Who is nathanael in the bible

Philip did not seek to get into an argument with Nathanael, he did not try to persuade him that he was wrong and something good could come from Nazareth. He could then make up his own mind about Jesus. Today when we seek to speak to people about Jesus we may often get a negative reaction. The best way for us to handle such responses is to do the same as Philip did — invite people to come and see or investigate matters for themselves.

It is not clever arguments that will convince people, but simply telling others what Jesus means to us. People must be able to see that Jesus has made a difference to our own lives before they will be willing to come and see for themselves. There was no deceit, fraud or treachery in Nathanael. He is a genuine Israelite, a descendant of Jacob who fears and obeys God.

This was what Jesus saw in Nathanael. Perhaps Jesus was drawing a contrast between the character of Nathanael and the character of his forefather Jacob. Jacob was a man who was renowned for his guile.

For he has cheated me these two times. In Jewish thought the idea of sitting under a fig tree was an image of peace and security. You are the King of Israel! There was something in those words of Jesus that had a tremendous impact upon Nathanael. And in response to that prayer, he was now given the conclusive proof that Jesus was divine Mark As an apostle, he witnessed the risen Savior at the Sea of Tiberias, John and was present at the His ascension Acts — He served the Lord diligently in spreading the truth.

Christian tradition says that that the apostle preached the gospel in Persia and India. Finally, his faithful ministry to the Lord ended when he was martyred for his faith.

Get our latest answers straight to your inbox when you subscribe here. Then Jesus astonished Nathanael, demonstrating supernatural power by referring to Nathanael's experience under the fig tree. Nathanael was stunned to learn that the Lord already knew him and that he was aware of his movements.

Jesus' personal knowledge of Nathanael and the recent event under the fig tree caused Nathanael to respond with an amazing confession of faith, proclaiming Jesus to be the divine Son of God , the King of Israel. Finally, Jesus promised Nathanael that he would see a stunning vision of the Son of Man:. Church tradition says Nathanael carried a translation of Matthew's Gospel to northern India.

Legend claims he was crucified upside down in Albania. Upon meeting Jesus for the first time, Nathanael overcame his initial skepticism about the insignificance of Nazareth and left his past behind. Jesus affirmed that Nathanael was a man of integrity and openness to the work of God. Calling him a "true Israelite," Jesus identified Nathanael with Jacob , the father of the Israelite nation. Also, the Lord's reference to "angels ascending and descending" John , strengthened the association with Jacob.

Nathanael died a martyr's death for Christ. However, like most of the other disciples, Nathanael abandoned Jesus during his trial and crucifixion. Through the story of Nathanael in the Bible, we see that our personal prejudices can skew our judgment.

But by being open to God's word, we come to know the truth. In Judaism, the mention of the fig tree is a symbol for the study of Law Torah. In rabbinic literature, the proper place to study the Torah is under a fig tree.

Nathanael's story endures as an ideal example of how a true believer responds to Jesus Christ. Actively scan device characteristics for identification. Use precise geolocation data. Select personalised content.

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