John 1:49
“Then Nathanael declared, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the king of Israel.'”
When Philip entices Nathanael to come to see Jesus, he says, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote…” Certain things must have come to Nathanael’s mind. Who was he expecting to see? Certainly it was not someone who would claim to know him even before they met! Nathanael’s impulsiveness is evident both in his comment about Nazareth as well as his response to Jesus.
Q: Compare Nathanael to Peter. How are they similar and how are they different?
I think that they are similar in that they both have hope, and leave what they are doing in seek of the Messiah.
However, despite his hope Nathaniel is almost ready to be let down. Perhaps that is why Jesus told him of seeing him at the fig tree. He knows what Nathaniel is thinking and wants to draw him near.
Peter by comparison is ready ride a wave of hope and jump in with both feet.
Bith were very blessed men.
Robster
Right on! I would add that Peter seems to have had a passion that Nathanael does not share. I am sometimes envious of the passion that I see in Peter, but clearly our Lord loves the Nathanael’s of the world, too.
Nathanael later called Bartholomew knew scripture and accepted Christ immediately, he became one of the twelve and it is believed he possibly traveled throughout India and Asia as a missionary. He pretty much stayed in the background, not much is written about him, but I like to think he was always close to Jesus.
Peter later named Simon, like many of us had a 3 year wavering faith that took root at the end. He stayed with the Church helping other believers maintain their faith and serve one another as one body.
Interesting how each man seems to have served as he lived. I’m Glad our Lord allows us to serve Him in each of our unique way.
They both confessed Jesus as Lord or the Son of God,..Nathaniel didn’t write any letters that have made it in the bible where Peter has written two letters that I know of,..I & II Peter,..
Really don’t know much history,..it wasn’t a very good subject for me back in school,..but by reading the bible it has helped considerably. I am thankful that others before me took the time and risked their lives to get what we have today in English,..otherwise it would be all Greek to me,..
When I looked at todays blog, and I thought about it, researched, and prayed about it, I came up with a slightly different take on the passage. When Nathanael met Jesus, Jesus said to him “I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you.” Those words strike a bell with me, and I ask myself, why was he under the fig tree, and what did Jesus mean by “still under the fig tree.” We know that Nathanael was not afraid to speak his mind, but I don’t think he was an inconsiderate speaker, I think he contemplated a lot of things. I think he sat many times under the fig tree and formulated his thoughts. I also think that the Messiah was on his mind. I think when when Jesus said “I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you” He was letting Nathanael know that “I am the one you have been thinking about.” Philip tells Nathanael that the Messiah has come, and Nathanael, being human, is skeptical. He wants to know. Jesus, being Jesus, gave Nathanael the exact measure he needed to believe. I saw you under the tree before anyone told you I was here. Nathanael’s reply: “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the king of Israel.”
Peter, to me, was ruled a bit more by his emotions. I imagine him to be a man of great passion, a man full of energy given to impulse.
John 18-10 Then Simon Peter drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus.
Matthew 4: 18-20 As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” At once they left their nets and followed him.
Matthew 26: 69-70 Now Peter was sitting out in the courtyard, and a servant girl came to him. “You also were with Jesus of Galilee,” she said. But he denied it before them all. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said.
In scripture, Jesus spent alot of time reassuring Peter and redirecting Peter.
That is my take on their differences: Nathanael is more grounded in thought, and didn’t need alot of reassurance. Peter was a bit “flighty” and his measure of attention from Jesus was greater.
I think Nathanael and Peter are similar in that they both everything they had into their ministry. They held nothing back. This is exactly what Christ asks of all of us.
Chris,
Great observation! You remind me of what is needed when taking care of young kids – a lot of redirecting! Yet, some kids are more like Nathanael: thoughtful, quiet, and inner directed. Isn’t it great that our Lord loves both kinds of people?