Session 19

Q. Last episode we discussed the words of Phillip as he ‘found Nathaniel 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.’ John 1:45 you mentioned quite a number of prophecies that Moses, spokesman of God, in addition to other prophets had recorded in the Torah in reference to the Lord Jesus Christ. Today, I would like to ask you about the second section of verse 45, ‘Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph’. What does this statement mean? Why would Phillip say, ‘son of Joseph’, whereas it is well known that Jesus is not the son of Joseph, neither is He the son of any earthly father; everybody knows that He was not born of any human father, so what is your opinion in all this?
A. As a basic rule that stands no argument, the Lord Jesus Christ (Glory be to His Name) does not have an earthly father. Most people did not know this fact though; they believed that He was indeed the son of Joseph. No body had spoken much of His Virgin Nativity. The story of His birth from a virgin would’ve sounded odd. It would’ve raised suspicions in the chastity and purity of the Virgin St. Mary, and would have also resulted in a serious of problems, since she was neither married, nor was she immoral. According to St. Matthew, the Evangelist, the angel appeared to Joseph, son of Haley, of whom St. Mary the Virgin was betrothed, and assured him that she was conceived by the Holy Spirit. Joseph took her to be his wife, and did not know her till she had brought forth her first born. He was like a father to the boy Jesus. That’s why it was said that the Lord Jesus Christ (Glory be to His Name) was son of Joseph from Nazareth.

Q. Dr. Nagi, don’t you think that the reply of Nathaniel was somewhat dry and scornful, implying sarcasm on the city of Nazareth and its dwellers, saying, ‘Can anything good come out of Nazareth?
A. Well, much like many honorable commentators, I am of the opinion that the words of Nathaniel implied no scorn or sarcasm for a number of reasons: First, the situation did not call for any sarcasm; Phillip is telling Nathaniel of a unique Person. Even the way he presented the Lord Jesus Christ (Glory be to His Name) was of the Person whom Moses and the Prophets wrote. Mentioning the Law could never be a subject of scorn or sarcasm to any Jew not matter what. Second, Nathaniel went to see the Lord Jesus Christ. Had his words implied any scorn or sarcasm, he wouldn’t have gone to meet the Lord Christ.

Q. Then why did Nathaniel say, ‘Can anything good come out of Nazareth?"
A. Because Nazareth was a little town in Galilee. Meanwhile, Galileans were despised at that dime due to their rough manners and lack of courtesy. Nazareth was but a part of that county, and the dwellers thereof were but Galileans. The statement thus came to reflect wonder and humbleness, since Nathaniel belonged to the county of Galilee.

Q. What do you think about the answer of Phillip as he said, ‘Come and see’?
A. It is a beautiful and comprehensive reply. As if Phillip is telling Nathaniel, ‘you will not believe what you see. I cannot describe it either. What you need do though is come and look for yourself. You’ll be amazed at what you seeing such a unique personality as the Lord Jesus Christ. The best thing to do is come and see.’ Well, in fact this is the same invitation that I would like to extend to every person listening to us in this moment.

Q. What do you mean by that?
A. I mean to address every audience, regardless of his religion, background, beliefs, or doctrines. The best thing to do is come and meet the Lord Jesus, contemplating and pondering on His beauty, perfections and attributes. It is not enough to hear about Him, no matter how I describe Him to you. This is not enough. No matter how you describe the sun to a man born blind, and no matter how you tell of the beauty of the light, and its effect on nature, he’ll never come to realize it unless his eyes open, and he gets to know the true meaning of light. I call every person to come and talk to the Living God, the Lord Jesus Christ as for His forgiveness and pardon and look deeply unto Him to fill your eyes with His beauty.

Q. Dr. Nagi, verse 47 says, ‘Jesus saw Nathaniel coming toward Him, and said of him, "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!’ Is there a true Israeli and a false or deceitful one?
A. In every nation throughout the earth, there are genuine truthful people who lead according to the truth and willing to pay any price in order to bring it forth. As the Lord Jesus Christ (Glory be to His Name) saw Nathaniel coming to meet Him, He sensed his sincerity, and that he had come specially to identify the truth, so the Lord described him as, ‘an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit’. As for those who are not sincere in seeking the truth, those who nurture deceit within their souls, whose appearance is contradictory to what they hide within, those are the losers.

Q. In John 1:48, Nathaniel asks the Lord Christ (Glory be to His Name) commenting on His reply, ‘How do you know me?’ The Lord Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Before Phillip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you’. Would you please comment on these words?
A. Such words are but a reflection on the Lord Jesus Christ (Glory be to His Name) who searches the heart and tests the mind. He knows the unknown, is able to go beyond the body of Nathaniel, on to his soul deep enough to say that he is an Israeli who has no deceit in him. The Lord Christ (Glory be to His Name) saw Nathaniel even as he was sitting under the fig tree, though beyond the natural realm of His vision at this time. Who is He who is able to see through the unseen save the Most Glorious of all? The Lord Christ (Glory be to His Name) is indeed God Almighty revealed in human flesh.

Q. I believe that it was this revelation to Nathaniel that made him answer the Lord saying, ‘Rabbi, You are the Son of God, You are the King of Israel’. John 1:49
A. Of course, after the Lord had already revealed Himself to Nathaniel, he couldn’t but cry out loud saying, ‘’Rabbi, you are the Son of God, You are the King of Israel.’

Q. Dr. Nagi, Nathaniel describes the Lord Jesus Christ (Glory be to His Name) of three attributes. How are these related to one another?
A. This tripartite description seems like a hierarchy, or a ladder climbed by Nathaniel into knowing the Lord Jesus Christ. At first he regards Him as ‘Rabbi, teacher – the Man. But having discovered He was the One who knows the unknown, and sees the unseen, Nathaniel goes one further step into knowing Him and says, ‘You are the Son of God.’ As I said before, this statement means equal in essence, the essence of God Almighty revealed in human flesh. Nathaniel climbs further up in realizing that should the unique person of the Lord Christ (Glory be to His Name) is indeed God revealed in human flesh, then He must be the King who comes in the Name of the Almighty. He must be the King of Israel of whom was said, ‘He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His Kingdom there will be no end.’ Luke 1:32, 33

Q. Dr. Nagi, what is your proof that when the Lord Jesus Christ (Glory be to His Name) saw Nathaniel sitting under the fig tree, he was indeed beyond the realm of vision of the Lord Jesus Christ?
A. The proof that the Lord Jesus saw Nathaniel miraculously is what he said to Nathaniel in verse 50, ‘Because I said to you, ‘I saw you under the fig tree’ do you believe? You will see greater things than these will.’ Had it been that the Lord Christ (Glory be to His Name) saw Nathaniel with His natural eyes; there wouldn’t have been anything miraculous or supernatural about it. This incident wouldn’t have been good enough for Nathaniel to believe that the Lord Jesus Christ (Glory be to His Name) is God Almighty revealed in Human flesh, nor that He is the King of Israel. In this context, the words of the Lord Christ (Glory be to His Name) would’ve been futile.

Q. What did the Lord Jesus Christ (Glory be to His Name) mean by saying, ‘You will see greater things than these?’ What is ‘greater’? What are ‘these’?
A. ‘These’ is a reference to the Lord Jesus Christ (Glory be to His Name) seeing Nathaniel as he was sitting under the fig tree – having seen the unseen, and known the unknown. As for ‘greater’, it is an indication of what the Lord Christ (Glory be to His Name) announced concerning Himself, saying, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, hereafter you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.’ John 1:51. In this statement lies a historic aspect. In the old days, Jews were not allowed into the Holy of Hollies, in the temple, or where the Ark of Covenant existed. This Ark of the Covenant represented the presence of God. Only the High Priest had access to this part of the temple – to appear before the Ark of the Covenant; this happened once per year. Now the Lord Jesus Christ (Glory be to His Name) says to them, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, hereafter you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.’ John 1:51. This declaration was far beyond the perception of the Jews.

Q. There is another amazing aspect in this statement, besides ‘heaven open’; it is that of ‘the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man’.
A. Indeed this is an amazing aspect. Seeing angels, whether in the Old or New Testaments was a rare occurrence of which very few were privileged. The Lord Christ (Glory be to His Name) here says that not only would they see angels, but also they would see them ascending and descending in an opposite direction.

Q. What do you mean any opposite direction?
A. The natural direction of angels is to descend to earth, then ascend to heaven, coming from above, where the Almighty dwells, down to earth, where Man dwells. The Lord Christ (Glory be to His Name) here says that the angels of the Almighty ascend then descend – keeping His company and taking orders from Him. Ascending from hence, then descend back to Him. This sequence sheds light on the nature of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Q. How could such words clarify the Nature of the Lord Christ?
A. To answer your question I would like to ask you, ‘Who would be the person whom the angels surround, obey His orders, ascend to heaven and descend back to Him, being the center of their existence?

Q. Well, this description applies to no one save the Lord God Almighty.
A. Exactly! The Lord Christ (Glory be to His Name) said that those are the angels of God, and therefore have to be in His service, obeying the orders of God Almighty. No one has such authority save God Almighty. Thus the nature of the Lord Jesus Christ (Glory be to His Name) is revealed. He is God Almighty revealed in a human body.

Q. Why was the Lord Christ, Glory be to His Name, referred to by ‘Son of Man’ and not ‘Son of God’?
A. The term ‘Son of God’ means God revealed in human flesh. He is God Almighty seated on His throne. It is therefore not amazing to say that His angles ascend and descend of Him. The amazing aspect was for the Lord Jesus Christ (Glory be to His Name) to make this declaration, whereas to them He was but a Man.

Q. Dr. Nagi, having concluded paraphrasing chapter 1 of the Gospel according to St. John the Evangelist, would you like to say something to our audience?
A. I would like to say that the chapter is full of treasures, facts and lessons that should a Man sincerely believe in them, and study them whole heatedly, God Almighty will fill his heart with faith. This person will find out the truth, and will become a member in the household of God; thus a successful person. But, should Man ridicule and mock these facts, setting them aside and not believing in them, he will eventually discover the loss he’s gotten himself into: This person is but a loser.