✨ The Call of Nathaniel: God Sees Us in Our Doubts 🙏by Jennifer Greene-Sullivan
Welcome, everyone! Wednesday night, we’re going to focus on a beautiful moment from scripture where Jesus calls someone who was skeptical and doubting. His name is Nathaniel. 🌿 Through his story, we’ll learn that even in our doubts and moments of uncertainty, Jesus still sees us, calls us, and has a purpose for us. 🙌
Scripture: John 1:43-51 (NIV)
“The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, he said to him, ‘Follow me.’ Philip, like Andrew and Peter, was from the town of Bethsaida. Philip found Nathaniel and told him, ‘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.’
‘Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?’ Nathaniel asked. ‘Come and see,’ said Philip.
When Jesus saw Nathaniel approaching, he said of him, ‘Here truly is an Israelite in whom there is no deceit.’
‘How do you know me?’ Nathaniel asked.
Jesus answered, ‘I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you.’
Then Nathaniel declared, ‘Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the king of Israel.’
Jesus said, ‘You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You will see greater things than that.’ He then added, ‘Very truly I tell you, you will see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.’”
🌿 Discussion Points 🌿
1. Nathaniel’s Skepticism 🤔
Nathaniel was doubtful when Philip told him about Jesus: “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” His response shows he was skeptical about where Jesus came from.
Sometimes, we might question whether anything good can come out of our own circumstances. Like Nathaniel, we can be quick to judge situations or people based on limited information.
2. Jesus Sees Us Fully 👀
Jesus’ first words to Nathaniel are powerful: “Here truly is an Israelite in whom there is no deceit.” Jesus saw the core of who Nathaniel was—honest and without pretense.
Then, Jesus says something even more incredible: “I saw you while you were still under the fig tree.” Before Nathaniel had even come to meet Him, Jesus already knew him, saw him, and understood him. 🌳
This is a reminder that Jesus sees us too. He knows our struggles, our doubts, and our hearts—yet He still calls us. 💡
3. Jesus Calls Us Despite Our Doubts 🙌
After hearing Jesus say that He saw him under the fig tree, Nathaniel’s attitude changed completely: “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the king of Israel.”
Jesus met Nathaniel in his skepticism, and Nathaniel’s heart opened to believe. In our own lives, we may experience doubts or uncertainty about where God is leading us, but He calls us anyway. Just like Nathaniel, God has a purpose for us beyond our doubts. 🙏
4. Seeing Greater Things ✨
Jesus promised Nathaniel that he would see even greater things than that moment of recognition: “You will see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”
When we trust God, even in the face of doubt, we open ourselves up to seeing greater things in our own lives—God’s grace, miracles, and His ongoing work in us and the world around us. 🌟
Reflection Questions 🤔✍️
- Have you ever felt skeptical or uncertain about something in your faith journey?
Nathaniel’s doubt didn’t disqualify him from being called by Jesus. How does this encourage you in your own moments of doubt? - Where do you need to trust that God sees you and has a purpose for you, even when things don’t make sense?
Like Nathaniel, we might think, “Can anything good come from this situation?” But God sees the bigger picture.
For your information: https://www.thebibleartist.com/post/simon-the-zealot-and-nathanael-in-the-chosen-adapting-biblical-characters
Another blog post:https://www.thebibleartist.com/post/philip-nathanael-matthew-exploring-the-chosen-episode-2-season-2-with-youth
Introduction to Nathaniel and the Fig Tree from The Chosenhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4mlAAXwoDAA
Jesus meets Nathaniel in The Chosenhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=nQIgkmUq3Qs
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