Unopened Gifts - A Reflection on John 1:47-51




When Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him, he said of him, “Here is truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit!” Nathanael asked him, “Where did you get to know me?” Jesus answered, “I saw you under the fig tree before Philip called you.” Nathanael replied, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” Jesus answered, “Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than these.” And he said to him, “Very truly, I tell you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.”

 

In his letter to the Corinthians, Paul speaks about nine amazing gifts that the Holy Spirit gives the believer to build up the church. These are wisdom, knowledge, discernment, faith, healing, miracles, prophecy, tongues, and the interpretation of tongues. In today’s passage we find Jesus using the gift of knowledge. This is a gift by which the Holy Spirit gives a person a deeper understanding of a mystery of faith, or specific knowledge about a person or situation that could not be known, unless God revealed it. 

 

Jesus told Nathaniel that he had seen him sitting under the fig tree a little while earlier, even though Jesus had been nowhere near the area at the time. On another occasion, Jesus stopped by a well in Samaria for a rest and engaged in a conversation with a woman who had come to draw water from the well. He knew that she had five husbands (see John 4:18-19) without her having spoken of it. Jesus, of course, is God, who knows all things, but he lets us share in his divinity through his Holy Spirit and the gifts he brings.

 

The gift of knowledge is one of them; it operates by faith. It is received in one’s spirit, not intellect or emotions. This is an invaluable asset in many ministries, especially in the ministry of counseling. When you are counseling somebody who has buried a lot of painful memories, the Holy Spirit makes you aware of them so you can gently bring them into the light for Jesus to heal. The gift can also be used for other purposes, like revealing sin. We see Peter being made aware of the lies that Ananias and Sapphira were telling him (see Acts 5:1-10). We see Nathan knowing what King David had done (see 2 Samuel 12:1-10). 

 

The gift can also be used to encourage us, as it encouraged Elijah when he heard God’s voice in the mountain (see 1 King 19:9-18). It can be used to impart knowledge of future events, as Agabus came to know about a great famine that would sweep over the world (see Acts 11:28). It can also be used to reveal hidden things—or hidden people—as Samuel located Saul who had tried to conceal himself among baggage! (see 1 Samuel 10:22). Again, a reminder to please read these stories for yourself. They are fascinating.

 

This gift, like the others which are commonly known as the charismatic gifts, are available to every believer. Paul encourages us to “follow the way of love and eagerly desire the gifts of the Spirit” (see 1 Corinthians 14:1). He speaks a lot about these gifts in his letter to the Corinthians. You will find them in Chapter 12. According to Paul, each believer has already received at least one gift, and they are to be used for the good of everyone. Unfortunately, most of us have never bothered opening the gift we have received and seeing what is inside. 

 

So, let us rectify that. Let us discover the gifts we have been given and start using them to grow the kingdom of heaven. 

 

Watch a video of this reflection by Aneel Aranha here: https://youtu.be/XTDADf5ARBY

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