{"id":48626,"date":"2021-06-07T11:22:00","date_gmt":"2021-06-07T08:22:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wingulamashahidi.org\/?p=48626"},"modified":"2025-05-31T22:33:28","modified_gmt":"2025-05-31T19:33:28","slug":"you-will-see-greater-things-than-these","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wingulamashahidi.org\/en\/2021\/06\/07\/you-will-see-greater-things-than-these\/","title":{"rendered":"YOU WILL SEE GREATER THINGS THAN THESE"},"content":{"rendered":"

By the grace of God and in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.<\/em><\/p>\n

May the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ be glorified forever. Welcome, as we take time to study the Word of God together.<\/p>\n

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The Barrier of a Divided Heart<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Many times, the greatest hindrance to experiencing the fullness of Christ is not external opposition but our own hearts<\/strong>. Scripture warns us against being double minded:<\/p>\n

\u201cHe is a double minded man, unstable in all his ways.\u201d<\/em>
\nJames 1:8 (NKJV)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

When we have divided loyalties or hidden hypocrisy, we close ourselves off from the deeper revelations of Christ. Today, we\u2019ll examine two contrasting groups: the Pharisees<\/strong>, who were religious but spiritually blind, and Nathanael<\/strong>, a disciple who received profound revelation because of the integrity of his heart.<\/p>\n

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1.Seeking Signs, Missing the Savior<\/strong><\/h3>\n

In Matthew 12, the Pharisees demanded a miraculous sign to prove Jesus’ authority:<\/p>\n

\u201cThen some of the scribes and Pharisees answered, saying, \u2018Teacher, we want to see a sign from You.\u2019<\/em>
\nBut He answered and said to them, \u2018An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.\u2019\u201d<\/em>
\nMatthew 12:38\u201339 (NKJV)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Jesus rebuked them, not because asking for a sign is inherently wrong (cf. Judges 6:36\u201340), but because their hearts were unbelieving and hypocritical. They had witnessed miracles, healings, and exorcisms, yet refused to believe (Matthew 12:22\u201324). Their demand for signs came from a heart unwilling to repent<\/strong>, not a heart seeking truth.<\/p>\n

Jesus gave them only one sign<\/strong> the sign of Jonah<\/strong>, which foreshadowed His death, burial, and resurrection:<\/p>\n

\u201cFor as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish,
\nso will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.\u201d<\/em>
\nMatthew 12:40 (NKJV)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

This was a messianic prophecy<\/strong> of the resurrection the ultimate sign validating His divine identity (Romans 1:4).<\/p>\n

\u00a0For more on the sign of Jonah, read:<\/strong>
\nThe Dangers of Seeking Signs<\/a><\/p>\n

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2. Nathanael: A Heart Without Deceit<\/strong><\/h3>\n

In contrast to the Pharisees, Nathanael exemplifies what it means to have a sincere, truth seeking heart. When he first hears from Philip that the Messiah is Jesus of Nazareth, he is skeptical but not cynical:<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd Nathanael said to him, \u2018Can anything good come out of Nazareth?\u2019
\nPhilip said to him, \u2018Come and see.\u2019\u201d<\/em>
\nJohn 1:46 (NKJV)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

This question reflects cultural and prophetic expectations Nazareth was not considered a significant or prophetic place (see Micah 5:2, which points to Bethlehem). But what sets Nathanael apart is his willingness to investigate<\/strong>, rather than reject, something that didn\u2019t align with his assumptions.<\/p>\n

When Jesus sees him coming, He immediately discerns his heart:<\/p>\n

\u201cJesus saw Nathanael coming toward Him, and said of him,
\n\u2018Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!\u2019\u201d<\/em>
\nJohn 1:47 (NKJV)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The Greek word for \u201cdeceit\u201d is dolos<\/em>, which refers to guile, trickery, or hidden motives. Nathanael had none of that. He was sincere in his pursuit of truth and because of that, Jesus revealed something deeply personal to him:<\/p>\n

\u201cBefore Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.\u201d<\/em>
\nJohn 1:48 (NKJV)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

This moment of supernatural knowledge convinced Nathanael of Jesus\u2019 divine identity:<\/p>\n

\u201cRabbi, You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!\u201d<\/em>
\nJohn 1:49 (NKJV)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Then Jesus makes a remarkable promise:<\/p>\n

\u201cBecause I said to you, \u2018I saw you under the fig tree,\u2019 do you believe?
\nYou will see greater things than these.\u201d<\/em>
\nJohn 1:50 (NKJV)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

This echoes the biblical pattern that faith precedes greater revelation<\/strong>. God reveals more to those who are willing to believe the little He first shows them.<\/p>\n

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3. God Reveals<\/strong> Himself in Levels<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Jesus does not reveal Himself equally to everyone. Though He preached to multitudes, His deepest teachings<\/strong> were reserved for His disciples (Matthew 13:10\u201311). Even among the disciples, there were inner circles<\/strong> (e.g., Peter, James, and John) who witnessed events others didn\u2019t (Mark 5:37, Mark 9:2, Luke 8:51).<\/p>\n

Similarly, not everyone recognized Him, even when He was in their midst:<\/p>\n

\u201cHe was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him.\u201d<\/em>
\nJohn 1:10 (NKJV)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

This shows that intimacy with Christ is conditional <\/strong>it depends on the posture of our hearts (James 4:8, Psalm 24:3\u20134).<\/p>\n

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4. Barriers to Revelation Today<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Even today, many believers miss out on a deeper walk with Christ due to religious tradition, pride, or denominational loyalty. Like the Pharisees, some reject clear biblical truths simply because they don\u2019t align with their church background.<\/p>\n

For example:<\/p>\n