Under The Fig Tree

Introduction

John's Gospel is a very theological Gospel. Right from the beginning John wants us to understand the deep meanings of what Jesus said and did, and the significance of just who Jesus is. The opening of his Gospel makes it very clear that, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God".

In John’s Gospel, there is no nice narrative of the birth of Jesus, like you find in Matthew and Luke, there’s no introduction to the beginning of the ministry of Jesus, as you would find in Mark's Gospel. If you’ll notice John’s Gospel starts off differently. John’s Gospel (or the Johannine Gospel) was written to give a deeper understanding to the simple story of what Jesus said and did.

John tells us how Jesus had begun to gather disciples to follow Him. Just a few verses earlier in this first chapter of John, Jesus walks towards John the Baptist. As He does so, John cries out, “Look the Lamb of God”! And after hearing this, two of John’s disciples follow Jesus. And these two are Andrew and Peter. John continues to tell us that the next day, Jesus finds Philip and simply says, “Follow me”. And John records that Philip went with Jesus.

As you read this text it ought to dawn on you that there must have been something very special about Jesus whom they never met until now—and yet they are instantly willing to leave what they know and possibly love in order to follow Jesus, whom up until now they did not know.

It ought to make you think: What was it that was so special about Jesus to these disciples? Was it His charisma? What was it about Jesus? Was it the way He carried Himself? Was it His confidence? Was it the way He taught and preached? These three men, Andrew, Peter, and Phillip had no problem following Jesus after meeting Him for the first time in their lives.

In fact Phillip saw something in Jesus that was so amazing to him until he had to run and tell his BFF by the name of Nathanael. John with his theological profundity tells us that, “Philip found Nathanael” and when he found him—he proceeded to tell him all about Jesus. And here’s what he said, he said, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph."

Nathanael responded by to this good news in a negative, skeptical, and reactionary manner. Nathanael was a little prejudice, without thinking he uses a slur against Jesus because Jesus was from Nazareth, he scornfully asked, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth? In the eyes of Nathanael, Nazareth is quite an undistinguished place. This was a common behavior in the first century, people were normally judged based on where they grew up. If Jesus were from a more appropriate location—it’s possible Nathanael would have been a little more responsive to Phillip’s excitement, but Jesus was from of all places—Nazareth.

The Jews despised Nazareth because it was on the border of a Gentile country, Nazareth was sometimes called “Galilee of the Gentiles”, and the Jews were so deeply prejudiced against the Gentiles that they considered anyone or anything touched by a Gentile to be unclean in the sight of God. Thus, the Jews despised Nazareth because it was on the border of a Gentile country and so the Gentiles geographically touched it, which caused Nazareth to somehow be considered unclean as well. But thank God for Phillip, for continuing to offer Nathanael this life changing invitation despite Nathanael’s obvious prejudices. Phillip did not stand around to debate with his good friend Nathanael concerning the pros and cons of Nazareth—he simply said, “Come and see”.

1. The Greatest Invitation Given To This Generation—(V39-46)

The phrase “come and see” occurs twice in this first chapter of St. John’s Gospel. When two curious disciples of John the Baptist asked Jesus where He was staying, the Lord said, “Come and see” (v.39). Here, Jesus extended an invitation and the invitation He extended was an immediate one, it was while the disciples were deeply attracted and focused on Jesus, they were invited to Jesus by Jesus because of their open need for Jesus. When we take a look at this particular verse we cannot help but notice that Jesus did not postpone their request nor leave them hanging. He said, in so many words, you can follow me right now; at this very moment! This glorious invitation did not rest only with the two disciples, this very same invitation is being offered today. “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Mt. 11: 28). Who is to come? The weary and the burdened—those of us who are laboring and heavy laden, those of us who are weary, exhausted, extremely tired, despaired, disenchanted, disenfranchised, disgusted, disapproved of, overlooked, talked about and criticized, rejected, affected, infected, dejected, weighed down, ready to quit and call it a day can all come to Jesus Christ!