COMMENTARY ON THE BOOK OF JOHN LESSON NUMBER 19 “ JOHN 1:50 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. 51 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.” (John 1:50-51) A PROMISE MADE TO NATHANAEL INTRODUCTION After beginning His ministry, this is now the incident of Jesus having a personal confrontation and dialog with particular persons: John the Baptist (Matt 3:13-15; John 1:32-34); Andrew and John (John 1:37-40); Peter (John 1:42); Philip (John 1:43); and Nathanael (John 1:45-51). Although Nathaniel appears to be the least important of that group, the more lengthy text is related to him meeting Jesus. John the Baptist was the greatest man born until himself. Yet, Peter was the one to whom Jesus gave the keys of the Kingdom of heaven (Matt 16:19). John was the disciple whom Jesus loved (John 13:23). Philip was the disciple Jesus asked concerning the feeding of the five thousand (John 6:5-9). We learn from this brief review that true difference does not exist on the flesh-and-blood level. In that domain, there is a sense in which sameness exists. The true difference is seen in the grace that is distributed to each person, and the work they are assigned to do through that grace. And, if you can receive it, the assignment given to a person will determine how much insight and influence they are given. For example, as the foundation upon which the church is built (Eph 2:20), the apostles were given things to see that only they could communicate to others. Further, Paul, owing to his ministry to provoke the Jews to jealousy, was given to see things relative to that mission – things that were not shown directly to others (Rom 10:19; 11:11,13-14). There is a direct correlation with Christ’s personal dealing with you and your role in the body of Christ. While He is teaching all of us concerning God, that we may have an understanding of Him, it is my persuasion that it is calculated to make you effective in your function in the body of Christ. Jesus is not simply dispensing information for the sake of us having more knowledge. If you will peruse what Jesus taught the twelve, you will find that it was directly related to their foundational role in the body of Christ. I am quick to say there is a sense in which all truth is for all saints. The implications, or logical relationships, of that truth is given to the people in varying measures. IS THIS WHY YOU BELIEVE? “ JOHN 1:50 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." JESUS ANSWERED. “Jesus answered and said unto him . . .” Sixty-four times in Gospels we read the words, “Jesus answered.” Twelve times from Genesis through
Malachi we read “the LORD answered.” Two times we read “God answered.” Five times we read of God, “He answered.” That is, from Genesis through Malachi, there are nineteen times something is specifically revealed about a reply from God when dialoging with men–i.e. an answer. The Scriptures suggest to us that there is not frequent dialog between God and those who are not in agreement with Him. Referring to this circumstance Amos wrote, "Can two walk together, except they be agreed?" (Amos 3:3). In the antediluvian world, there were only two men who are categorically said to have “walked with God”–Enoch and Noah (Gen 5:22,24; 6:9). My point here is that when the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, Divine dialog with man began to be increased exponentially. Never before had the mind of the Lord been uttered so frequently, pointedly, and abundantly. There had only been a handful of men in the history of the world who had spoken with the Lord, and already in John we have six different people who spoke to, and heard directly from, “the Lord’s Christ.” Unfortunately, we are living in a time when a speaking Christ is not well known. Christ as a “Teacher” and Communicator of truth is not the One commonly acknowledged. In fact, there are people who say the recorded words of Jesus have no direct application to us. They were spoken “under the Law,” according to these pretentious teachers. I am going to say that it is not possible for Jesus Christ to speak an irrelevant word! It is impossible for He who Himself is the truth, to say something that is now obsolete, or has no place among the saints of the living God. In His current teaching ministry, referred to in Ephesians 4:20-21 and First John 5:20, Jesus does not communicate anything that contradicts what He said when he walked among men, going about and doing good, and healing all who were oppressed of the devil(Acts 10:38). BECAUSE I SAID UNTO THEE. “. . . Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, believest thou?” There is no reason to think this was a stern rebuke. However there is something to be learned from our Lord’s response. First, the weight of what moved us to believe is to be measured by Jesus, not us. Some things that are astounding to men are really not that arresting. They are not the kind of words that bring justification, or announce glad tidings. If the center of how we regard Jesus is what He has declared about us personally, we are in a spiritually restricted area. The moral and spiritual power that is sorely needed by men is not to be found in the Divine assessment or knowledge of men. It is rather found in the declaration of the Person and Purpose of God Almighty, as revealed in Christ. There is where the power is to be found. However, when the correction of human behavior becomes the accent of teaching, and the spotlight is shone upon our person rather than THE Person, acceptable improvement and advancement will not be realized. Eternal life is specifically defined as knowing God, and Jesus Christ whom He has sent (John 17:3; 1 John 5:20). The new birth and advancement in the faith do not come by knowing who you are – although that is something that must be known. But such knowledge is not the pivot upon which “the hope of eternal life” (Tit 3:7) rotates. All things pertaining to life and godliness are dispensed to us “through the knowledge of Him that has called us to glory and virtue” (2 Pet 1:3). Escaping the pollutions of the world is not realized by identifying the pollutions, but “through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ” (2 Pet 2:20). While it is important to know what Christ has seen in us, it is even more important to behold what God has done through Christ Jesus. The “power of God unto salvation” is resident in that message – the Gospel of Christ (Rom 1:16).
THOU SHALT SEE GREATER THINGS. “ . . .thou shalt see greater things than these." The “greater things” have to do with what is in Christ, not what was in Nathanael – even though what was in him was good and commendable. When we actually experience significant advancement in our persons, we must view it as Jesus told the seventy concerning the great exploits they achieved when going out in His power. The spiritual underworld had obeyed them, as they successfully expelled demons from those possessed by them. Jesus said, "Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven" (Luke 10:20). Casting out wicked spirits is, by Divine intent, what they did. However, their names being written in heaven is something the Lord did! This is something that institutional eyes cannot see. They focus on what men have done, rejoice in it, and praise men for it. But there are greater things to be seen than what men have done. There are even greater things to be seen that what God Himself has done in you. At the very best, what you have is a firstfruits – a relatively small sampling of the inheritance that is reserved for you in heaven. If you are going to marvel, marvel at that! VERILY, VERILY, I SAY UNTO YOU “ 51a "And He saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you . . .” It is important to note that Jesus responds to what Nathanael has said. He is not indifferent to the expressions of those who address Him, or utter their thoughts before Him. He does not simply listen to what men say, but weighs what is said to Him, or before Him. Solomon observed, "All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the LORD weigheth the spirits" (Prov 16:2). Again it is written, "Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts" (Prov 21:2). The Lord does not take for granted that a person is honest or serious. Concerning Nathanael, the Lord has already observed he was “an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile” (John 1:47). He has also told him that He saw him “under the fig tree” (John 1:48). Even though these things were miraculous, they were really only introductory and elementary. TRUTH IS PERSONALIZED. When we speak of “the truth,” we are not addressing something that is abstract, or impersonal. Something that is represented as “truth,” yet is essentially impersonal is not to be entertained or trusted. For example, there are views of Christ’s death and second coming that are impersonal, having no bearing at all upon life. Men can talk about these views without those various views and propensities being considered and addressed. The religion of such people is purely philosophical and does not directly impact how they think, speak, or act. Jesus is not related to such things. He does not work through philosophical and theoretic views. That makes them totally unprofitable, even though they may be interesting and awaken human curiosity. Much of the failure of professing “Christians” to grow up into Christ and make spiritual advance, is owing to the theoretical nature of the religion they have embraced, which is powerless, because Christ is not in it. HE SAITH UNTO HIM. Twenty-five times it is said of Jesus, “He said to him.” One hundred and eleven times it is said of Him, “He said to them.” Jesus never simply spoke words out into the air, so to speak. They were addressed to specific people, ranging from individuals like Andrew, Peter, Philip, Nathanael, His disciples, a certain multitude, the scribes and Pharisees, and others. His words were crafted for certain people and certain times. Sometimes they were comforting, while at other times they were sharp rebukes – but they were always directed to someone. VERILY, VERILY. Twenty-five times the expression “verily, verily” occurs in
Scripture. It is always a saying attributed to Jesus – no mere man ever said “verily, verily.” Other versions read, “most assuredly,” NKJV “truly, truly,” NASB “I tell you the truth,” NIV “verily, truly,” NRSV “Truly,” BBE “I assure you,” CEB “Yes indeed!” CJB “Amen, amen,” DOUAY "I can guarantee this truth," GWN "I tell all of you the solemn truth," NET In all truth," NJB “I tell you all in most solemn truth,” WEYMOUTH “I most solemnly say,” WILLIAMS “Believe me,” MONTGOMERY “I tell you for certain,” CEV “Truly, I tell all of you with certainty,” ISV and “I assure you, most solemnly.” AMPLIFIED The word translated “verily” is the Greek word for “Amen” [amane]. Its lexical meaning is “The repetition of the word (amane, amane), employed by John alone in his Gospel (twenty-five times), has the force of a superlative, most assuredly,” THAYER “to emphasize that what is being said is a solemn declaration of what is true,” FRIBERG and “certainty.” LIDDELL-SCOTT Only the Lord can speak in such a manner, stating things that are totally true, and cannot possibly be wrong, altered, or obviated. In fact, one of the appellations of Jesus Himself is “the AMEN, the faithful and true witness” (Rev 3:14). These are words that can be declared from generation to generation, for they will never fail of fulfillment, or prove to be irrelevant. This is why Jesus said of His own words, "the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life" (John 6:63). Again He said, "the words that I speak unto you I speak not of Myself: but the Father that dwelleth in Me” (John 14:10). These are words that have issued forth from Divine purpose. They reflect the determined will of God, and are uttered within the framework of Divine Omniscience. It is a kind of word that is a “sure word” (2 Pet 1:19) – a word that can be believed. I SAY UNTO YOU. One hundred and twenty-two times Jesus is depicted as saying, “I say unto you.” This is the same One who brought the worlds into existence by speaking. He is the only One who can effectively “speak peace unto His people” (Psa 85:8), and “speak peace unto the heathen” (Zech 9:10). All of the power of Divinity is in these words – and they are addressed to a particular person. Jesus is unveiling some significant things about Nathanael’s life – things that will dwarf what he has just experienced – things he will be privileged to see. It is important to remember in all of this that the most significant and relevant things we can see are things that pertain to the Person of Christ. Not only did He take upon Himself the form of a Man, that He might ultimately lay down His life as a vicarious atonement, experiencing separation from God as He took away the sins of the world, and rise from the dead as the Conqueror of the “last enemy ”(1 Cor 15:26); He is also, as “the Man Christ Jesus,” is the appointed Vehicle through whom God Himself can be known, and His ways made discernible. Without Christ, God remains in the area of mystery, with His “way . . . in the sea,” and His “path in great waters” (Psa 77:19). HEREAFTER YE SHALL SEE “ 51b "Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.” HEREAFTER YE SHALL SEE. Other versions read, “henceforth,” DARBY “after this,” RWB “from now on,” ABP/EMTV/LITV “Before this is over.” MESSAGE Most other versions omit this word. Although most versions omit this word, it is in the original text [arti]. The word means, “tome closely connected; marking something begun; now, at this time, as opposed to past time,” THAYER “from this time, henceforth, from now on.” FRIBERG Jesus is telling Nathanael that from now on he will be seeing things far transcendent to being told who he was, and the kind of character he possessed. This was the commencement of an era that would dwarf all that was done before. Heaven and earth would be working together in unparalleled ways.
SEE HEAVEN OPEN, AND THE ANGELS OF GOD ASCENDING AND DESCENDING. This is a reference to the dream Jacob had when he was fleeing from Esau. Heaven was opened to him, and he saw “a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it.” He further saw the Lord standing above the ladder, as though superintending the entire operation. It is affirmed, "And, behold, the LORD stood above it, and said, I am the LORD God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac. . . and in thee and in thy Seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed" (Gen 28:14). Jesus is telling Nathanael that he is witnessing the fulfillment of that dream. Being the embodiment of the Kingdom of God, He was the “ladder” set up on the earth, to begin the working out of the Divine solution to sin, and the fulfillment of God’s “eternal purpose.” The holy angels would be involved in the work, ascending and descending upon the Savior Himself. Men be involved in the work, but not at the causative level. Now, when it came to the discernment of what was happening, Nathanael never did see with his natural eyes that to which Jesus is referring. He will soon see Jesus turning water into wine. He will witness the healing of the blind, the mute, the deaf, and the lame. He will see Jesus calm billowing waves and tempestuous winds, feed a multitude with five loaves and two fishes, wither a fig tree with a word, and command a fish to deliver a coin to Peter. He will hear the Master confound the religious wise men, and even raise the dead. But what would Nathanael and others with him really be witnessing? They would be beholding a means of communication set up on the earth, with angelic hosts going to heaven and coming from heaven upon that Person. They would be witnessing the beginning of the fulfillment of the promise to Abraham that “all families of the earth” would be blessed by the patriarch’s Seed. The Kingdom announced by John the Baptist was being initiated. Jesus would plainly say, “the Kingdom of God is come unto you” (Matt 12:28), “the Kingdom of God is come nigh unto you” (Lk 10:9,11), “no doubt the Kingdom of God is come upon you” (Lk 11:20). In the Son of God, the ladder had been set up. The God of heaven was working out His purpose. The holy angels were involved in the work, ascending to heaven, and descending from it as well. Nothing on earth, and nothing between heaven and hearth, could halt or deter this marvelous work – and it all centered in the Lord Jesus Christ. The “army of heaven” (Dan 4:35) was engaged in the work, protecting and subduing inimical forces, and strengthening the Son whenever it was required. During Christ’s entire earthly ministry, as He went about doing good, and healing all who oppressed of the devil, there was not a single interruption of His work. Paul had to flee from his enemies (Acts 9:25), but Jesus did not. He was invincible. The demons cringed in His presence (Matt 8:29). The Pharisees were stymied by His wisdom (Matt 22:46). The Sadducees were left speechless when they attempted to trap Him in His words (Matt 22:34). When He drove out the moneychangers and those who sold doves in the Temple, noone resisted Him (Matt 21:12). Those who saw the works of our blessed Lord were beholding an invasion of earth by the powers of heaven. Throughout His earthly ministry He confirmed the superiority of heaven, and established that God does what He has purposed, and has absolutely no difficulty doing it. No one on earth or under the earth could remove the ladder that had been set up, or damage it so the angels could not ascend and descend upon it, so to speak. There was no interruption of the fellowship of the Son with the Father. Jesus
always was able to see what the Father was doing, and join Him in the work. Now, our Lord has returned to heaven to carry out His rule, consummating in bringing many sons to glory (Heb 2:10). He will be no less effective in that reign than He was in setting up the Kingdom while among men. It is a Kingdom that has always been in place and fully operational. Now, however, the concentration is on the body of Christ, who is being prepared to be Christ’s bride. Retrieving its members from enslavement to sin, and empowering them to live in view of eternity, was not possible until sin was taken out of the way, and reconciliation was made. The disciples saw that work being done.