Can you imagine being told that everything you've done and thought was on the up-and-up? That any time you spoke your mind was the right response?
That's what happened to Nathanael, our next apostle.
He couldn't believe his ears. He was even somewhat taken aback...'Do I know you? How do you know these things about me?'
Of course, once he heard Jesus' answer he was the first to publicly announce what would take the others years to believe. You always hear about Peter's confession, but Nathanael was the first to have the specific words flow over his lips.
Never mind that he almost didn't go because he thought Jesus came from the wrong side of the tracks. He went against his better judgement, so to speak, and trusted a friend. And, boy, did that pay off.
He left Cana in Galilee; followed the man he recognized as the Son of God; went by a second name (Bartholomew - which means 'son of Tolmai'); suffered the loss of his master teacher; saw angels ascending and descending on Jesus who in the end returned to life, and he lived to tell about it.
And tell about it he did, albeit quietly as compared to some of the others. He went to Armenia and was flayed to death for his teachings.
Nathanael is not mentioned in any of the gospels as asking questions that were left better unsaid. He probably knew when to keep his mouth shut, or waited to hear things out before saying anything.
How I would love to say I have some of what this man possessed...
no deceit in any part of him, an upright-thinking man who knew when to speak up and when to keep his mouth shut. A man who allowed others to take a closer role with Jesus even though he was the first to recognize him for who he truly was. A humble man who watched and absorbed all that took place.
He even wrote a gospel, according to the historian Jerome. I'm sure it reached those for whom it was intended even though it didn't make the Bible.
You can read about him in: Matthew 10:3; Mark 3:18; Luke 6:13-14; John 1:45-51, 21:1-11; Acts 1:13-14.
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