Jesus Sees Us Before We See Him
Gospel of the day: John 1:45-51
Today, the holy mother church commemorates the feast of Saint Bartholomew, also known as Nathaniel, one of the apostles. It is a fascinating encounter that Nathaniel had with Jesus, beginning with sincere doubt. Sincere doubt is always beneficial; it leads to a deeper faith and a more profound encounter with Jesus. He ultimately gave his life for Jesus.
As we go through today’s Gospel, we come to understand that his brother Philip was the one who led him to Jesus. There are many admirable qualities on display here, both in Philip’s genuine interest and love for his brother, and in Nathaniel’s case, where we can see he was longing for something deeper, something good to enter his life, and for all Israelites as well. He was also open-minded, adaptable, and humble enough to follow Philip.
Within this context, Nathaniel asks Philip, ‘From Nazareth?’ said Nathanael, ‘Can anything good come from that place?’ I wonder how people in those days viewed Nazareth. Perhaps we can say that some places, or countries we live in, seem very insignificant, maybe even places we would rather avoid. This is the sense we get from his words. Philip was not trying to impress him with words; all he said was, ‘Come and see’. This is a truly unique invitation. ‘Come and see’ - in other words, we must make an effort to meet Jesus so that our experience with Him stays with us forever! Today, we often do not make such efforts to see Jesus. For that, we need many things: most importantly, humility. We need willingness; we need to be sincere in our efforts. We should remember those days when travelling was not as easy as it is now. We use motor vehicles and travel quickly. We don't know exactly what their circumstances were; perhaps they had to walk long distances, facing difficulties and struggles, but also sharing meaningful conversations during their journey, even if Nathaniel didn’t know that he was heading towards the Creator and the blessings that come with it. Yet, perhaps they experienced some of the most beautiful days in Nathaniel’s life. Every day and every journey in our lives can be beautiful if we keep in mind that Jesus is our life and destiny. He is preparing and guiding us towards a greater mission and an unknown land beyond our awareness.
When Jesus saw Nathaniel approaching, He said to him, ‘There is an Israelite who deserves the name, incapable of deceit.’ This is very remarkable! That is why I began with ‘Jesus sees us before we even see Him’. It means Jesus already knew him fully — his past, present, and future. Jesus continued, ‘Before Philip called you, I saw you under the fig tree.’ This is very profound and touching. When we read the word of God, what do we understand?
‘I saw you under the fig tree” is understood literally. But when we hear this, there is a deeper significance. Perhaps Jesus was referring to the thoughts in Nathaniel’s heart. What was he thinking about when he sat under the fig tree, reflecting on his life? Maybe he was weeping, perhaps longing deeply for something good to happen, or struggling for justice amid the chaos of his times. Sometimes our lives are similar. We may ask, 'Where is justice? Does my current suffering have any real meaning? I feel helpless, maybe even singing in despair.’ They were anxiously awaiting the Messiah. We too can wait patiently and desperately for our Lord!
As I mentioned, there is a much deeper meaning behind Jesus seeing him under the fig tree than we initially perceive. Without hesitation or delay, Nathaniel responded, ‘Rabbi, you are the Son of God, you are the King of Israel.’ We must remember this. Here is someone who doubted and was sceptical about Jesus when He mentioned Nazareth, yet as soon as Jesus spoke, he immediately declared his faith. Like Peter, Nathaniel was probably deeply moved.
‘You are the King of Israel; you are the one who is coming, the Redeemer of Israel.’
Jesus replied, "You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You will see greater things than that.’ This shows that faith is always linked to mission.
Sometimes, we stay in our comfort zones because we have never experienced a real, profound encounter with the Lord. We need that deeper connection.
Jesus has many surprises in store for us (1 Cor 2:9). We must remain open to those surprises, as Jesus said, ‘You will see greater things.’ He added, ‘You will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending above the Son of Man.’ I am confident that Nathaniel later witnessed this in his life.
Since his remarkable encounter with Jesus, Nathaniel’s life changed profoundly. According to ancient Christian tradition, Bartholomew preached the Gospel in distant lands and ultimately was martyred. He showed many people Jesus and brought them to Him.
He became another Christ, as St. Paul said in Galatians 2:20.
As we celebrate the feast of St. Bartholomew, we can pray: Lord Jesus, you saw Bartholomew before he recognised you, and you knew his heart before he confessed Your name. Look upon us today with the same loving gaze, so that our lives may also become beautiful and wonderful, and so that we may become strong witnesses for you and finally be with you forever and ever!
Monday, 24 August 2026, Cochin, on the feast of Saint Bartholomew, Apostle.
Author: Father Brillis Mathew