50 Jesus answered and said to him, “Because I said to you, ‘I saw you under the fig tree,’ do you believe? You will see greater things than these.”
50 Jesus answered and said to him,
In response to Nathanael, Jesus promised him greater certainty for his belief.
“Because I said to you [singular], ‘I saw you under the fig tree,’
Jesus affirmed Nathanael for his quick ability to decipher who and what Christ was. However, he had seen nothing yet. There was much more to come.
do you believe?
This is not a question but an assertion about Nathanael’s convictions. Jesus simply affirmed his ability to believe based on the evidence of Christ’s supernatural knowledge.
Nathanael believed Jesus’ ability to supernaturally know what he was doing. Nathanael exercised his faith based on the miracle of Jesus’ supernatural knowledge.
You will see greater things than these.”
Nathanael would experience Jesus performing “greater things” than seeing him without having met him. Nathanael would see 35 miracles in chapters 2-13. Jesus’ first miracle would be in Cana, Nathanael’s own hometown.
Since Nathanael’s faith was based on a miracle, Jesus said he would yet see more miracles in the life of Jesus. There would be many “sign” miracles in the gospel of John.
PRINCIPLE:
The reward of faith is greater faith.
APPLICATION:
For Nathanael, seeing was believing. He needed evidence. Jesus promised him more evidence. The reward of faith is greater faith. Faith, however, requires an object. It is the nature of the object that makes the difference for our faith. Jesus was the object of Nathanael’s faith.
