“Come and see.”

Nathanael comes to know Jesus through the invitation of another—Philip.  At first, seemingly contemptuous of anyone from Nazareth, Philip convinces him to at least go and see for himself.  The story takes an interesting turn as Jesus praises him at the first meeting because Jesus saw him under the fig tree.  The fig tree represented Israel and the waiting for the Messianic era.  To be under such a tree signified being faithful to God’s plan.  Nathanael is thus a “true child of Israel.”  How faithful are we to God’s plan for the world?  Do we let the trials and tribulations of day-to-day life squelch the joy inherent in being a minister of the gospel?