50 Jesus said, "You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You shall see greater things than that." 51 He then added, "I tell you the truth, you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man."
Jesus’ Words to Nathanael remind me of the verses in 1 Corinthians where the apostle Paul quotes from the prophet Isaiah:
9 However, as it is written: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him" -- 10 but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. 1 Cor 2:9-10 (NIV)
Nathanael is blown away over Jesus’ knowledge of him yet Jesus confirms to him that this is a mere drop in the bucket compared to what he is going to see. “You shall see greater things than that” is the promise uttered by our Savior and one, I might add, that, as believers, we can apply to our own lives as well. Jesus tells His disciples:
11 Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves. 12 I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. John 14:11-13 (NIV)
Every true believer is sealed with the precious Holy Spirit Who equips and empowers them for action in the good works which God has ordained for them to do. To be a part of God’s work for the kingdom is the highest calling – it is our greatest purpose. God’s desire is to be glorified both in us and through us. He does this by changing us from the inside out through the power of His Holy Spirit and the surrender of our will – one surrender at a time. He never forces us to follow Him - becoming like Him – rather, by each surrender to the Holy Spirit’s prompting we become more conformed to His image – we become less and He becomes greater.
“All true knowledge of God is born out of obedience.” John Calvin
“The greatness of a man’s power is the measure of his surrender.” William Booth
“We were made by God and for God, and until we figure that out, life isn't going to make sense.” Rick Warren
Not only that, God delights in our calling upon Him so that He may e reveal to us great and unsearchable things that we do not know. This is exactly what the prophet Jeremiah tells us:
3 'Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.' Jer 33:3 (NIV)
“Whatever revelations Christ is pleased to make of himself here in this world, he has still greater things than these to make known to them.” Matthew Henry
Paul exclaims in his blessed Doxology the following:
33 Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! 34 "Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?" 35 "Who has ever given to God, that God should repay him?" 36 For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen. Romans 11:33-36 (NIV)
Jesus’ next Words to Nathanael - "I tell you the truth,” - commanded Nathanael’s fixed attention to what was going to be said as it would be weighty and undoubtedly True. Regarding heaven being open and angels ascending and descending upon Jesus was an indication that Jesus would now be man’s access to heaven. Referring to Jacob’s dream in Genesis 28, the stairway placed on earth going to heaven with the angels ascending and descending on it as heaven communicating with earth would now be replaced by Jesus as the divine Communication. The Son of Man would now be God’s link with the earth.
10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost." Luke 19:10 (NIV)
25 Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. 26 Such a high priest meets our need--one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. Heb 7:25-26 (NIV)
The high priest said to him, "I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God." 64 "Yes, it is as you say," Jesus replied. "But I say to all of you: In the future you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven." Matt 26:63-64 (NIV)
“When we can do nothing Jesus can do all things; let us enlist His powerful aid upon our side, and all will be well.” Charles Spurgeon