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WHAT HAPPENED UNDER THE FIG TREE?
You will not appreciate this part unless you have read and struggled with the first article: NATHANAEL UNDER THE FIG TREE
Here are a few comments made by some who wrestled with what might have happened under the fig tree:
“No one knows exactly what happened under the fig tree, or why it mattered so much to Nathaniel, but from the text it is clear that Jesus' simple statement affirmed his divinity and opened Nathaniel’s eyes to who Jesus really is.”[1]
“We aren’t told what happened under the fig tree but something about it was very significant to Nathanael. It was a life experience that meant something to him and Jesus was able to enter into it, empathize with it and convey this understanding back to him. This touched Nathanael deeply in his spirit. Up until then he had been an interested seeker, but that moment of empathy, that experience of being personally known draws out of him a sudden, powerful recognition of who Jesus is, being recognised and known by Jesus helps him to begin to perceive the true God.”[2]
“We don’t know what happened under the fig tree. We can imagine that whatever it was, it was a profound experience, and it was a solitary experience, and the fact that this Jesus, this man from Nazareth, knew what happened there changed Nathanael’s view, and Nathanael’s life. Was Nathanael’s fig tree experience a time of great sorrow, or exhilarating joy? Was it quiet and pensive? Was it heart throbbing? Was it serene or rapturous? Reflective or revelatory? We don’t know, but whatever it was, we have probably each had one. And whatever it was, there was nothing more powerful in Nathanael’s life than knowing that in that moment, previously assumed to be solitary, Jesus of Nazareth was there.”[3]
It seems so small, something that most would only glance at on their way to chapter two, but part of me simply wonders what happened under the fig tree. A man who was only a few verses before questioning if Jesus was indeed the Messiah is now following after Christ in total abandon; all because He mentioned how He was with Nathanael under the fig tree. While scholars speculate what this means, a few things can be easily seen.
One, Nathanael was alone. Had anyone else been with Him, they could have told this stranger from Nazareth about him, but only the Messiah knew what happened to Nathanael under that fig tree. Two, Nathanael kept this part of his life private. He didn’t walk through the village sharing openly what happened under the fig tree. Perhaps it was a prayer, a communion with God, a confession of sin or a secret longing that he dared not share with anyone. Nevertheless, only Nathanael and the One True God knew what happened under that tree, and only God could have spoken to Nathanael in such a way so that He knew that this Nazarene was the Son of God.[4]
The following is what I think did happen under the fig tree.
Just as many people have guessed so too am I guessing.
You be the judge.
Why would anyone, in a Jewish culture, want to keep a gentile name when he already has a Jewish name? Let me illustrate:
Why would anyone in an “Arabic” culture want to be called son of “Smith”, when he already has a good Arabic name like Ahmad or Ali?
In the Middle east, when someone is called by his mother’s name as in “son of Fatima”, it is insinuated that the father is not known.
And when a person has a “good” Arabic first name but people insist on calling him “son of Smith”, they are insinuating that they know who the real father is. The “street” culture of Nathanael’s time wanted him to “know” his real place in the society. They were insinuating that he was an illegitimate child.
In the Biblical accounts Nathanael is never called Nathanael Bartholomew. He is either Nathanael or Bartholomew.
But the bigger clue comes from the huge “complement” Jesus gave Nathanael and the subsequent conversation as will be explained in the following emails.
From Abuhennah to Bob
Hi Bob
Happy 2012
Here is a big hint
There was something very drastic in Nathanel's life, a kind of a “social stigma”. As a result he saw himself as not Israelite at all, even if both his parents were Jewish. It used to be a social stigma up to say 50 years ago. That should be a big hint.
This will answer the first question.
Now this is a give away.
Happy thinking
Abuhennah
From Bob
Hiya Abuhennah!
I am sorry to disappoint you but even with your clue - I HAVEN'T A CLUE WHAT HIS PROBLEM WAS - unless it was illegitimacy or something?
Please don't leave me hanging - I just can't think outside the box on this one [maybe I don't eat enough figs! I can't FIG-ure it out!]
All the best,
Bob
From Abuhennah
You got it.
To use your exact words: it was illegitimacy.
Deu 23:2 “A bastard shall not enter into the congregation of the LORD; even to his tenth generation shall he not enter into the congregation of the LORD.”
Now reflect on the huge complement Jesus gave Nathanael.
Nathanael's burden had to be of such magnitude.
Now think of the answer to the second question:
Nathanael asks Jesus: how do you know me?
What would be an answer that says: I know you very well.
Or as a matter of fact I knew you since you were ...
And here is the second big clue:
What do people do with some illegitimate babies in very conservative cultures?
Keep on thinking, you are almost there
From: Bob
Hiya Abuhennah! About Nathanael . .
Did they adopt illegitimate kids out? Put them in orphanages? Ostracize them?
Was Nathanael hanging back under the fig tree because he felt too ashamed to come to Jesus the prophet - or because he had been ostracized to that place?
But where does the Deuteronomy connection come in?
Bob
From Abuhennah
Hi Bob
If he was a "bastard", that would make him illegitimate.
With Deut 32 in view, Nathanael could not boast of his ancestry like Paul. He would also feel very "un-Israelite"
Even recently such babies are sometimes left on the steps of a church or in an obvious place like a rail way station, in the hope that someone will find and look after them.
If Nathanael was an illegitimate child, that would have bring great shame on the grandparents.
Now what is an obvious place where someone might leave an illegitimate baby some 2000 years ago?
From Bob
Hiya Abuhennah!
Under Fig Trees
From Abuhennah
Yes, that is right.
When Nathanael asked, “How do you know me?” Jesus was in effect saying to him: I knew you since you were wrapped up and abandoned under a fig tree.
This is what made Nathanael jump out of his skin and confess that Jesus is the Messiah.
This is the closest thing to saying: Before Abraham was I am!!!
Now imagine you are the one who found this little bundle of life and took him home.
After the shock and a lot of explaining your wife asks you: what do we call him?
Would you suggest something like "a gift from God"? a Nathanael?
From Abuhennah,
If my guess is right, the mother of Nathanael could not keep her baby, but in a small village nothing can be kept secret. Sooner or later she knew who found him.
How did she react when she saw her baby being nursed by someone else but she could not have a closer look?
Then she watched him grow up, but she could not touch him, or even talk to him.
Jesus came to the real world, not to a religious retreat where everybody was meditating under “fig” trees.
From Bob
WHAT YOU SAY IS PLAUSIBLE AND LOVELY. THANKS!
GOD BLESS,
BOB
A friend took up the Nathanael challenge, but she could not figure out what was Nathanael’s issue. As I was explaining to her one of the possibilities of how Nathanael found out that he was an illegitimate child. All of a sudden she told me that she was an illegitimate child. I did not know how to react. I continued my explanations, thinking that her experience happened long time ago, only to discover that her pain was a present reality as I saw her teary eyes every now and then.
Looking back I did not need to explain to her, because she actually explained to me something I did not know. Here are some of our emails after we talked:
Natalie to Abuhennah
I wish to share with you an incident in my childhood which is still for me a very vivid memory.
I was born in a small country town 65 years ago as an illegitimate child. Unlike today,
illegitimacy was frowned upon. I was a tiny tot, probably about two and a half to three years old.
My cousins and I went to play with some neighbourhood kids nearby. I was chased out by a woman wielding a broom calling, "get out of here you bastard!" I was extremely frightened and ran home. At the time I had no idea what a bastard was, but I knew I was something very bad.
Even today, when I recount the event I get very emotional.
I look forward to heaven when like Nathaniel, Jesus will say to me "here is a "true blue" child of God in whom there is no deceit!
Abuhennah to Natalie
Hi Natalie
I just can not go to sleep without saying something.
First I would like to apologize for "opening' an old wound.
I know that words are cheap. So I can not just rattle verses etc.
Only Jesus knows your pain, your life pain.
And I just pray that as you talk to Him tonight, you will tell me that you had a wonderful time.
Thank you for sharing this with me.
God bless
Abuhennah
Natalie to Abuhennah
Dear Abuhennah,
Unless old wounds are opened the infection can't escape and healing is impossible.
Don't apologize, it's healthy for me to realize that there is still an old wound and thus
allow Christ in to heal.
I thank you for your wisdom and insight and the encouragement I have received
from looking at the Nathanael passage with fresh eyes.
I know in my heart and can say with Nathanael "teacher, you are the Son of God"
So tonight I will go to Him, have a cry and He will comfort and heal me.
Sleep well. Love and prayers.
Natalie
P.S. I'll be coming around for my figs in February!!!
Abuhennah to Natalie
AND every February as long as we have figs.
For me the Nathanael incident was just a puzzle and an intellectual exercise.
But after watching your bottled up tears, of more than 60 years, I knew how real and painful Nathanael's burden must have been.
You gave this incident flesh and blood. I now know why the first thing Jesus said to Nathanael was that he was a true Israelite with no guile in him.
Jesus is a wonderful savior. He is the only savior.
Abuhennah
And please remember I am also guessing as many have done so before.
Dear reader, apparently Google does not allow comments on websites like mine.
However, if you email me your comments, I will publish them under this article.
Just click on my email address and type away. Thanks.
The fig Farmer
COMMENTS
Hannah Berensen
That was awesome!
I didn't think of that at all. I just thought he felt bad because he perhaps had a Greek parent.
I think we might have to turn some of these into a "Fig series" of Bible Studies for a our Bible study too:)
[1] . http://www.parkwoodchurch.net/sermons/2007/2007_07-08.htm
[2] . http://www.agape.org.uk/portals/0/Learning%20to%20listen.pdf
[3] . http://www.cathellwilliams.com/category/sermons/
[4] . http://www.blogger-index.com/2169637-musings-of-a-mississippi-girl
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