March 9, 2025

Under the Fig Tree

Pastor Rok Lee

John 1:45-51

45 Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found him about whom Moses in the Law and also the Prophets wrote, Jesus son of Joseph from Nazareth.” 46 Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” 47 When Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him, he said of him, “Here is truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit!” 48 Nathanael asked him, “Where did you get to know me?” Jesus answered, “I saw you under the fig tree before Philip called you.” 49 Nathanael replied, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” 50 Jesus answered, “Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than these.” 51 And he said to him, “Very truly, I tell you,[o] you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.”

During this Lenten season, we will be exploring the Gospel of John together. John is the last of the four Gospels in the Bible, and it is different from the other three. In particular, John contains many instances where Jesus speaks about who He is. Through this Gospel, I hope we can reflect on Jesus as our Savior throughout Lent.

This is one of the differences between John’s Gospel and the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke). These differences do not mean the Bible has errors; rather, they show different emphases. The Synoptic Gospels focus on Jesus gathering sinners, highlighting how He called ordinary people—people who were not wealthy or influential—to be Jesus’ disciples. This shows that serving God and coming to God is not about status or power.

On the other hand, the Gospel of John emphasizes a different point in the calling of the disciples: it shows how those who experience Jesus naturally share Him with others. Andrew, after meeting Jesus, finds his brother Peter and brings him to Jesus. Philip meets Jesus and then finds Nathanael to tell him about Jesus. John’s Gospel shows that when people encounter Jesus, they are compelled to share Jesus with others.

However, we see two different reactions here. When Peter hears about Jesus, he comes to Him without hesitation. But Nathanael reacts differently, saying, “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” (John 1:46). This response reflects skepticism and rejection. We might relate more to this second response because we often encounter people who are doubtful or dismissive when we talk about Jesus.

I remember a conversation I had in college with a high school friend who was a new Christian. I asked, “Why do you go to church?” He answered, “I just like it.” I replied, “It seems like you enjoy church, but you’re not really interested in Jesus.” My friend got upset and said, “Does that really matter? At least I’m going to church.” Thankfully, he is still attending church today.

Talking about Jesus can sometimes be uncomfortable. It confronts truths we may not want to face. Following Jesus is not always easy, and rejection is natural—just as we see in Nathanael’s response.

Some scholars believe there was a saying at that time: “Nothing good comes from Nazareth,” because it was a small, insignificant town. However, there were even smaller villages, so this theory may not be entirely accurate. Then, why did Nathanael doubt that anything good could come from Nazareth?

To understand this, we need to know more about Nathanael. Jesus describes him as “a true Israelite in whom there is no deceit.” The Greek word for deceit here is “dolos,” meaning “lie, trick.” This word is often used negatively in Scripture. But interestingly, dolos also means “bait”—something used in fishing.

The setting of this story is Bethsaida, a fishing village whose name means “House of Fishermen.” Most people there were fishermen, and they relied on boats, nets, and bait to catch fish. Yet Jesus tells Nathanael, “You have no bait,” meaning he is unlike others who may be deceitful. Jesus sees Nathanael as an honest man.

Even after meeting Jesus, Nathanael does not immediately believe. He asks, “How do you know me?” Jesus replies, “I saw you under the fig tree.” This is a puzzling statement, but Nathanael’s reaction suggests that it carried deep significance. He immediately believes Jesus.

Why does Jesus mention the fig tree? And why was Nathanael under it? In the Bible, fig trees symbolize Israel and also the presence of the Messiah. In ancient Jewish tradition, people would sit under a fig tree to study God’s Word and pray for the coming of the Messiah. This suggests that Nathanael had been earnestly waiting for the Savior. Jesus saw Nathanael seeking the Messiah under the fig tree.

We can see that Nathanael was highly knowledgeable about the Scriptures. He likely knew, as stated in the book of Micah, that the Messiah would come from Bethlehem. Because of this, he could not believe that Jesus, whom he knew to be from Nazareth, could be the Messiah.

The fig tree was a place where people waited for the Messiah. Proverbs 27:18 says, “Whoever tends a fig tree will eat its fruit, and whoever looks after his master will be honored.” Because of this verse, people would gather under fig trees in hope and anticipation of the Messiah’s coming. They believed that if they watched and waited under the fig tree, one day the Messiah would appear.

Nathanael being under the fig tree not only means that he was physically there, but it also reveals the longing in his heart for the coming of the Messiah. And now, the Messiah had come to him.

How are we waiting for Jesus? Do we expect to meet Jesus every day? Do we seek Jesus in Scripture and prayer? At time of Jesus, all Israelites were waiting for a savior. They longed for a strong leader like David. But many were not truly seeking God—they still worshiped idols and ignored God’s Word. Religious leaders sought their own recognition. Jesus saw their hearts and called them deceitful.

Meeting Jesus is sometimes an uncomfortable truth. We may seek Jesus not out of a true desire to serve, but because we want personal comfort. Nathanael was known as Bartholomew in the other Gospels. Bartholomew means “son of Tolmai”—his identity was tied to his father’s name. He could have lived a comfortable, ordinary life, inheriting his father’s status and wealth.

But when he met Jesus, his identity changed. Jesus called him Nathanael, meaning “God’s gift.” He was no longer just someone’s son—he became a gift of God. Dear church, we are people who confess Jesus as our Savior. We are people who expect to encounter Him in our daily lives. If that is true, then our lives must change. We must become a gift of God to others. God told Abraham, “You will be a blessing” (Genesis 12:2). The life of a Christian is not just about receiving blessings but about becoming a blessing to others.

During this Lent, I encourage you to create your own “fig tree.” It can be a special place in your home or a set time each day. Let it be where and when you wait for Jesus, meditate on His Words, and expect to meet Him. When you long for Jesus, He will meet you. And through that encounter, may your life become a blessing to others. May this Lent be a season where we meet Jesus and share Him as a gift to the world.