This week we’re sharing extracts from our new Bible Study, “Reading Through John with The Devoted Collective. Details on how to join us for this study are at the end of today’s Daily Dose. “Seen and Known” was written by Ashley Kelly.
Read: John 1:35-51
There it was, a mysterious envelope waiting for me at the bottom of my suitcase. My heart raced as I knelt down and picked it up. Slowly, I opened the envelope, unfolded the letter within, and began to read. The carefully printed words inside changed my life forever.
It was a love letter. Not just any love letter, though; it was the letter my heart had been longing to receive. As a twenty-year-old hopeless romantic, I was convinced my crush barely knew I existed. We were part of a ministry training program with forty other young adults, and I felt utterly unseen among them. This life-changing letter, though, proved me wrong, while also revealing to me the power of being seen.
In today’s reading, we encounter one of the lesser known disciples of Jesus: Nathanael. He is mentioned only a couple of times in John and not at all in the other Gospels. There is speculation that Nathanael and Bartholomew, who we do hear about elsewhere, may be the same man. Regardless, my interest is drawn towards him specifically because of how rarely he is mentioned, convinced there must be significance to his appearance here.
In verse 43, Jesus utters His famous words to Phillip: “Follow me.” Philip immediately runs for Nathanael, eager to tell him about Jesus—the One for whom they had been waiting and hoping; the One foretold by Moses and the prophets. The Messiah. There’s a little back and forth between the friends, but eventually Nathaniel responds to Philip’s invitation to “‘come and see’” (v.46).
The men approach Jesus as He calls out to Nathanael: “Here truly is an Israelite in whom there is no deceit” (v.47). Such kind words from Jesus, especially towards a man He has yet to meet. It will be revealed in John 2:25 (and many subsequent times in this Gospel) that Jesus, in fact, knows the heart of every person. Thus, these are words of affirmation and identification spoken to Nathanael, a true revelation of his character. Interestingly, these words draw a comparison to the man from whom the Israelites derive their name—Jacob, or Israel, one of the patriarchs of faith from Genesis. Unlike Nathanael, though, Jacob was a man with a history of much deceit.
Jesus speaks straight to the heart of Nathanael, but it does not seem to penetrate until He speaks these words, “I saw you while you were still under the fig tree” (v.48). Immediately, something is unlocked inside of Nathanael, and he believes Jesus is the One, the Son of God, the King of Israel! Jesus praises Nathanael’s belief, revealing he will witness even greater things—not least of which is seeing Jesus as the stairway to Heaven (v.51), yet another connection to Jacob (Genesis 28).
What was Nathanael doing under the fig tree? Perhaps he was studying Scripture, praying, sleeping—we can only postulate. What we do know is Jesus saw him. He was seen and known according to his own character—not that of his ancestor’s. He was seen by the only One who could truly know him—and that was enough.
We all yearn for those words, don’t we? “I see you. I know you—the real you.” All those years ago, when I opened that letter and read the words my heart had longed for, something was unlocked inside of me. I was seen. I was known. I was loved. How much more can we say that about Jesus? He sees us. He knows us. He loves us.
Nathanael may be unseen in the bigger story of the Gospels, but he is not unseen by the One about whom the Gospels are written. And neither are you. Being seen and known by Jesus is enough—and it will change your life forever.
Journey through the Gospel of John with us! Starting Monday, August 3rd, we’ll walk together in community via a dedicated Facebook group as we rediscover the wonder of Jesus—the living Word who was with God from the beginning.
Using our simple Read, Reflect, Respond method, you’ll engage deeply with Scripture, be encouraged through devotionals, and apply what you learn in a practical way—growing your confidence in the truth of the gospel.
Preorder your print copy of Reading Through John with The Devoted Collective here or grab a digital copy here.
