Philip found Nathanael and told him, "We have found the one about whom Moses wrote in the law, and also the prophets, Jesus, son of Joseph, from Nazareth." But Nathanael said to him, "Can anything good come from Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see." Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, "Here is a true Israelite. There is no duplicity in him." Nathanael said to him, "How do you know me?" Jesus answered and said to him, "Before Philip called you, I saw you under the fig tree." Nathanael answered him, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel." Jesus answered and said to him, "Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than this." And he said to him, "Amen, amen, I say to you, you will see the sky opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man." (Jn 1:45-51)
Old Testament, and in particular the Law of Moses (Pentateuch) and the Prophets, was pointing out to the Messiah who was suppose to come into the world. This expectation was shared by every Jew. But their expectation varied as to from where would come and how he would go about etc. That was why many proposed themselves to be the messiah.
Nathanael did not expect the messiah from Nazareth. He was not open to believing that God could make messiah come from anywhere. Philip’s answer ‘come and see’ could only help him to realize. Even though he could not accept the idea of messiah from Nazareth, yet he was open to make an effort to verify.
Nathanael was not only open in stating what he knew but he was also open to knowing the truth. It was this openness that made him see the Messiah and also believe in him and follow him. Openness is one of the qualities to commune with God and communicate with God ( you will see the angels of God = communicators of God…).
