In John 1:44-51 it written: Now Philip was from Bethsaida, of the city of Andrew and Peter. 45 Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found Him of whom Moses in the Law and also the Prophets wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.†46 Nathanael said to him, “Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?†Philip said to him, “Come and see.†47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming to Him, and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!†48 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.†49 Nathanael answered Him, “Rabbi, You are the Son of God; You are the King of Israel.†50 Jesus answered and said to him, “Because I said to you that I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe? You will see greater things than these.†51 And He said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see the heavens opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.â€
Nathanael said to Jesus, “How do you know me?†Jesus said, “I saw you.†Jesus went on to say that because He saw Nathanael that Nathanael would now see something. Someone. Nathanael would see Heaven open and the angels of God ascending and descending on Jesus Himself.
Jesus first sees us that we might see Him. Heaven is open now for those who have been given His eyes to see. We see because He is now within us and we see through His eyes.
It is also written in Isaiah 53:11: “As a result of the anguish of His soul,
He will see it and be satisfied; by His knowledge the Righteous One, My Servant, will justify the many, as He will bear their iniquities.â€
Jesus saw you too. Just as He saw Nathanael. While dying on the cross He saw you. He saw “the result of the anguish of His soul†and “He was satisfied.†He saw you that you might see Him.
Lift up your eyes to Heaven and see with new eyes. Heaven is now open to you. His eyes are your eyes now.
All because He saw you first.
James Barron