Philip also does not keep the good to himself, but passes it on to Nathanael, and since Nathanael was learned in the law, Philip refers him to the law and the prophets, because he diligently studied the law. He calls the Lord the Son "of Joseph," because at that time they still considered Him to be the Son of Joseph.
He calls Him "Nazarene," although He was properly a Bethlehemite, because He was born in Bethlehem but raised in Nazareth. But since His birth was unknown to many, while His upbringing was well known, they call Him a Nazarene, as one who was raised in Nazareth.
Jn. 1:46. But Nathanael said to him: Can anything good come out of Nazareth? Philip said to him: Come and see.
Philip said that Christ was from Nazareth, but Nathanael, being more learned in the law, knew from the Scriptures that Christ was to come from Bethlehem, and therefore says: "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Philip says: "Come and see," knowing that Nathanael would not turn away from Christ if he heard His words.
Jn. 1:47. Jesus, seeing Nathanael coming to Him, says of him: Behold, truly an Israelite, in whom there is no guile.
Christ praises Nathanael as a true Israelite, because he said nothing either for or against Him; for his words proceeded not from unbelief, but from prudence and from a mind that knew from the law that Christ would come not from Nazareth, but from Bethlehem.
Jn. 1:48. Nathanael says to Him: how do You know me? Jesus said to him in answer: before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.
What about Nathanael? Was he carried away by the praise? No, he desires to learn something more clearly and precisely, and therefore asks: "How do You know me?" The Lord tells him that which no one knew except himself and Philip, that which was spoken and done in private, and thus reveals His Divinity. Philip conversed with Nathanael in private, when no one was under the fig tree, yet Christ, without even being there, knew everything, which is why He says: "I saw you when you were under the fig tree."
The Lord spoke about Nathanael before Philip approached, so that no one would think that Philip had told Him about the fig tree and the other things He had discussed with Nathanael.
From this Nathanael recognized the Lord and confessed Him as the Son of God. For hear what he says next.
Jn. 1:49. Nathanael answers Him: Rabbi! You are the Son of God, You are the King of Israel.
Jn. 1:50. Jesus answered and said to him: You believe because I said to you: I saw you under the fig tree; you will see greater things than these.
Prophecy has the greatest power to draw some to faith, and its power is greater than the power of miracles. For miracles can be presented as illusions by demons, but no one has exact foreknowledge and prediction of the future—neither angels, nor still less demons. This is why the Lord also drew Nathanael, telling him both the place and that Philip had called him, and that he was truly an Israelite. Nathanael, hearing this, felt the greatness of the Lord as much as was possible, and confessed Him as the Son of God.
However, although he confesses Him as the Son of God, it is not in the same sense as Peter. Peter confessed Him as the Son of God as true God, and for this the Lord blessed him and entrusted the Church to him (Matt. 16:16–19). But Nathanael confessed Him as a mere man, adopted by God through grace on account of his virtue. And this is evident from the addition: You are the King of Israel. Do you see? He has not yet attained to the perfect knowledge of the true Divinity of the Only-Begotten. He only believes that Jesus is a man beloved of God and the King of Israel. If he had confessed Him as true God, he would not have called Him King of Israel, but King of the whole world. For this reason he is not blessed, as Peter was.
Jn. 1:51. And He says to him: Truly, truly, I say to you: henceforth you will see heaven opened and the Angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.
Therefore the Lord also, correcting him and leading him to an understanding worthy of His Divinity, says: you will see the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man. "Accept Me," He says, "not as a mere man, but as the Master of angels." For He whom the angels serve cannot be a mere man, but is true God. This was fulfilled at the crucifixion and at the ascension. For, as Luke relates, both before the sufferings an angel from heaven strengthened Him, and at the tomb an angel appeared, and at the ascension (Luke 22:43; Luke 24:4, 23; Acts 1:10).
Some understood the "fig tree" to mean the law, since it had fruit that was sweet for a time, but by the strictness of the legal prescriptions and the difficulty of fulfilling the commandments was covered as if by leaves. The Lord "saw" Nathanael. Regarding this they say that He mercifully looked upon and understood his comprehension, even though he was still under the law. I ask you, if you take delight in such things, to also pay attention to the fact that the Lord saw Nathanael under the fig tree, or under the law, that is, within the law, searching its depths. If he had not searched the depth of the law, the Lord would not have seen him. Know also that "Galilee" means cast down.
So, the Lord came to the fallen land of the whole world, or to human nature, and, as the Lover of mankind, looked upon us who were under the fig tree, that is, under sin — pleasant for a time, but with which is joined no small sharpness on account of repentance and the future punishments there — and chose for Himself those who acknowledge Him as the Son of God and King of Israel, who sees God.
If we continue our diligence, then He will deem us worthy of even greater contemplations, and we shall see angels "ascending to the height of divine knowledge of Him" and again "descending," because they do not attain full knowledge of the incomprehensible Essence.
And in another sense: one "ascends" when he engages in contemplation of the Divinity of the Only-begotten; he "descends" when he willingly engages in contemplations of the incarnation and the descent into hell.