Jesus's Premonition Regarding Nathanael (TMF:2995)
Friday, October 30, 2026
by Daniel Litton Listen to the Feature
Verse 47: “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 him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” Jesus answered him, “Because I said to you, ‘I saw you under the fig tree,’ do you believe? You will see greater things than these.” Jesus’ apparent knowledge of Nathanael’s character displays that he had some inner, behind-the-scenes knowledge of what Nathanael was actually like. This seems to impress Nathanael, as it was articulated of his character, that he was known to be lacking in deceitfulness. Jesus expounds on this, in explaining that he knew about some earlier time, perhaps that which took place that very day, where Nathanael was under a fig tree. Peradventure a meditation time or praying to God, or even reading the Scriptures. We really don’t know.