JOHN 1:48-51 NKJV

Nathanael said to Him, “How do You know me?”

Jesus answered and said to him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.”

Nathanael answered and said to Him, “Rabbi, You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!”

Jesus answered and said to him, “Because I said to you, ‘I saw you under the fig tree,’ do you believe? You will see greater things than these.” And He said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, hereafter you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.”

JOHN 1:48-51 NKJV

John 1:48, 49 under the fig tree: In the OT, this expression often suggests being safe and at leisure (1 Kin. 4:25; Mic. 4:4; Zech. 3:10). Nathanael may have been meditating under the tree about the dream of Jacob referred to in vv. 50, 51. I saw you: Jesus manifested His supernatural knowledge. Apparently, this incident convinced Nathanael that since Jesus had such knowledge of him, He had to be the Son of God, the King of Israel (20:31). These titles referred to the Messiah.

John 1:50 greater things: Jesus assured Nathanael that he would see even greater supernatural manifestations in the future. Jesus’ statement may have referred to the miracles performed in chs. 2—11; it may also refer to the future glory of Christ as the coming Son of Man (1:51; Dan. 7:13).

John 1:51 Jacob had a vision of angels ascending and descending a ladder from heaven (Gen. 28:12). The thought here is similar, namely that there will be communication between heaven and earth. Son of Man, an expression used in Dan. 7:13 of a heavenly being, was Jesus’ favorite designation of Himself (Matt. 8:20; Mark 2:10).