Christ Jesus saw Nathanael approaching him and said, "Truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit." Why did he say this? It's interesting to consider where that name 'Israel' came from. In Genesis, Jacob was renamed Israel after wrestling with an angel. Moreover, his original name meant one who overreaches as Jacob was known for his deceit on a number of occasions. Our Lord's words about Nathaniel highlight the Israelites long history of apostasy as a nation against Jehovah's will. "Jesus saw Na·thanʹa·el coming toward him and said about him: “See, truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit.” Na·thanʹa·el said to him: “How do you know me?” Jesus answered him: “Before Philip called you, while you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” Na·thanʹa·el responded: “Rabbi, you are the Son of God, you are King of Israel.” Jesus answered him: “Do you believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree? You will see things greater than these.” He then said to him: “Most truly I say to you men, you will see heaven opened up and the angels of God ascending and descending to the Son of man." Jhn 1:47-51 Does Jesus' encounter with Nathanael remind you of anything? "Jacob departed from Beʹer-sheʹba and kept going toward Haʹran. In time he came to a place and prepared to spend the night there because the sun had set. So he took one of the stones of that place and set it to rest his head on and lay down there. Then he had a dream, and look! there was a stairway set on the earth, and its top reached up to the heavens; and there were God’s angels ascending and descending on it." Gen 28:10-12 Our Lord here highlights his role as the mediator between heaven and earth; The one who split the veil from the Holy Place into the Most Holy by his sacrifice. It is through our Lord that each one who believes will sit under his own fig tree in the new kingdom! "They will sit, each one under his vine and under his fig tree, And no one will make them afraid, For the mouth of Jehovah of armies has spoken." Mic 4:4