A Johannine Study (John 1:43-50)

The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Follow me.” ⁴⁴ Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. ⁴⁵ 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.” ⁴⁶ Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” ⁴⁷ Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!” ⁴⁸ 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.” ⁴⁹ Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” ⁵⁰ 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.”

Have you ever generalized presumptuously or heard an inaccurate generalization? Newfoundlanders are all fisherman. Torontonians are snobby. Calgarians ride horses. Vancouverites are laid back. Depending on your outlook, these are fairly innocuous prejudices. There are, however, malicious forms of prejudice that are harmful. Racism, for example, has been a cause for disrespect, discrimination, violence and even murder. From this, it is clear that prejudice can be a cause of great evil. But the root problem is not the harm that is caused by the outward effects of prejudice. It isn’t even in the propensity of the prejudger in assuming to know something about somebody based on generalizations alone. The reproach is in the sinner who makes judgements without knowledge shaped by the wisdom of God.

Nathanael was one of those people who fell prey to their own arrogance. He presupposes that nothing good can come out of Nazareth. But God alone has perfect knowledge, and he alone knows every single thing about the people of Nazareth. He knows everything about everyone. He even knows the number of hairs on our heads (Matthew 10:30)! Without his guidance and revelation, we are unable to make judgements that are assuredly good and right.

Paul explains that “we know that ‘all of us possess knowledge.’ This ‘knowledge’ puffs up, but love builds up. If anyone imagines that he knows something, he does not yet know as he ought to know” (1 Corinthians 8:1-2). What we need is a redeemed mind to think properly. Thank God for the gospel! Because of Jesus’ death on the cross, our minds are transformed to think righteously. Paul says in his letter to the Romans, “be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect” (12:2).

In contrast to Nathanael is Jesus. Nathanael prejudged Jesus without truly knowing him. Jesus prejudged Nathanael because he already truly knew him. Only God is omniscient. Not man, not Satan, not Nathanael, not us.

Jesus demonstrates, in this passage, God’s perfect knowledge. We can rest in Jesus as the founder and perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 12:2), to which I would add redeemer of our minds. In God, we are gifted with understanding (2 Timothy 2:7). And if understanding comes from him, then we are surely in good company. Therefore, Christian, think for the glory of God without prejudice.