Page:Jesus of Nazareth the story of His life simply told (1917).djvu/143

 Lord. When they had come up to Him He said in the hearing of Nathaniel:

"Behold an Israelite indeed in whom there is no guile."

Nathaniel in amazement replied: "Whence knowest Thou me?"

Jesus looking upon him said: "Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig-tree, I saw thee."

The fig-tree was a long way off, and what had happened there we do not know. Perhaps Nathaniel had been praying to see the Messiah before he died, and be numbered amongst His followers. Any way there had been some act or thought which God alone could know. Who was this Stranger that in that secret place had seen him and read his heart? Nathaniel was a man without guile, that is without cunning or deceit. He only wanted to know what was right, and seeing what a mistake he had made he owned it at once.:

"Rabbi," he exclaimed, "Thou art the Son of God, Thou art the King of Israel."

Jesus answered: "Because I said unto Thee: I saw thee under the fig-tree thou believest? greater things than these shalt thou see."

Many believed Nathaniel to be the same as St. Bartholomew the Apostle. "Bar" means "Son," "Bar-Tolmai" means "Son of Tolmai." The full name may have been Nathaniel Bar-Tolmai, just as we have Simon Bar-Jona. One reason for this belief is that in the lists of the Twelve Apostles Philip and Bartholomew are always put together.