Philip tells Nathaniel of his finding Christ. 127 44 Now Philip was he accordingly did. Now Philip was an inha- SECT. of Bethsaida, the city bitant of Bethsaida, which was a town of Galilee of Andrew and Peter. unto him, We have Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph. xxii. on the sea of Tiberias, and was also the city of John Andrew and Peter, who have already been 1.44. particularly mentioned: and by his calling these disciples he gave an intimation of his purpose of making some longer stay in that country. 45 Philip findeth And Philip, after he was thus become a fol- 45 Nathaniel, and saith lower of Christ, findeth his pious friend Nathafound him of whom niel, who was also of Galilee, and lived in a town Moses in the law and of it which was called Cana (John xxi. 2.) and the prophets did write, says unto him, We have found him who has so long been earnestly expected by us, even that illustrious and extraordinary Person whom Moses gave us an account of in the law, and whom the prophets also have described in such a strong and lively manner; and with the greatest joy I am come to tell thee I know him who he is, [even] Jesus the son of Joseph, who comes from Nazareth, and is undoubtedly the promised Messiah. 46 And Nathaniel said unto him, Can there any good thing coine out of Nazareth Philip saith unto him, Come and see. 47 Jesus saw Natha niel coming to him, and saith of him, C And when Nathaniel heard that he was one 46 of Nazareth, his prejudice against the place was such that he was ready to conclude that Philip was mistaken; and he therefore said unto him, Can any good thing at all, and especially any such great and glorious blessing as this, come out of a place so infamous as Nazareth? And Philip says unto him, Do not suffer yourself to be borne away by a vain popular prejudice, but come and see; converse with him yourself, and you will soon be satisfied. Now when Jesus saw Nathaniel coming to-47 wards him, (though there was no personal acBehold an Israelite quaintance between them) at the first sight of indeed, in whom is no him he presently discerns what was his real character, and says concerning him, so loud that he might easily hear it, Behold here cometh one [that is] truly an Israelite (compare Rev. iii. guile. (as there was in the calling of Elisha, 1 Kings xix. 19---21.) which though for the present it superseded the necessity of arguments, yet did not exclude their attending to that afterwards which might be necessary to defend their conduct to others. c Whom Moses-and the prophets have described: o rygafe Mwong xai ni weople] This is a very literal translation; for yes frequently is used in the same sense elsewhere, and in particular is justly 9. rendered thus, Rom. x. 5. (Compare Josh. d A place so infamous as Nazareth.] ẹ When 128 xxii. The interview of Christ with Nathaniel. SECT. 9. and John viii. 39.) a person that indeed deserves the honourable title of one of God's John people, and is worthy of his descent from Jacob 1.47. his pious ancestor, as being a plain and upright man in whom there is no deceit either towards God or man. (See Gen. xxv. 27.) 48 49 Nathaniel, perfectly surprised at such an unexpected testimony, presently says, with all the natural frankness of his temper, to him, Whence dost thou know me, or how canst thou at once thus undertake to answer for the most secret part of a stranger's character? Jesus replied, and said unto him, I am not so entirely a stranger to thy character as thou art ready to suppose, nor do I take it merely from uncertain report; for before Philip called thee, I saw thee when thou wast alone under the fig-tree; and as I was present in Spirit to observe what passed in that secret retirement, I know how well thou deservest the testimony which I have now borne to thine integrity. Nathaniel was so struck with this express reference to what he knew none could be witness 48 Nathaniel saith him, Whence unto knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that when thou wast under Philip called thee, the fig-tree, I saw thee. 49 Nathaniel answered and said unto him, Rabbi, thou art to but God and his own conscience, that all his the Son of God, thou e When thou wast under the fir-tree.] I see no reason at all to think, with Heinsius, that the conviction produced by these words in the mind of Nathaniel proceeded from the allusion he perceived them to bear to Zech. iii. 10. In that day ye shall cail every man his neighbour, under the vine, and under the fig-tree. It was Christ's saying that he save him there that struck his mind in so powerful a manner; and it is very probable that he was then employed in some secret devout meditations. See Dr. Leans's Christian Temper, Vol. II. p. 343. f Such Divine knowledge can be lodged And in no meaner person.] Just thus the woman of Samaria argued, John iv. 29. Come see a man which told me all things that ever I did; is not this the Christ? which plainly intimates that they supposed the Messiah would be endowed with the most perfect knowledge, and have the gift of prophecy in the highest degree. There was a great deal of courage in Nathaniel's making such a declaration, if it was before a mixed company: for Christ's assuming the title of the Son of God was afterwards interpreted to be no less than blasphemy, John x. 36. and xix. 7. 8 Verily, 50 Jesus answered Because I said unto these. unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter you see heaven open, and the angels of God as cending and descending upon the Son of Christ's interview with Nathaniel. 129 xxii. John And Jesus upon this replied and said unto him, SECT. and said unto him, Dost thou believe me to be the promised Messiah, thee, I saw thee under and the Son of God, merely because I told thee the fig-tree, believest that I saw thee under the fig-tree? Thou, who 1.50. thou? thou shalt see discoverest so honest and teachable a temper, greater things than shalt see much greater things than these to prove 51 And he saith it. And he accordingly proceeds and says, not 51 only unto him, but unto all that were then preshall sent with him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, and solemnly declare it as a most certain truth, to be regarded with the most diligent attention, and received as coming from the mouth of one who is truth itself, That from this time you shall see such a surprising train of miracles wrought by me in the whole course of my succeeding ministry, that it shall seem as if heaven was opened, and all the angels of God were continually (as they appeared in vision to Jacob, Gen. xxvii. 12.) ascending and descending [to wait] upon the Son of man, and to receive and execute his orders: and thus you will be furnished with a most convincing proof that, humble as the form of my present appearance is, I am indeed man. Verily, verily, I say unto you: am aμm, λzyw up.] There is no doubt but that these words are to be taken for a solemn affirmation; in which it is observable that John has constantly repeated the amen, while it is only mentioned once by the other evangelists. And this we may suppose him to have done, either to excite the greater attention, or in a more emphatical and stronger manner to assert the truth, not only of the thing affirmed, but of the person that affirms it. For as amen in Hebrew signifies truth, Isa. Ixv. 16, so Christ, as being the true and faithful witness, is called the Amen. Rev. iii. 14. This repeated asseveration therefore may be considered as an intimation to us, not only that the saying unto which it is prefixed is true, but that we should regard it as proceeding from the true and faithful Witness. Sec Dr. Lightfoot's Harmony, and Hor. Heb. in loc. From this time you shall see a train of miracles] Accordingly within three days one glorious miracle was performed by Christ at Cana of Galilee; which being the town to which Nathaniel belonged, there is great reason to believe he was present with the rest of Christ's disciples at it. Compare John ii. 2, 11. sect. 23. The angels of God ascending and descending.] If Nathaniel was, as some have thought, the person afterwards called Bartholomew, and made an apostle (sce Light the foot's Hor. Heb. on Matth. x. 3.) he mus * Humble as the form of my present ap- See Job xxv. 130 xxii. Reflections on the interview of Christ with Nathaniel. SECT. the illustrious Person foretold under that title, and am intended for that glorious throne, around John which the highest angels shall account it their 1.51. honour to appear as humble attendants, when the whole world shall be convened before it. IMPROVEMENT. Ver. How cautiously should we guard against popular prejudices, 46 which possessed so honest a heart as that of Nathaniel, and led him to suspect that the blessed Jesus himself was an impostor, and that no good could be expected from him because he had been brought up at Nazareth! But his integrity prevailed over that foolish bias, and laid him open to the conviction of evidence, which a candid inquirer will always be glad to admit, even when it brings the most unexpected discovery. How amiable is the character here given of Nathaniel! An 47 Israelite indeed, in whom there is no guile! May the attainment of so excellent a character, and a resemblance to him in it, be the daily aim and emulation of all who have the honour to be called into the Israel of God! 48 A constant intercouse with God in secret devotion will be a happy expression of one branch of this sincerity, and an effectual means of promoting the rest. Let it therefore be our care that the eye of him that seeth in secret may often behold us in religious retirement, pouring out our souls before God, and humbly consecrating them to his service. The day will come when those scenes of duty which were most cautiously concealed shall be commemorated with public honour; and when he who now discerns them, and is a constant witness to the most private exercises of the closet, will reward them openly. (Matth. vi. 6.) Happy were those who saw the miracles performed by the Son 51 of man while he was here on earth! and happy those favourite spirits of heaven which were ascending and descending as ministers of his to do his pleasure! But in some degree yet happier are they who, having not seen, have believed; John xx. 29. As their faith is peculiarly acceptable, it shall ere long be turned into sight. They shall behold much greater things than ever were seen below, and more extraordinary manifestations of his glory than they can now conceive; and, being brought with all his people to surround his throne, shall join in those nobler services which attendant angels render him above. SECT. Christ goes to a marriage feast at Cana. SECT. XXIII. Christ attends a marriage feast at Cana in Galilee, and miraculously changes water into wine. John II. 1-11. JOHN II. 1. AND the third day Jesus was there. JOHN II. 1. 131 John II. 1. there was a marNOW the third day after Christ's coming SECT. riage in Cana of Gali- into Galilee, and discoursing there with xxiii. lee; and the mother of Nathaniel in the manner we have related above, there was a marriage at Cana, a town in Galilee, which originally belonged to the tribe of Asher (Josh. xix. 28,) and Mary the mother of Jesus was there; it being the inarriage of a near relation or an intimate friend of hers. And Je-2 sus, and those of his disciples that were with him, (namely the two disciples that had followed him from the banks of Jordan, with Peter, Philip, and Nathaniel,) being known to be in the neighbourhood, were invited to the marriage: and Jesus, not affecting the austerities which became the character and ministry of John the Baptist, freely accepted of the invitation, and favoured them with his instructive presence. 2 And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage. 3 And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith un Now, as it was known that Jesus would be 3 present at the feast, this, in conjunction with to him, They have no the events which had lately arisen, occasioned a wine. greater resort of company than was expected; a Cana, a town in Galilee.] It lay toward the southern part of the land of Asher (Josh. xix. 28.) and might be called Cana in Galilee, to distinguish it from another town of that name in Cælosyria mentioned by Josephus. Antiq. Judg. lib. xv. cap. 5. (al. 6.) sect. 1. p. 751. Havercamp. b The mother of Jesus was there.] Some have supposed this marriage to be celebrated at the house of Cleopas or Alpheus, whose wife was sister to the mother of our Lord, (John xix. 25,) and one of whose sons was Simon the Cananite, whom some have thought to be so called from his being an inhabitant of this Cana. (Mark iii. 18.) And this may be considered as the more probable, as Mary was not only present at the feast, but was concerned about supplying them with wine; and when the feast was over, we are told at ver. 12. that Jesus was attended, at his leaving Cana, not only with his own disciples, but with his c Either had seen some of his miracles in |