A Deeper Teaching by Pastor Kenton Cheek
“When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him, “Here truly is an Israelite in whom there is no deceit.”
How do you know me?” Nathanael asked.
Jesus answered, “I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you.”
Then Nathanael 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, youwill see ‘heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on’ the Son of Man.”
Before Nathanael had met Jesus, Philip had told him that He was from Nazareth and his response was honest and blunt, “can anything good come from Nazareth?” This interaction between Jesus and Nathanael reveals a lot about the nature of Jesus. He is God. Not only that, but God is omniscient and omnipresent. Jesus knew what Nathanel had said to Philip even though Jesus was not there with them physically. God is omnipresent, everywhere at the same time. In Psalm 139:7-10 David asks “Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there” David’s questions are answered by God in Jeremiah 23:24 “Can a man hide himself in secret places so that I cannot see him? Do I not fill heaven and earth?” There is nowhere we can go that God is not there. He is our very present help in time of need, always with us and ready at a moment’s notice to rescue us.
Jesus is God and is omniscient, which means He is all-knowing. He knew the heart and mind of Nathanael before he met Jesus in physical form. Jesus already knew that Nathanael was a man who was honest and spoke his mind. God knows more about Nathanael than Nathanel did and the same is true for you and I. The hairs on our heads are numbered.[1] He knows us better than we know ourselves because He is our Creator and our God. Again from David in Psalm 139:1-2, “O Lord, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar.” His omniscience is confirmed in the New Testament by John in 1 John 3:20, “If our hearts condemn us, we know that God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything.” I thank God He knows me and yet He still loves me and patiently guides me to become more like Him.
In time it would be more fully revealed to Nathanael that Jesus Christ is the Way to the Father. He is Jacob’s Ladder which links Earth to Heaven by grace through faith. Adam and Eve tried in vain to cover their shame with their own hand-made fig leaf garments (which was the first man-made religion), but God killed an animal in their place (the wages of sin is death) and clothed them in robes of skin. Jesus is the Lamb of God killed in our place to provide robes of righteousness for us, the ultimate atoning sacrifice. Humanity attempted to build the Tower of Babel to reach the heavens on their own terms, but Jesus is the true Jacob’s Ladder, the Way the Truth and the Life, the supernatural link to the Father by which blessings freely flow from Heaven to Earth and mankind can progress to become more like Him. He is the one and only mediator between me and the Father.[2]
“O Lord our God, there is no one else like You. There is no one beside You, no one above You, matchless is Your holy Name. You are omnipresent, omniscient and omnipotent and worthy of all my praise and so much more. I worship You and You alone. Thank You for loving me. Thank You for rescuing me from the miry clay, setting my feet upon the Rock, cleansing me in Your blood, clothing me in robes of righteousness, anointing me with Your Holy Spirit, placing Your signet ring upon my finger,[3] and remaking me to be more like You. Mold me and make me into Your image once again. Restore me to perfect, harmonious relationship with You. Thank You for who You are and all You do. In the strong and mighty Name of Jesus Christ I pray all these things. Amen.”
The eyes of the Lord are everywhere, keeping watch on the wicked and the good.
—Proverbs 15:3
Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!—Romans 11:33
Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.—Hebrews 4:13
I the Lord search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.—Jeremiah 17:10
‘On that day,’ declares the Lord Almighty, ‘I will take you, my servant Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel,’ declares the Lord, ‘and I will make you like my signet ring, for I have chosen you,’ declares the Lord Almighty.
—Haggai 2:23
[1] Luke 12:7
[2] I Timothy 2:5
[3] Haggai 2:23
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