“Jesus said to him, ‘Because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe? You will see greater things than these.’ He continued, ‘I tell all of you the solemn truth—you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.’” —John 1:50–51
Jesus’ words to Nathanael remind me of the Paul’s words to the Corinthians:
“But just as it is written, ‘Things that no eye has seen, or ear heard, or mind imagined, are the things God has prepared for those who love him.’ God has revealed these to us by the Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.’” —1 Corinthians 2:9–10
Nathanael is surprised over Jesus’ knowledge of him, yet Jesus confirms to him that this is a mere drop in the bucket compared to what he is going to see. “You will see greater things than these” is the promise given by our Savior and one that, as believers, we can apply to our own lives as well. Jesus tells His disciples:
“Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father is in me, but if you do not believe me, believe because of the miraculous deeds themselves. I tell you the solemn truth, the person who believes in me will perform the miraculous deeds that I am doing, and will perform greater deeds than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.” —John 14:11–13
Every true believer is sealed with the Holy Spirit who equips and empowers us for the good works which God has ordained for us to do. To be a part of God’s work for the kingdom is the highest calling—it is our greatest purpose. God’s desire is to be glorified both in us and through us. He does this by changing us from the inside out through the surrender of our will to the power of His Holy Spirit—one surrender at a time. He never forces us to follow Him. However, we become more like Jesus by each surrender to the Holy Spirit’s prompting—we become less and He becomes greater.
Jesus’ next words to Nathanael commanded Nathanael’s attention: “I tell all of you the solemn truth.” Jesus wanted Nathanael to have no doubt in his mind as to the truth of what he was saying. Regarding heaven being open and angels ascending and descending upon Jesus was an indication that Jesus would now be man’s access to heaven. Jesus was referring here to Jacob’s dream in Genesis 28. The stairway on earth going to heaven, with the angels ascending and descending on it as heaven communicating with earth, would now be replaced by Jesus as the divine communication. The Son of man would now be God’s link with the earth.
“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” —Luke 19:10
“So he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. For it is indeed fitting for us to have such a high priest: holy, innocent, undefiled, separate from sinners, and exalted above the heavens.” —Hebrews 7:25–26
“But Jesus was silent. The high priest said to him, ‘I charge you under oath by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.’ Jesus said to him, ‘You have said it yourself. But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.’” —Matthew 26:63–64
Become More
God has more prepared for each one of than we can ever imagine. Start paying attention each day to all that He is doing in and through you.
“The greatness of a man’s power is the measure of his surrender.” —William Booth
“When we can do nothing, Jesus can do all things; let us enlist His powerful aid upon our side, and all will be well.” —Charles Spurgeon
Further Reflections
“Whatever revelations Christ is pleased to make of himself here in this world, he has still greater things than these to make known to them.” —Matthew Henry
“Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how unfathomable his ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor? Or who has first given to God, that God needs to repay him? For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever! Amen.” —Romans 11:33–36