Faithful on Fridays Blog

Part Five

While reading the listings of the disciples you won’t find Nathanael, however, you’ll find Bartholomew; why? Because Bartholomew is his last name, meaning son of Tolmai, but Nathanael, whose name means ‘God has given’, is definitely one of The Twelve. His first mention is John 1:43-51 where we find him hanging out with his friend Philip. Even though Nathanael is from Cana, near Bethsaida (Philip’s hometown), they were good friends, possibly attending Hebrew school together learning the Scriptures. Philip couldn’t wait to find Nathanael and tell him he’d found the long-awaited Messiah, Jesus of Nazareth. Nathanael had a skeptical response, “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” Thankfully Jesus saw this man’s hidden heart; he was a genuine, covenant Israelite who operated in complete integrity. Even though he expressed doubt in Messiah’s backstory Jesus saw the heart of a disciple. Nathanael was not driven by deceit or trickery of any kind; he was the real deal. Jesus even expressed to Nate that He supernaturally saw him earlier under a fig tree. Nate was not only impressed by the supernatural knowledge, but made a faith declaration of Jesus’ identity: You are the Son of God and King of Israel. Jesus humorously told him if he’s impressed with that … just wait! There’s more to come beginning with his hometown.

Nathanael’s discipleship training included that he would see heaven open by angels ascending and descending on the Son of Man (vs. 51). Could Nate have understood what Messiah meant? A true Israelite would know the reference to their patriarch Jacob (Gen. 28:10-17) who had a vision of a that stairway to heaven. He knows Jesus is the Son of God, King of Israel, and now the Son of Man. He privileged Nathanael with a foretelling of His ascension when He, as the Son of Man, would make that connection by opening heaven for us. Angels will be active in escorting believers to their new home after death (Luke 16:22) to receive their inheritance (Heb. 1:14). This isn’t pie in the sky, my friends, this is a promise for those who literally follow Christ now and later.

Lastly, Nathanael, this true believer in word and deed, was present on the mountain when Jesus delivered His Great Commission to go and testify (Matt. 28:16-20). Additionally (John 21:2), he was there when Jesus met with seven of His disciples after the resurrection to enjoy breakfast with Him on the Sea of Galilee. 

Nathanael Bartholomew, a man of complete integrity, was there when Jesus ascended into heaven (Acts 1:12-26) and the prayer meeting that followed. He was there during the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost when he was empowered to travel around preaching the gospel as far as Persia (Iran) and India where it’s believed he was martyred. His heart began with doubt, but finished with faith as he enjoyed the final fulfillment of the Jacob’s Ladder in his own life. He definitely reflected his name: Nathanael is a gift.