PER035

Jesus the Messiah’s encounter with Nathanael

Pericope 35 studies the meeting between Jesus and Nathanael, unique to John’s Gospel (John 1:47–51), dated to 23 November 29 at Nazareth. Jesus demonstrates supernatural knowledge of Nathanael, who becomes the first to confess him publicly as the Son of God and King of Israel. Identified with Bartholomew and originally from Cana, Nathanael is connected with the wedding at Cana that follows in John’s narrative.

3 min Nathanael Bartholomew Jesus the Messiah Son of God King of Israel 3 verses 1 book

See also

See also:

Bible texts

Matthew
Matthew (King James Version) not mentioned in the book
Mark
Mark (King James Version) not mentioned in the book
Luke
Luke (King James Version) not mentioned in the book
John
John 1.47-51 (King James Version)

Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!

Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee.

Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel.

Jesus answered and said unto him, Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, believest thou? thou shalt see greater things than these.

And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.

King James Version (1769), domaine public — texte : eBible.org

Technical details

Bar chart for the year 29

Location: Nazareth after Jesus the Messiah’s return

Date: Friday, 23 November 29

Method: We remain with John

Note on the method: John alone gives us information about this period of Jesus the Messiah’s life, just before John the Baptist’s arrest

Jesus the Messiah’s return to Nazareth

Jesus the Messiah meets Nathanael shortly after completing his period of temptation.

Jesus the Messiah’s encounter with Nathanael

Jesus the Messiah’s encounter with Nathanael

Commentary

This event, reported exclusively by the apostle John, takes place immediately after Jesus returns from his period of temptation in the Judean wilderness. It concerns Nathanael, identified as the fifth disciple in John’s list.

Nathanael is also known as Bartholomew and is often associated with Philip. He seems to have come from (John 21.2).

The apostle John emphasises Jesus’ exceptional knowledge of Nathanael, demonstrated by the revelation of astonishing details of his life. Nathanael is the first to acknowledge Jesus publicly as the Son of God and King of the Jews, thus affirming his faith in Jesus as the promised Messiah (John 1.49).

We have placed this meeting on Friday, 23 October 29, at Nazareth, after Jesus the Messiah’s return on the 22nd. In our view, Nathanael seems directly involved in the wedding at . We develop this theory in the appendix ANN064 : The next days noted by John.