"I saw you under the fig tree"

I always think of this story from the Bible whenever we put one of our starter "nuc" hives under this fig tree near our bee yard.

When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him, “Here truly is an Israelite in whom there is no deceit.” “How do you know me?” Nathanael asked. Jesus answered, “I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you.” Then Nathanael declared, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the king of Israel.” (emphasis added, John 1:47-49) 1

Photos: One of our "nuc" hives under a nearby fig tree. It is difficult for the bees to keep it cool in the hive with the poor insulation of these plastic boxes, which is why we make sure to give them plenty of shade until the bees are moved into a larger wooden box.

The story is in the beginning of the Book of John, one of the four gospels in the Bible that tell about the life of Jesus, when he walked the earth 2,000 years ago. In Chapter 1, Jesus was going around calling the 12 disciples to follow him. When he came across a man named Nathanael, Jesus was talking to him almost as if Jesus already knew him. So, naturally, Nathanael asked, "How do you know me?" Jesus then replies that he saw Nathanael "under the fig tree."

Now this is a peculiar response, that I have often wondered about over the years. How did Jesus seeing Nathanael under a fig tree prompt such a radical response from Nathanael, when he said: “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the king of Israel.” Wow! What a bold statement of faith. Nathanael was basically saying to Jesus that because you "saw me under the fig tree" you have proven to me that you are who your say you are and I will follow you!

Photo: A peak inside one of our nucs from ealier in the year. This hive has since exploded and started two hives of it's own since then!

So what did Jesus mean by "I saw you under the fig tree." I have looked into this a little, and really nobody know for sure. But apparently Nathanael knew exactly what Jesus meant. And that was enough for him to follow Jesus.

Let me turn the question to you (and to me):

What would it take for you to believe what Jesus says about himself, that he is the Son of God, and to choose to follow him with your whole life?

For me it started by me taking this question seriously and actually exploring for myself what Jesus says about himself in the Bible. The Book of John is a great place to start! Second, it involved me talking to God, which is what prayer is, and asking him to reveal himself to me.

I personally believe that this is what was going on under the fig tree, that Nathanael was talking to God and sharing things on his heart - hard, honest questions, possibly about his own life, struggles, lack of faith and doubts. So when Jesus said "I saw you under the fig tree", in this scenario (again this is just my own speculations), Jesus was saying that he heard Nathanael. That indeed he is Emmanuel, "God with Us". And that he is called Nathanael to follow him.

But Jesus didn't just stop there for Nathanael in this passage in John 1. He went on to say:

Jesus said, “You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You will see greater things than that.”  He then added, “Very truly I tell you, you will see ‘heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.” (verses 50-51) 1

And he doesn't' stop there for us either. There is so much more! He doesn't just listen to us when we talk to him. God also answers our prayers. He isn't an aloof God who doesn't know our struggles. He hears our cries. He is our present help is our times of trouble. Jesus took care of our greatest need by paying for our sins on the Cross. He walks with us. Jesus wants you to know him personally, to receive his gift of salvation and to follow him with your whole life.

So I challenge you today, ask Jesus to show himself to you. Explore the Bible for yourself. Take him seriously, and take a small step of faith under your "fig tree" and see how Jesus might just meet you there.

1 - John 1:43-50 story of Nathaniel "under the fig tree" https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=john%201%3A43-50&version=NIV