John 1:47-51 Nathanael

Gospel

Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, “Here is a true Israelite. There is no duplicity in him.” Nathanael said to him, “How do you know me?” Jesus answered and said to him, “Before Philip called you, I saw you under the fig tree.” Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel.” Jesus answered and said to him, “Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than this.” and he said to him, “Amen, amen, I say to you, you will see the sky opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”

In recent weeks, I have had the great blessing of being able to gear up and head down to the Bitterroot River to fish. It is an amazing gift to be able to put on my waders, grab a fully strung rod from a rack I have hanging from the ceiling and walk a shorter distance than an average golfer can drive a golf ball to the river. 

Being able to just fish when I want without much effort makes it much easier for me to slow down and settle into fishing as communion with the Holy Spirit rather than a race to see how many fish I can catch. It is where I can go to listen for the word of God spoken to me. I have always known that because it is a reason I  fish but sometimes I would, well, forget.

It used to be all too common for me to just march up to the riverbank, take a quick look up and downstream and then just wade into the current and move toward the place I determined to make my first cast. I had already given what I expected to find on the river enough thought to have tied on the flies I expected to work and planned what area of the river I should target first. It was only after fruitless time was spent casting and casting that would I take stock of what was really going on around me. My arrogant attitude caused me to demand the river to give me what I wanted rather than to humbly accept what the river was willing to give. 

Now I edge up to where I can up and down river and rather than just stomping in, I like to sit on the bank comfortably wedged where I could both sit upright and have my feet in the water so I could feel and hear the current pass over me. I spend some time watching various parts of the river to see if something might be revealed. Is there a hatch on? Are the fish rising in one place and not another? Has the river level changed since the last time I fished? What about the temperature and what about the wind? Is it blowing steadily at one speed or is it gusting? 

I pray a blessing on the river and things in it and offer a prayer of gratitude for the ability to engage creation in a way that recreates me. Only then do I rise and wade into the river to go to where the river calls me and blesses me in return. 

What has this to do with Nathanael? He was sitting under a fig tree, a tree that represents messianic peace. In other words, he was sitting in a place of blessing. Phillip called him to join him to meet the messiah and he did. When he is recognized by Jesus he is stunned. Jesus saw Nathaneal sitting in a blessed place waiting for Jesus but he, Nathanael, did not know it. How could he? But when he acknowledges Jesus, Jesus had a curious response that almost seems to say, "If you thought it was amazing I recognized you be advised there is much bigger stuff come. Just hold my staff and watch this."

When I go to the river to fish, it is not just about fishing any more than Nathanael was just sitting under a fig tree catching some shade and waiting for some fruit to drop on his lap. I go to wait to encounter the messiah. He recognizes me. He calls me by name. He promises me greater things to come. I believe it.  I live for the fulfillment of the promise. 

The funny thing is I seem to be catching more fish now. Hmm. Wonder why.