A great man from the past?

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.” Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!” 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.” Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” 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.” And he said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.” (John 1: 45-51)

Jesus’ calling to discipleship the apostle Nathaniel, a pious Israelite also known as Bartholomew, shows how true piety can lead us to accept His divine revelation. This happens in spite of the fact that Nathaniel himself is partly a victim of the prejudices of the men of his time, as shown by his sceptical response to Philip regarding the possibility that something good could come from Nazareth. Jesus praises Nathaniel's honesty, but he does not become arrogant. Rather, Nathaniel asks how Jesus knows him. Jesus reveals to Nathaniel a detail that concerned him before Philip was called by him and, thus, he understands that he is standing before a great prophet. That is why Jesus tells him that this is only the beginning, because in reality much greater miracles are in store, being more than a prophet but God himself.  Do you believe that Jesus is more than a great man of the past? Do you believe Him to be the Son of God who came into the world to save you? If so, thank him in prayer for having saved you by his passion, death and resurrection.