I. The Word: Romans 4:4-8; John 1:43-49; Psalm 32
“Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt. But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness, just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works: “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; Blessed is the man to whom the LORD shall not impute sin.” (NKJV)
II. Study Questions
1. In addition to example of Abraham, what other OT character Paul used to communicate to Romans about justification by faith?
2. Who is Nathanael? And what is his relationship to Philip?
3. What did Jesus said to Nathanael that changed his heart?
Paul, in addition to Abraham, introduces another example of justification by faith apart from works through another hero of the Jewish faith, King David, through his writing in Psalms. He quotes verses 1-2 as part of his argument that even King David understood justification is without the works of the law. David used the term “Blessed” or in Hebrew “Ashrei” as the one God forgives, sins covered, and most importantly the “LORD shall not impute sin.” or “sin LORD will not not into account.” This is what Jesus has accomplished on the cross, as the Lamb of God, through death and resurrection, He has given us hope of forgiveness and restored our relationship with God. Justification by faith, which is Christian orthodoxy that only by placing our faith in Christ alone we are saved. You can’t possibly earn or work your way to God for salvation, as all the major religions around the world require their followers. This is what separates Christianity from all other major religions, that there is nothing you can do to earn your way to God, but only through faith in the One who came to save: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)
Last Saturday, I introduced the possibility of how there is another example of “justification by faith,” in the Gospel. In the Gospel of John, we find the story of Nathanael to be another story of the Jesus’ choosing and calling of the disciples. I am fully in agreement with the story of Nathanael as part of Jesus’ calling of one of His twelve disciples, but I believe there is another important story, a story of forgiveness and redemption, and identity of Christ.
“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 to 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!”
Since I became a Christian 15 years ago, the Gospel of John has been my go to source to understand who Christ is. It wasn’t until when I was in seminary, I started to study the Scripture in detail by proper hermeneutics and exegesis (Thanks to Liberty University School of Divinity). I wrote a final paper on Nathanael in the past and though I have written many things about this story, God continues to reveal new things I haven’t seen before.
When you are reading this story for the first time, you come to recognize a few facts:
- Philip and Nathanael were good friends.
- Nathanael was from Cana of Galilee (close neighbor of Nazareth).
- Nathanael resented Nazareth.
- Jesus knew Nathanael, not as previous acquaintance but through His ability as the Son of God.
- Nathanael’s response of the identity of Jesus is worth investigating.
Philip and Nathanael
Philip found the Messiah, Jesus of Nazareth, and was called upon Christ to follow Him. Philip, who is from Bethsaida (located North of the Sea of Galilee), found Nathanael and shared his excitement with him. Philip told Nathanael, “We have found Him of whom Moses in the law, and also the prophets, wrote-Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” There is excitement and joy in the voice of Philip and one of the first people Philip shared this good news was Nathanael.
Nathanael of Cana
Nathanael’s response was quite unexpected and filled with pessimism, not because he did not believe the coming Messiah, one whom “Moses in the law, and also the prophets wrote.” Jews in the first-century Judea under the Roman rule were looking for the One who would deliver Israel from their enemies. What made Nathanael tick was where this supposed Messiah was from, Nazareth of Galilee, neighboring village of Cana where he was from. He was fully aware of where this village was and what type of people who lived there. His response, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” would be saying something of, “Are you serious Philip? Messiah from Nazareth? Are you joking? Really?”
Good Friends
This is where I firmly believe Philip knew Nathanael, and were good friends and not just a random person telling another about the Messiah. When Nathanael responds with pessimism, skepticism and little bit of sarcasm, Philip does not get discouraged and give up but tells him, “Come and See.” I believe Nathanael went with Philip simply because of the relationship they had, which is why we must invest time and effort to those who are skeptical and do not know Christ. I believe it went something like this, “Okay Philip, I will go with you, only because you are my friend.” Philip served as a messenger, to connect Nathanael to Christ. This should serve as an example for us, why we must connect people to Christ through investing in relationships.
“Israelite in whom is no deceit”
Talk about introduction! What a lofty title that would have been to hear from the One who Nathanael was skeptical of. This comes from Psalm 32:2, “Blessed is the man to whom the LORD does not impute iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit.” Scholars reference the Word spoken by Jesus to this verse, and why Jesus called Nathanael with this title must be seriously considered.
Psalm 32
If you read this psalm in its entirety, you will discover this psalm is titled “The Joy of Forgiveness.” How blessed is the one who is forgiven of their sins, the punishment of sins are covered, and the debts are fully paid. The result of it is a person who is whole and no fault is in him. But what made Nathanael go from “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” to “Rabbi, You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” I believe answer is in the rest of the Psalm 32.
What was he doing under the fig tree?
Whatever Nathanael was doing under the fig tree was the deciding factor or that which would change Nathanael’s understanding of Christ. Jesus tells him, “I saw you.” To me, this is one of the most beautiful sayings of Jesus in the Bible. When you were under the fig tree, when you were seeking Me, I saw you.” Here is Nathanael’s cry:
“When I kept silent, my bones grew old
Through my groaning all the day long.
For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me;
My vitality was turned into the drought of summer.
I acknowledge my sin to You,
And my iniquity I have not hidden.
I said, “I will confess my transgression to the LORD,”
And You forgave the iniquity of my sin.
For this cause everyone who is godly shall pray to You
In a time when You may be found;
Surely in a flood of great waters
They shall not come near him.
You are my hiding place;
You shall preserve me from trouble;
You shall surround me with songs of deliverance.”
The prayer leads to the promise of finding the One who forgives. Jesus knew Nathanael, his deepest cry of his heart, forgiveness of sin, and finding the Messiah who promised to reveal Himself. Nathanael’s faith went from doubt to belief in the One who can save, Jesus the Son of God.
Nathanael, this justification by faith was fully realized through Jesus Christ. Jesus knew exactly what to say to a man who was searching for the forgiveness of sin, who felt guilty of his sin, who confessed his sin to God, hoping to find some resolution under that faithful day under the fig tree. Did Jesus hear his cry? Absolutely, because he said to Nathanael, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” (John 1:48) What is striking to me the most is “I saw you.” There are few instances where we find Jesus as the Son of God, and not as Son of Man, operating under the Sonship of God, miraculously seeing beyond the physical realm but also seeing the heart of man.
“I saw you.” I saw you Nathanael, when you were under the fig tree, I heard your cry, I know you are burdened by your sin, I know you are looking for forgiveness and restoration, but what you are looking for is found in Me. I am the One you are looking for and now have found Me.”
JY
City Life Starter 
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