The invitation to follow.

Some thoughts on the calling of Nathaniel

The Gospel of John, Chapter One 43-50

The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, he said to him, “Follow me.” Philip, like Andrew and Peter, was from the town of Bethsaida. Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” 

 “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Nathanael asked.  “Come and see,” said Philip.  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.” 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.”

Today, Angela Sheard, curate at St Martin in the Fields, spoke from these verses.  Her points were well made and well taken.  She spoke about the mechanics of shifting from stuck and ridge beliefs to ones which are more clearly focused on Jesus.  

It appears that Philip, Andrew and Peter quickly understood the Jesus was 'special'.  They knew he was a great leader, the one foretold of old.  Nathanial was more sceptical, and I'm sympathetic here.  I wondered how I would react if someone said to me, "Andrew, Jesus has returned to the earth and he is now  living in Andover."  

Angela had an interesting thought about the apposite nature of the fig tree.  She noted that fig trees in the rabbinic tradition signify 'a search worth taking on'.  Just as we search the scriptures for nuggets and gems, so the fig tree rewards those who climb and seek, by providing good fruit.  The fig tree became a good place to seek shade from which to study the scriptures.

Angela noted that Nathanial, as a seeker after the truth, was 'chosen' by Jesus, but he was also 'ripe for the choosing'. 

"Seek and you will find." This is a message that crosses all generations and cultures, and reassures us that the 'choosing' is not coincidental or prejudiced.

Angela's emphasised the point that it is through relationships that we are able to free ourselves up to be receptive to truth.  Nathanial was getting to know Jesus.  She recalled her time at Theological college (The Queens Foundation in Birmingham), where students from the full spectrum of Christian orientation mixed and rubbed up against each other.  She felt that through simple things like playing games together, they learnt to respect each other's views and beliefs, and even allow them to gently challenge their own.

I once read (and cannot now substantiate), that Cardinal Newman said "It is as sensible to try to persuade someone into the kingdom of heaven, as it is to hold a gun to their head."  I do not know if he actually said that, but I remembered it because I really like it.  I believe this.  Conviction comes like 'falling in love', from a common desire for 'relationship'.