Nathanael was somewhat taken aback when he understood that Jesus had seen through his inner self. Nathanael was a believer by Old Testament standards, for he had confessed his sins to the Baptist, and desired the Kingdom of God wholeheartedly. This was no self-righteousness, but the attitude of those broken hearted on account of sins – calling on God to send the Messiah the Savior.
Jesus heard this prayer, and saw the suppliant at a distance as he knelt under the shade of a tree. This power to prove the hidden facts in man is a divine perception.
Jesus did not reject him but justified him in describing him as a model believer, grounded in the Old Testament, looking towards Christ’s coming.
Christ’s commendation dissolved Nathanael’s doubts. He yielded to Jesus and honored him by using Biblical titles that belong to the Messiah: Son of God and King of Israel. Such expressions when uttered would have exposed Nathanael to death, for the Scribes and members of the Jewish Council denied that God would have a Son. Such utterances would have been counted blasphemous. While the claim of a man to be King of Israel would have made him liable to persecution by Herod, as well as arrest by the Roman authorities. Thus this sincere believer demonstrated his grasp of the import of the promises revealed to the prophets. He feared God more than man, and honored Him by assigning the title of Father, whatever that might cost.
None of the earlier disciples had given Christ such names as ascribed by Nathanael. Surprisingly, Christ did not reject any of theses titles, but raised his awareness by showing him the heavens opened. All along Christ was surrounded by unseen angels, ascending to heaven, presenting his miracles to the Father, and returning to the Son, hands overflowing with blessings. Thus Jacob’s vision was fulfilled, for in Jesus the fullness of blessing is found. As Paul wrote, "Blessed be God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenlies." From Christ’s nativity and his baptism heaven has remained opened. Prior to that heaven was shut on account of God’s wrath, with angels standing guard before its gates with drawn swords. The gate that leads to God has now opened in Christ.
Here for the first time John uses the phrase typical of Christ, "Verily, verily, I say unto you…" The reality of this age of grace was so lofty as to be beyond human grasp, and yet man needs it, as the divine basis of our new faith. For whenever Jesus repeats this phrase, we ought to pause and ponder on his intention, since what follows the phrase is a spiritual revelation surpassing our minds.
After this proclamation, Christ corrected Nathanael’s testimony, as a precaution against persecution directed towards him and the newborn church. Jesus did not say, I am the promised King, Son of God, but called himself ‘Son of Man’. This title was the one Jesus used generally for himself. His incarnation was his unique destruction; he became like us – this is a great miracle, the Son of God becoming man, to die as God’s Lamb for us.
At the same time this title ‘Son of Man’ points to a mystery mentioned in the Book of Daniel. God entrusted ‘Son of Man’ with judgment. Nathanael realized that Jesus was not just a King and Son, but the Judge of the worlds also – the Divine in human shape. Thus Jesus led the gloomy believer to the highest stages of faith. Such faith was not facile, since Jesus was a young countryman. But by faith the disciples saw the hidden glory in him – with the heavens opening above.