday, from its beginning (the Prologue, or the first 18 verses; see Monday's reading and commentary) we have remarked upon the power of identity that is present as a theme in this Gospel.  Important, and essential, is not just Jesus' identity as Christ, both fully human and fully divine, but also the understanding necessary to our faith that Jesus has come Incarnate into the world in order to restore us to our true identity, our true humanity -- for, as St. Gregory Nazianzus teaches, what His divinity touches is healed, restored.  And this, in a nutshell, is the key to salvation.  It, in fact, is our salvation.  For even death, the last enemy, was trampled by Christ's death, crucified on the Cross for us so that we might be with Him (John 17:24).  Key to Christ's identity as Son of Man, and also to our identity -- which is only true found in Him and through Him -- is that He is the "knower of hearts" (John 2:23-25; Acts 1:24).  For, as Creator, who has made us in God's image and likeness, He has come to restore our true nature to us, lost through what is termed the "fallenness" of our world; that is, the effects of sin in our world and the struggles we therefore inherit and are born into.  But through the Incarnation, He brings His divinity to our humanity to restore us, to "save" us.  And this is what He sees in Nathanael.  When we hear Nathanael ask, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" it may sound like an off-hand insult to us, but in reality Nathanael knows that the Christ was not prophesied to come from Nazareth, or even the region of Galilee, and this is what his question is given in reference to.  But Nathanael is also one not to be pulled into something without discerning what it's all about first; he's what we might call a "straight shooter."  That is, one who's mouth speaks from the heart.  And this is a kind of purity that Jesus admires, calling Nathanael "an Israelite indeed."  Interestingly, Philip responds with just the words that will appeal to a straight shooter who needs to see for himself, "Come and see."  (Also intriguing is that these are Christ's words to Andrew, Simon, and the unnamed disciple from yesterday's reading, when He's asked by them where He's staying, "Come and see.")  Coincidentally, today is the Feast of the Transfiguration, in which Jesus plainly showed to His disciples who He truly is, His divine identity in all His glory.  In this perhaps we can all understand that every one of us is invited to "come and see," to find the life in Christ for ourselves, to be touched by His grace and healed, even as these disciples will grow into greater faith and dependence upon Christ throughout the rest of their lives.  For the Lord has come to dwell with us (and within us), so that we may learn to depend upon Him and grow into the grace that grows in us, weaning away what does not serve God's purposes and building in us that true image and likeness He has come to lead us into through participation in His life.  Let us also "come and see" for ourselves.

 

Most assuredly, I say to you, hereafter you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man

 

 The following day Jesus wanted to go to Galilee, and He found Philip and said to him, "Follow Me."  Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter.  Philip found Nathanael and said to him, "We have found Him of whom Moses in the law, and also the prophets, wrote -- Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph."  And Nathanael said to him, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?"  Philip said to him, "Come and see."  Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward Him, and said to him, "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!"  Nathanael said to Him, "How do You know me?"  Jesus answered and said to him, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you."  Nathanael answered and said to Him, "Rabbi, You are the Son of God!  You are the King of Israel!"  Jesus answered and said to him, "Because I said to you, 'I saw you under the fig tree,' do you believe?  You will see greater things than these."  And He said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, hereafter you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man."

 

- John 1:43–51 

 

Yesterday we read that, on the second day of Christ's earthly ministry in St. John's Gospel, John the Baptist saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold!  The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!  This is He of whom I said, 'After me comes a Man who is preferred before me, for He was before me.'  I did not know Him; but that He should be revealed to Israel, therefore I came baptizing with water."  And John bore witness, saying, "I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and He remained upon Him.   I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, 'Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.'  And I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God." Again, the next day [the third day given in the Gospel], John the Baptist stood with two of his disciples.  And looking at Jesus as He walked, he said, "Behold the Lamb of God!"  The two disciples heard him, and they followed Jesus.  Then Jesus turned, and seeing them following, said to them, "What do you seek?"  They said to Him, "Rabbi" (which is to say, when translated, Teacher), "where are You staying?"  He said to them, "Come and see."  They came and saw where He was staying, and remained with Him that day (now it was about the tenth hour).  One of the two who heard John speak, and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. He first found his own brother Simon, and said to him, "We have found the Messiah" (which is translated, the Christ).  And he brought him to Jesus.  Now when Jesus looked at him, He said, "You are Simon the son of Jonah.  You shall be called Cephas" (which is translated, A Stone).

 

  The following day Jesus wanted to go to Galilee, and He found Philip and said to him, "Follow Me."  Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter.  Philip found Nathanael and said to him, "We have found Him of whom Moses in the law, and also the prophets, wrote -- Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph."  And Nathanael said to him, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?"  Philip said to him, "Come and see."  In yesterday's reading, we read about the calling of the first disciples, Simon (whom Jesus named Cephas, an Aramaic word meaning A Stone; Petros/Πετρος in the Greek, from which we derive the English name Peter); and then Andrew Simon Peter's brother.  There was another disciple led to Jesus by John the Baptist who was unnamed, and that is often surmised to be St. John, the author of this Gospel (as it was a custom for authors not to speak of themselves).  Here, Jesus calls Philip ("Follow Me") to become His disciple, and Philip found Nathanael.  Nathanael is also known to us as Bartholomew.  

 

  Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward Him, and said to him, "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!"  My study Bible comments that no deceit means both having a pure heart and also being straightforward with others.  

 

Nathanael said to Him, "How do You know me?"  Jesus answered and said to him, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you."  Nathanael answered and said to Him, "Rabbi, You are the Son of God!  You are the King of Israel!"  Jesus answered and said to him, "Because I said to you, 'I saw you under the fig tree,' do you believe?  You will see greater things than these."   My study Bible points out that what exactly occurred under the fig tree is not stated.  According to St. John Chrysostom, it notes, this was the meeting place of Philip and Nathanael, and Jesus was praising Nathanael for being so diligent and careful in his seeking of the Messiah.  Christ's foreknowledge and His ability to see into Nathanael's heart stir this confession of faith.  This is the fourth day given in the Gospel of John, in which Jesus calls Philip and Nathanael.  My study Bible comments that they now see Christ as the true Light; the One revealed in the Old Testament, a lesser light.  This parallels the establishment of the lesser and greater lights governing the night and the day respectively on the fourth day in Genesis 1:14-19.

 

And He said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, hereafter you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man."  This title, Son of Man, is a title of the Messiah that, according to my study Bible, had a level of mystery in its meaning.  It indicated a man of heavenly origin who would usher in the Kingdom of God (Daniel 7:13-14).  In an Old Testament prophecy, Jacob dreamed of a ladder which connected earth to heaven, and upon which the angels of God were ascending and descending (Genesis 28:12-15).  Jesus is the "ladder" who unites earth to heaven, and therefore is this Son of Man.  

 

 In yesterday's reading and commentary we remarked on the building up of Christ's body of disciples, and of His Church.  This is not something that happens overnight, or in some seemingly miraculous or instantaneous way.  In keeping with the reality of Christ's Incarnation, Jesus builds His Church as human beings must build organizations and communities.  These first disciples, in fact, come one by one, and not as an entire group.  They are first called in a way that is distinctly personal.  That is, Christ's first disciples come by way of John the Baptist, and they were first disciples of the Baptist.  In yesterday's reading (see above), this is made clear as John twice refers to Jesus as the Lamb of God and testifies to his disciples about Him.  John the Baptist explicitly directs two of his disciples to Jesus, "Behold the Lamb of God!" making it clear that He is the Christ.  These first two were Andrew and an unnamed disciple, often understood to be the Evangelist John himself.  From there Andrew found his brother Simon, whom we know as Peter after the name given him by Christ.  Following this (the next day) Jesus Himself found Philip, and called him, saying "Follow Me."  At this juncture, let us note the connections that happen one by one in this story.  There is John the Baptist, who teaches his own disciples about Jesus as the Lamb of God; one of these is Simon Peter.  Simon then finds his brother, Andrew.  From there Jesus finds Philip who has another kind of connection to this first set of brothers; he's from Bethsaida, the same city as Andrew and Simon.  Then Philip himself finds Nathanael and calls him to meet Jesus, saying, "We have found Him of whom Moses in the law, and also the prophets, wrote -- Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph."  All of these so far are individual actions, pulling people together one by one.  They are personal in nature.  There are connections between these people besides their discipleship to John the Baptist:  two are brothers, another is from the same town as the brothers, and clearly Nathanael is a friend already known to Philip.  Then there is a kind of an interesting snag:  Nathanael is skeptical.  What good thing can come out of Nazareth?  Nazareth, the town in Galilee in which Jesus was brought up, was not known for any prophecies regarding holy people, or having a particularly special identity in terms of the spiritual history of Israel.  So Nathanael asks, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?"   And Philip responds in an equally level-headed and down to earth way, "Come and see."  He's to find out for himself.  And, of course, Christ responds in a phenomenally positive way to all of this level-headed skepticism:  "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!"  All of this so far contains within it the most distinctively human elements we can find, of a sort of level-headed honesty we might even call "dull" in others, and a Messiah who praises that very quality for it possesses "no deceit."  There's no flight of fancy or fantasy for Nathanael.  We really cannot get less like the seeming mysterious or miraculous than such a story of gathering these particular people together.  This beginning of Jesus' ministry is as down to earth as it can get.  But then Nathanael immediately comprehends something about Jesus, that Jesus knows him, knows his heart.  Jesus tells him that He saw him under the fig tree before Philip called him, and Nathanael is convinced:  "Rabbi, You are the Son of God!  You are the King of Israel!"  Jesus answered and said to him, "Because I said to you, 'I saw you under the fig tree,' do you believe?  You will see greater things than these."  But Jesus assures him, He will see much, much greater things than this.  He tells him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, hereafter you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man."  This is a far more profound understanding of the Messiah than even the popular expectations of the Jewish people at the time, far greater than a King of Israel.  But Nathanael is rewarded for precisely his down to earth honesty, his complete lack of pretense.  It's a humbly human story, with disciples called one by one, not a mass of people convinced by something miraculous and stupendous in its effect, and a story that is built through a very personal faith which acts in the heart, a knowing of the soul, a recognition.  All of these very human elements in this story are a necessary part of the Incarnation, God's chosen way to make Himself know to His people.  And yet, hidden in plain sight, so to speak, is the very Ladder dreamt of by Joseph, upon whom the angels of God ascend and descend.  Jesus does not come into the world with great fanfare, with huge displays of power, with an overwhelming compulsion for people to follow Him or to do what He says.  He comes out of Nazareth relatively "unknown," but identified by the Holy Spirit to John the Baptist -- and from there, in this intimate personal way, his followers grow one by one, as called by Him, and led by the Baptist who prepared the way.  For this is our very human story, which contains the Creator, the Son of Man and Lord of all that is, Whom we also may carry with us in our human hearts (Revelation 3:20).

 

 

 

Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!

 

 The following day Jesus wanted to go to Galilee, and He found Philip and said to him, "Follow Me."  Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter.  Philip found Nathanael and said to him, "We have found Him of whom Moses in the law, and also the prophets, wrote -- Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph."  And Nathanael said to him, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?"  Philip said to him, "Come and see."  Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward Him, and said of him, "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!"  Nathanael said to Him, "How do You know me?"  Jesus answered and said to him, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you."  Nathanael answered and said to Him, "Rabbi, You are the Son of God!  You are the King of Israel!"  Jesus answered and said to him, "Because I said to you, 'I saw you under the fig tree,' do you believe?  You will see greater things than these."  And He said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, hereafter you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man."

 

- John 1:43–51 

 

Yesterday we read that, on the third day of Christ's ministry given in John's Gospel, John the Baptist stood with two of his disciples.  And looking at Jesus as He walked, he said, "Behold, the Lamb of God!"  The two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.  Then Jesus turned, and seeing them following, said to them, "What do you seek?"  They said to Him, "Rabbi" (which is to say, when translated, Teacher), "where are You staying?"  He said to them, "Come and see."  They came and saw where He was staying, and remained with Him that day (now it was about the tenth hour).  One of the two who heard Jon speak, and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother.  He first found his own brother Simon, and said to him, "We have found the Messiah" (which is translated, the Christ).  And he brought him to Jesus.  Now when Jesus looked at him, He said, "You are Simon the son of Jonah.  You shall be called Cephas" (which is translated, A Stone).   

 

  The following day Jesus wanted to go to Galilee, and He found Philip and said to him, "Follow Me."  Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter.  Philip found Nathanael and said to him, "We have found Him of whom Moses in the law, and also the prophets, wrote -- Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph."  And Nathanael said to him, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?"  Philip said to him, "Come and see."  Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward Him, and said of him, "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!"   My study Bible comments that no deceit means having a pure heart and being straightforward with others.  Nathanael is also known to us as Bartholomew.  While Jesus is said to be from Nazareth, where He was raised, Nathanael does not know that Jesus was actually born in Bethlehem, thus fulfilling prophecy regarding the Messiah.

 

Nathanael said to Him, "How do You know me?"  Jesus answered and said to him, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you."  Nathanael answered and said to Him, "Rabbi, You are the Son of God!  You are the King of Israel!"  Jesus answered and said to him, "Because I said to you, 'I saw you under the fig tree,' do you believe?  You will see greater things than these."  My study Bible says that what precisely happened under the fig tree is not something given to us in the Gospel.  St. John Chrysostom teaches that it was the meeting place of Philip and Nathanael, and that Jesus was praising Nathanael for being so diligent and careful in his search for the Messiah.  Nathanael is in turn stirred to a confession of faith by Christ's foreknowledge and His ability to see into his heart. 

 

 And He said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, hereafter you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man."  My study Bible explains that the title Son of Man is a title that had a level of mystery in its meaning.  It indicated a man of heavenly origin who would usher in the Kingdom of God (Daniel 7:13-14).  In an Old Testament prophecy, Jacob dreamed a ladder that connected earth and heaven, and upon which the angels of God were ascending and descending (Genesis 28:12-15).  Jesus is that Ladder who unites earth and heaven, and therefore He is the Son of Man.  

Today's reading gives us the fourth day described by John in his Gospel of the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ.  It parallels the fourth day of the creation story in Genesis, in which the greater and lesser lights were established by God, governing the night and the day in Genesis 1:14-19.  Here Philip and Nathanael are called by Christ the true Light, who was revealed in the Old Testament, which is a lesser light.  Jesus, as the Son of Man, is that Light that comes into the world, and is from the heavenly origin described by my study Bible.  As the Ladder between heaven and earth, the fulfillment of the prophecy in Jacob's dream, He is the Light who descends to become one of us.  But while He is the Light, He also shares His light with us, bestowing it upon us and making it possible for us to participate in His light and carry it ourselves (see Matthew 5:14-16).  The angels who ascend and descend upon Jacob's ladder are also the ministers of light who help us to go forward and carry that light within us as well ("Who makes His angels spirits, His ministers a flame of fire" - Psalm 104:4, Hebrews 1:7).  In a certain sense, John's Gospel is the Gospel of light, for this Gospel focuses so much on Christ as the true Light, and all the ways that light figures in our faith.  We should also remember that John's Gospel is the one that teaches us that "the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it" (John 1:5).  The word translated as "comprehend" means both to understand and to take in, to overcome (just as the English word does), and we should remember that this light has come into the world for us.  When we feel overcome by darkness, it is important to understand that the darkness itself, and those who choose simply to be a part of that darkness in the world, will neither understand nor overcome the light we seek.  Our burden and joy is to be bearers of that light in a darkened world, and this has been the mission of the Church and of believers from the beginning.  As disciples of Christ, we're taught to "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven" (Matthew 5:16).  In fact, in this Gospel, Jesus will say the same of Himself, that He is the light of the world (John 8:12, 9:5, 11:9), and that we need that light to walk in the darkness so that we don't stumble.  In some sense, we might view Christ as praising Nathanael as "an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit," for seeking to shine a light, so to speak, upon just who Jesus is, doing his "due diligence," as we might phrase it.  It seems more likely, however, that Jesus is praising Nathanael for his lack of flattery, for being straightforward.  Either way, that lack of guile is linked to one who may both receive Christ's light and shine it and bear it into the world, for truth is related to light.  The ultimate Light is Christ, who sees directly into Nathanael's heart, and who likewise knows each one of us more thoroughly than we know ourselves.  Let us seek to allow the light to shine in our hearts, to penetrate our deepest levels, to find us and show us where we need to be.  To have no guile, no deceit, is to hide nothing from God.  

Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward Him, and said to him, "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!"

 

 The following day Jesus wanted to go to Galilee, and He found Philip and said to him, "Follow Me."  Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter.  Philip found Nathanael and said to him, "We have found Him of whom Moses in the law, and also the prophets, wrote -- Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph."  And Nathanael said to him, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?"  Philip said to him, "Come and see."  Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward Him, and said to him, "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!"  Nathanael said to Him, "How do You know me?"  Jesus answered and said to him, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you."  Nathanael answered and said to Him, "Rabbi, You are the Son of God!  You are the King of Israel!"  Jesus answered and said to him, "Because I said to you, 'I saw you under the fig tree,' do you believe?  You will see greater things than these."  And He said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, hereafter you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man."

 

- John 1:43-51 

 

Yesterday we read that, on the second day given in John's Gospel of the beginning of Christ's ministry, John the Baptist saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold!  The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!  This is He of whom I said, 'After me comes a Man who is preferred before me, for He was before me.'  I did not know Him; but that He should be revealed to Israel, therefore I came baptizing with water."  And John bore witness, saying, "I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and He remained upon Him.  I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, 'Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.'  And I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God."  Again, the next day, John stood with two of his disciples.  And looking at Jesus as He walked, he said, "Behold the Lamb of God!"   The two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.  Then Jesus turned, and seeing them following, said to them, "What do you seek?"  They said to Him, "Rabbi" (which is to say, when translated, Teacher), "where are You staying?"  He said to them, "Come and see."  They came and saw where He was staying, and remained with Him that day (now it was about the tenth hour).  One of the two who heard John speak, and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother.  He first found his own brother Simon, and said to him, "We have found the Messiah" (which is translated, the Christ).  And he brought him to Jesus.  Now when Jesus looked at him, He said, "You are Simon the son of Jonah.  You shall be called Cephas" (which is translated, A Stone).

 

  The following day Jesus wanted to go to Galilee, and He found Philip and said to him, "Follow Me."  Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter.  Philip found Nathanael and said to him, "We have found Him of whom Moses in the law, and also the prophets, wrote -- Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph."  And Nathanael said to him, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?"  Philip said to him, "Come and see."  Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward Him, and said to him, "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!"  No deceit, my study Bible explains, means both having a pure heart and being straightforward with others.  

Nathanael said to Him, "How do You know me?"  Jesus answered and said to him, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you."  Nathanael answered and said to Him, "Rabbi, You are the Son of God!  You are the King of Israel!"  Jesus answered and said to him, "Because I said to you, 'I saw you under the fig tree,' do you believe?  You will see greater things than these."   My study Bible comments that what exactly occurred under the fig tree is not stated.  It says that St. John Chrysostom teaches this was the meeting place of Philip and Nathanael, and that Jesus was praising Nathanael for being so diligent and careful in his search for the Messiah.  It is Christ's foreknowledge and ability to see into Nathanael's heart which stir him to this confession of faith.  

And He said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, hereafter you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man."  Here Jesus uses the title Son of Man.  It is a title for the Messiah that had a level of mystery in its meaning, my study Bible says.  It indicates a man of heavenly origin who would usher in the Kingdom of God and is found in the Book of Daniel (Daniel 7:13-14).  In an Old Testament prophecy, Jacob dreamed of a ladder which connected earth and heaven, upon which he saw the angels of God ascending and descending (Genesis 28:12-15).  This "ladder" is Jesus, who unites earth to heaven, and is therefore the Son of Man. 

Today's reading gives us the fourth day of seven in the beginning of Christ's ministry.  Each one parallels the corresponding day of creation in Genesis.  Philip and Nathanael (who, by the way, is also known to us as Bartholomew) are called as disciples, and they see Christ as the true Light, the One revealed who was revealed in the Old Testament, a lesser light.  This parallels the creation of the lesser and greater lights governing the night and the day respectively on the fourth day in Genesis 1:14-19.   As we remarked in yesterday's reading, Jesus once again in today's passage shows his insight into people.  In John's second chapter, we will read that Jesus "knew all men, and had no need that anyone should testify of man, for He knew what was in man" (John 2:24-25).  Nathanael's startled and amazed reaction shows that He has understood this about Jesus.  And so, in today's reading in which we get a second collecting of disciples to Jesus, we are once again given a display of Christ's divine insight.  John's Gospel begins by speaking of the Logos, the Word.  That is, Christ in His divine identity.  In the readings from today and yesterday' we're given examples of a divine insight belonging to the Word, and how it reveals itself in glimpses in Jesus and this beginning of His ministry, in the calling of these first disciples.  It is striking, in this light, to consider also Christ's words which He will say later of His betrayer, Judas.  Perhaps it is no accident that these words also are found in John's Gospel:  "Did I not choose you, the twelve, and one of you is a devil?" (John 6:70).  We don't  really know if Jesus knew this about Judas from the beginning, but we might conjecture that such a one is chosen because Christ's ministry is for the purpose of salvation, "For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved" (John 3:17).  Jesus will also say, "I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance" (Luke 5:32).  At any rate, we can observe that right until the very end, Jesus will continue to attempt to save Judas.  For now, let us observe the glimpses we get of Jesus' divinity, revealed through His ministry.  As John has told us, the light shines in the darkness, but the darkness does not comprehend.  Nonetheless, His light is in the world and remains to guide our steps.  

 

Come and see

 

 The following day Jesus wanted to go to Galilee, and He found Philip and said to him, "Follow Me."  Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter.  Philip found Nathanael and said to him, "We have found Him of whom Moses in the law, and also the prophets, wrote -- Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph."  And Nathanael said to him, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?"  Philip said to him, "Come and see."  Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward Him, and said of him, "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!"  Nathanael said to Him, "How do You know me?"  Jesus answered and said to him, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you."  Nathanael answered and said to Him, "Rabbi, You are the Son of God!  You are the King of Israel!"  Jesus answered and said to him, "Because I said to you, 'I saw you under the fig tree,' do you believe?  You will see greater things than these."  And He said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, hereafter you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man."

 

- John 1:43–51 

 

Yesterday we read the passage on the third day given in John's Gospel:  John the Baptist stood with two of his disciples.  And looking at Jesus as He walked, he said, "Behold the Lamb of God!"  The two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.  Then Jesus turned, and seeing them following, said to them, "What do you seek?"  They said to Him, "Rabbi" (which is to say, when translated, Teacher), "where are You staying?"  He said to them, "Come and see."  They came and saw where He was staying, and remained with Him that day (now it was about the tenth hour).  One of the two who heard John speak, and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother.  He first found his own brother Simon, and said to him, "We have found the Messiah" (which is translated, the Christ).  And he brought him to Jesus.  Now when Jesus looked at him, He said, "You are Simon the son of Jonah.  You shall be called Cephas" (which is translated, A Stone).

 

  The following day Jesus wanted to go to Galilee, and He found Philip and said to him, "Follow Me."  Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter.  Philip found Nathanael and said to him, "We have found Him of whom Moses in the law, and also the prophets, wrote -- Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph."  And Nathanael said to him, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?"  Philip said to him, "Come and see."  Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward Him, and said of him, "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!"  My study Bible comments that no deceit means both having a pure heart, and also being straightforward with others.  We can read for ourselves the very straightforward nature of Nathanael, and also a kind of scrutiny or questioning that is not frowned upon, but praised here.  Nathanael's question is often understood in the context of prophecy, as meaning that no prophecy suggests the Messiah would come from Nazareth.  But he is unaware that Christ was born in Bethlehem, the city of David.  

Nathanael said to Him, "How do You know me?"  Jesus answered and said to him, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you."  Nathanael answered and said to Him, "Rabbi, You are the Son of God!  You are the King of Israel!"  Jesus answered and said to him, "Because I said to you, 'I saw you under the fig tree,' do you believe?  You will see greater things than these."  My study Bible observes that what exactly occurred under the fig tree is not stated here.  It notes that St. John Chrysostom teaches that this was the meeting place of Philip and Nathanel, and that Jesus was praising Nathanael for being so diligent and careful in his search for the Messiah.  Christ's foreknowledge and His ability to see into Nathanael's heart stir him to his confession of faith.  

And He said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, hereafter you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man."  My study Bible explains that the title Son of Man for the Messiah is one that had a level of mystery in its meaning.  It indicates a man of heavenly origin who would usher in the Kingdom of God (Daniel 7:13-14).  In an Old Testament prophecy, Jacob dreamed of a ladder which connected earth to heaven, upon which the angels of God were ascending and descending (Genesis 28:12-15).  Jesus is this "ladder" who unites earth to heaven, and is therefore this Son of Man.   This is the fourth day given of seven in John's Gospel of this beginning of Jesus' public ministry.   Philip and Nathanael are called, and they "come and see" Christ as the true Light, the One who was revealed in the Old Testament, a lesser light.  My study Bible comments that this parallels the establishment of the greater and lesser lights governing the night and the day respectively on the fourth day in Genesis 1:14-19. 

I am intrigued by the repeated words in today's reading, "Come and see."  These are the words from yesterday's reading that Jesus replied when Andrew and the unnamed disciple (thought to be John the author of the Gospel) asked, "Rabbi, where are You staying?"  Today we find that Philip says the same thing to Nathanael, after Nathanael asks, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?"  Philip tells Nathanael to come and see for himself.  On the one hand, we can find it highly instructive that Philip (whom we're told was found by Jesus, because Jesus wanted to go to Galilee and Philip was from the town of Bethsaida of Galilee) repeats the same words which Jesus said to those first disciples who were instructed by John the Baptist that Jesus was the Lamb of God (see yesterday's reading, above).  It is perhaps reading much into the text, but it is instructive that these first-called disciples are already repeating the words of Christ.  It teaches us how discipleship works, and gives us a model to go by.  Christ actions and words -- as transmitted to those who are invited to live with Him in order to learn from Him -- remain those which have been in turn transmitted to us.  For this is how Christ taught, by inviting those who would be His disciples to truly "come and see," and share His life in all ways.  So we must learn in the same way, being careful to know His words and methods and live in imitation of them, thus transmitting the faith to our present generation and our world, intact as it has been given to us.  Secondly, it tells us so much about how to experience our faith, and how it was given to these first disciples.  We each have to "come and see."  Not only is this fitting for Nathanael, whom Jesus has praised for his straightforward manner and diligence, but it seems to be fitting overall for Christ's very ministry and mission into the world.  Jesus did not appear in the sky and preach to the world from a detached place.  Nothing was revealed through declaration that all were then commanded to believe.  Instead, the Son of Man became one of us, lived among us, creating His public ministry at the end of His life -- and even then, the revelation of who He is and what He teaches comes as a learning curve for all those who are told to "come and see."  It is an experiential faith, a learning curve of coming and seeing for ourselves, just as these disciples must "come and see" for themselves.  God unfolds this great ministry of Christ in a particular way, and through the personal but for each of us, for all of us.  Christ manifests Himself in time, as a human being, so that we human beings may "come and see" and walk this path that unfolds for us through experience which touches each one and yet unites us into community through one cup:  His Passion, death, and Resurrection in which we are invited to participate in the Eucharist He gives us.  It reminds us of the words of the Psalm, "Taste and see that the Lord is good" (Psalm 34:8).  These are great, enormous mysteries that continue to be mined and pursued even all these centuries and believers that have come afterward, and yet they still unfold in ways that ask us to "come and see" -- not simply assent to a declaration or intellectual choice for belief.  In a blog post today, Fr. Stephen Freeman writes that Christ's Cross is the same one for all of us, in which we share, and are each invited to take up.  Let us understand that this is what we are all invited to "come and see" in the living experience of our faith, in His way for us.  

 

 

Most assuredly, I say to you, hereafter you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man

 

Icon of the Ladder of Divine Ascent, 12th century.  St. Catherine's Monastery, Sinai

 The following day Jesus wanted to go to Galilee, and He found Philip and said to him, "Follow Me."   Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter.  Philip found Nathanael and said to him, "We have found Him of whom Moses in the law, and also the prophets, wrote -- Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph."  And Nathanael said to him, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?"  Philip said to him, "Come and see."  Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward Him, and said of him, "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!"  Nathanael said to Him, "How do You know me?"  Jesus answered and said to him, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you."  Nathanael answered and said to Him, "Rabbi, You are the Son of God!  You are the King of Israel!"  Jesus answered and said to him, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you."  Nathanael answered and said to Him, "Rabbi, You are the Son of God!  You are the King of Israel!"  Jesus answered and said to him, "Because I said to you, 'I saw you under the fig tree,' do you believe?  You will see greater things than these."  And He said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, hereafter you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man."

 

- John 1:43–51 

 

In yesterday's reading, we were given the third day of Jesus' ministry in John's Gospel:  John the Baptist stood with two of his disciples.  And looking at Jesus as He walked, he said, "Behold the Lamb of God!"  The two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.  Then Jesus turned, and seeing them following, said to them, "What do you seek?"  They said to Him, "Rabbi" (which is to say, when translated, Teacher), "where are You staying?"  He said to them, "Come and see."  They came and saw where He was staying, and remained with Him that day (now it was about the tenth hour).  One of the two who heard John speak, and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother.  He first found his own brother Simon, and said to him, "We have found the Messiah" (which is translated, the Christ).  And he brought him to Jesus.  Now when Jesus looked at him, He said, "You are Simon the son of Jonah.  You shall be called Cephas" (which is translated, A Stone).

 

 The following day Jesus wanted to go to Galilee, and He found Philip and said to him, "Follow Me."   Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter.  Philip found Nathanael and said to him, "We have found Him of whom Moses in the law, and also the prophets, wrote -- Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph."  And Nathanael said to him, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?"  Philip said to him, "Come and see."  Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward Him, and said of him, "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!"  Jesus has already taken on three disciples:  one, unnamed, and considered by many to be John the Evangelist, author of this Gospel; and also Andrew and his brother Peter.  All were first disciples of John the Baptist, who introduced them to Jesus as the Lamb of God (see yesterday's reading, above).   The text tells us that Andrew and Peter were from Bethsaida, in Galilee.  Jesus was also raised in Galilee, in the town of Nazareth, although born in Bethlehem in Judea.  We aren't told how exactly, but Jesus found Philip first and called him to discipleship, saying, "Follow Me."  Then Philip found Nathanael, who is also known to us as Bartholomew.  Nathanael's question most likely comes as the town of Nazareth was not known in prophecy as one which would produce any great prophet or holy man, and certainly not the Messiah.  My study bible says that no deceit means both having a pure heart and being straightforward with others.  

Nathanael said to Him, "How do You know me?"  Jesus answered and said to him, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you."  Nathanael answered and said to Him, "Rabbi, You are the Son of God!  You are the King of Israel!"  Jesus answered and said to him, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you."  Nathanael answered and said to Him, "Rabbi, You are the Son of God!  You are the King of Israel!"  Jesus answered and said to him, "Because I said to you, 'I saw you under the fig tree,' do you believe?  You will see greater things than these."  My study bible comments that what exactly occurred under the fig tree isn't stated here.  According to St. John Chrysostom, this was the meeting place of Philip and Nathanael (see earlier verses in today's reading, above) -- and Jesus was praising Nathanael for being diligent and careful in his search for the Messiah.  It says that Christ's foreknowledge and His ability to see into Nathanael's heart stir Nathanael into his confession of faith that Jesus is the Son of God and King of Israel.  On this fourth day given in John's Gospel, Jesus calls Philip and Nathanael, my study bible explains, who see Christ as the true Light, the One who was revealed in the Old Testament, a lesser light.  This parallels the establishment of the lesser and greater lights which governed the night and day respectively on the fourth day in Genesis 1:14-19.

And He said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, hereafter you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man."   Here Jesus uses the title Son of Man for Himself.  My study bible says that this is a title of the Messiah, but one that had a level of mystery in its meaning.  It indicates a person of heavenly origin who would usher in the Kingdom of God (Daniel 7:13-14).  Jesus' words give us an image of an Old Testament prophecy, in which Jacob dreamed of a ladder which connected earth and heaven, upon which the angels of God were ascending and descending (Genesis 28:12-15).  Jesus effectively declares Himself to be this "ladder," who unites earth to heaven, and is therefore the Son of Man.

A famous saint of the Orthodox Church is called St. John Climacus (579-649).  "Climacus" essentially means "of the Ladder," and what he is known for is a system of ascetics in which one is given to understand that this Ladder which is Christ is also a model of ascent, in which a human being may become more "like Christ" in developing virtues and conquering selfish passions.  One Sunday in Lent is dedicated to his memory in the Orthodox Church.  His most famous work on ascetical life, read by monastics as well as lay people, is called The Ladder of Divine Ascent.   It is significant that Jesus refers to Himself as this Ladder in today's reading, in that the developments within the Church that would follow in later centuries broaden out and reveal more of what it means that Christ Himself is our Ladder.  Essentially, it is one way in which we might understand the continual unfolding of Jesus as fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets as our guidepost for a lifetime of faith in which we do not remain stagnant, but proceed to be healed and shaped in the light and life of Christ.  And so, we begin today with Christ prophecy for Nathanael, that if he were already impressed with what he'd seen, he would presently "see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man."  Just as in keeping with St. John Climacus' understanding of Christ as the Ladder of ascent for each one of us believers, as human beings who seek to live the life in Christ that He offers, so the title Son of Man conveys the idea of the Incarnation that encapsulates the very purpose of Christ as Messiah, sometimes called the "God-Man."  St. Athanasius (c. 296 – 2 May 373), among others, has taught that whatever was not assumed by Christ would not have been healed.  Therefore, Christ became Son of Man, fully human and fully divine, so that all that we are as human beings might also be healed through His full participation in humanity.  Our participation in His life through the mystical power of grace and faith in turn heal us.   This is how we are to understand that Christ is the Ladder for us.  Nathanael proclaims Jesus to be the Son of God and King of Israel because he perceives that Jesus has peered into his soul, just as we read in yesterday's reading that Jesus declared Simon to be Peter or Cephas, A Stone, the foundation of the Church.  Nathanael is declared to have no deceit, quite possibly in direct relation to Nathanael's question, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?"  Nathanael, through possibly plain-speaking and an unwillingness to flatter, coupled with a direct honesty, has revealed about himself that he seeks to cheat no one.  In American popular culture, there is an old saying:  "You can't cheat an honest man."  It implies that there has be at least a little deceit at work in someone who falls for a sales pitch that is too good to be true, a person who thinks they can get something for nothing.  Well, Nathanael shows himself to be this kind of honest man; he's not going to follow just anyone who tells him about a great find.  He's got to "come and see" for himself.  It is when Nathanael realizes that Christ already fully knows him that he declares Christ to be Son of God and King of Israel.  But Jesus will take him much further in that understanding, offering him the great revelation that He is Son of Man, and Ladder, coming into the world so that we all might be healed through His life.  We all would do well to take on the attitude of Nathanael with respect to his lack of all deceit, for it is an honest heart, without pretense or guile, that has met the conditions for faith in Christ, and to be led along on this Ladder, who will be able to see heaven open, and angels ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.  That is something to contemplate in a world beset by image and popular media, in which we so often fail to truly peer at ourselves.  We need Christ as our mirror, guidepost, and ladder to do that, so that we might be healed without deceit of others, or our own, getting in the way.

Come and see

 The following day Jesus wanted to go to Galilee, and He found Philip and said to him, "Follow Me."  Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter.  Philip found Nathanael and said to him, "We have found Him of whom Moses in the law, and also the prophets, wrote -- Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph."  And Nathanael said to him, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?"  Philip said to him, "Come and see."  Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward Him, and said of him, "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!"  Nathanael said to Him, "How do You know me?"  Jesus answered and said to him, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you."  Nathanael answered and said to him, "Rabbi, You are the Son of God!  You are the King of Israel!"  Jesus answered and said to him, "Because I said to you, 'I saw you under the fig tree,' do you believe?  You will see greater things than these."  And He said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, hereafter you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man."

- John 1:43-51

Yesterday we read that on the second day accounted for in John's Gospel, John the Baptist saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold!  The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!  This is He of whom I said, 'After me comes a Man who is preferred before me, for He was before me.'  I did not know Him; but that He should be revealed to Israel, therefore I came baptizing with water."  And John bore witness, saying, "I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and He remained upon Him.  I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, 'Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.'  And I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God."  Again, the next day, that is, the third day, John stood with two of his disciples.  And looking at Jesus as He walked, he said, "Behold the Lamb of God!"  The two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.  Then Jesus turned, and seeing them following, said to them, "What do you seek?"  They said to Him, "Rabbi" (which is to say, when translated, Teacher), "where are You staying?"  He said to them, "Come and see."  They came and saw where He was staying, and remained with Him that day (now it was about the tenth hour).  One of the two who heard John speak, and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother.  He first found his own brother Simon, and said to him, "We have found the Messiah" (which is translated, the Christ).  And he brought him to Jesus. Now when Jesus looked at him, He said, "You are Simon the son of Jonah.  You shall be called Cephas" (which is translated, A Stone).

 The following day Jesus wanted to go to Galilee, and He found Philip and said to him, "Follow Me."  Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter.  Philip found Nathanael and said to him, "We have found Him of whom Moses in the law, and also the prophets, wrote -- Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph."  And Nathanael said to him, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?"  Philip said to him, "Come and see."  Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward Him, and said of him, "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!"   Today's passage gives us the fourth day in Jesus' ministry, paralleling the fourth day of creation in Genesis (Genesis 1:14-19), in which the lesser and greater lights were established, governing night and day.  Philip introduces Nathanael to Christ as the true Light, revealed in the lesser light of the Old Testament.  No deceit, according to my study bible, means both having a pure heart and being straightforward with others.  Nathanael is surprised that humble Nazareth would be the birthplace of the prophesied Messiah (and indeed, it isn't; see Matthew 2:1-6).

Nathanael said to Him, "How do You know me?"  Jesus answered and said to him, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you."  Nathanael answered and said to him, "Rabbi, You are the Son of God!  You are the King of Israel!"   What exactly took place under the fig tree is not revealed in the text.  According to St. John Chrysostom, it was the meeting place of Philip and Nathanael, and that Jesus was praising Nathanael for being so diligent and careful in His search for the Messiah.  Jesus' foreknowledge and His ability to see into his heart stir Nathanael into his confession of faith.

Jesus answered and said to him, "Because I said to you, 'I saw you under the fig tree,' do you believe?  You will see greater things than these."  And He said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, hereafter you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man."  My study bible explains that the title Son of Man is a title of the Messiah that had a level of mystery in its meaning.  It indicates a man of heavenly origin who would usher in the Kingdom of God (Daniel 7:13-14).  In an Old Testament prophecy, Jacob dreamed of a ladder which connected earth and heaven, and upon which the angels of God were ascending and descending (Genesis 28:12-15).  Jesus Himself is this "ladder," uniting earth to heaven, and therefore the Son of Man.

Jesus' ministry grows one by one, as disciples are added.  It's interesting to note the pattern:  the text tells us that Jesus found Philip.   Philip is in some way connected to Jesus' first disciples, the brothers Andrew and Peter, as he's also from the same city of Bethsaida.  Then, the text says, Philip finds Nathanael, and despite Nathanael's skepticism, brings him to Christ, who greets Nathanael as he walks toward Jesus, saying, "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!"   Somehow, Jesus already knows Nathanael (who, by the way, is also called Bartholomew in the Gospels).  Jesus informs him that "before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you."   Somehow the hidden connections between all of these people exist before they are manifest in the flesh.  In the mind and knowing of Christ, they are already present.  It seems to give us a mysterious hint about time and about our own connectedness:  clearly, in the understanding of Creator, these elements are present before they are seemingly acted upon and decided upon consciously by you and I.  Perhaps it's simply that time is experienced one way by us, whereas in the divine mind of Christ everything is always present.  Jesus quotes from Scripture, dropping a mysterious hint about the interconnectedness of all things present here in this ministry:  He is that ladder upon which the angels of God are ascending and descending.   He is true presence in the vision of Jacob which ties heaven and earth together.  In His presence, therefore, all things become possible (Matthew 19:26).  Time and space are united in Him.  Therefore, as Son of Man, Creator and creature, He holds things present within Himself and makes them available to us.  The presence of the Church is full in Him, even as one by one disciples are gathered, mysteriously tied through one another in a kind of chain or network that seems to work through all things.  How does Christ know Nathanael already?  How did He see Nathanael under the fig tree, before Philip called him?  We can't know that, but we can take away from today's reading a sense of the depth of interconnection between all of us in faith, as our faith makes present Christ -- and indeed the Father and the Holy Spirit as well -- with us and within us.  In this great communion, we are all included, the entirety of the Church, the body of all the saints, from the most ancient of the Old Testament to those living in our world today, "a great cloud of witnesses," as St. Paul puts it.  Our faith works as a kind of communion whose depth is somewhere mysteriously within us and among us, that is working whether or not we are aware of it.  But most importantly, we rely on this hidden structure when we enter into communion in prayer.  When we pray for our lives to be guided in a particular way, for support, for help, we understand that we are in a mysterious sense connected with an entirety of a Church that is much more than a building we may go to on Sundays.  Worship services go far beyond a particular time and place, an experience on one particular day; we enter into the adoration of the angels.  We don't know how we may all be connected, but where Christ is, there the Church is in its fullness, and we enter into that place so that we may participate in it, in the ways meant for us.  Nathanael understands this at once with Jesus' words, and the plain-spoken, honest, and straight-forward man who "is an Israelite indeed" sees with a pure heart what we need to see.  By tradition, Nathanael will go on to preach in Armenia and in India, the former becoming the first nation to declare Christianity its national religion (AD 301).  He will die a martyr's death as an apostle.   Does Christ know this already?  We can't know the workings of the mind of God, but we can understand the depths into which Nathanael himself enters as disciple and apostle, the changing of the entire world into which he steps.   It begins with a pure and honest -- and discerning -- heart of "an Israelite indeed," one willing to examine, and to "come and see."   Let us come and see for ourselves.