The Dawn of Faith and its Consummation
E. L. Hull, B. A. John 1:50-51 Jesus answered and said to him, Because I said to you, I saw you under the fig tree, believe you?… Christianity is not a mere set of doctrines, but a life of faith in and through Christ. This is well illustrated in this chapter. These early disciples differed in temperament and in their methods of reaching Christ, but they had one faith in common. Men have been ever asking, How does this faith begin? To what does it lead? These questions are answered here. I. THE DAWN OF FAITH. Christ's words imply the great fact of experience from which faith rises. 1. What was that fact? (1) Not the proof of Christ's miraculous power contained in the fact that Christ saw him although unseen. This might prove Christ to be a teacher sent from God, but no such miracle could prove Him to be the Redeemer and object of saving trust. Christ rejected belief founded exclusively on miracles. Miracles were imperative in the case of the Jews. (2) But the fact that Christ saw into him and penetrated the deep necessities of his heart. Nathanael had probably been praying under the fig-tree. Prayer unveiling the soul before the heartsearching glance of God reveals the real man. Nathanael knew therefore at once that Christ was acquainted with his doubts, sorrows, aspirations. He therefore who thus knew him could deliver him. The same heart-searching glance rests upon us. Here, then, faith begins. "Lord, Thou knowest all things," "Thou art the Son of God." 2. That fact is the dawning of a faith that must continually grow. Two things necessary to the strengthening of belief. (1) Its evidence must be certain. Faith in Christ rests upon the deepest of all kinds of certainty — experimental evidence. The evidence of testimony may fail, the certainty of reasoning may be destroyed. But when we know whom we have believed nothing can overturn our conviction. Here is the only cure for doubt. (2) Its power must advance with advancing life. When faith in Christ as the only satisfier of the soul's need is reached, every new experience in life brings new proofs of its power. II. THE CONSUMMATION OF FAITH. Christ declares Jacob's dream to be fulfilled in Him. The greater things are those which Jacob dimly realized. 1. The felt presence of God. 2. The sacredness of life. "How dreadful is this place!" etc. 3. Union with the angelic world. (E. L. Hull, B. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: Jesus answered and said unto him, Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, believest thou? thou shalt see greater things than these. WEB: Jesus answered him, "Because I told you, 'I saw you underneath the fig tree,' do you believe? You will see greater things than these!"