Jesus Knew All about Nathanael
John 1:43-49
Our story comes from the Bible. It is found in the part, or book, of the Bible called John. John was one of the special helpers of Jesus.
Jesus traveled to many places to help people and tell them about God. But Jesus wanted some helpers as He traveled and talked about God.
Jesus was visiting a town called Bethany. He decided to go to another town called Bethsaida, near a lake called Galilee.
Before Jesus left Bethany, He met a man named Philip. Philip was the kind of helper Jesus wanted. So, Jesus told Philip, "Follow Me."
Philip was excited about being Jesus' helper. He went to find his friend Nathanael.
Philip found his friend Nathanael sitting under a fig tree. It was a nice shady place where Nathanael could study. He liked to study the Scriptures, God's Word.
Philip said, "Nathanael! I just met the person Moses talked about long ago. He's the one all the Scriptures tell about—God's Son! It is Jesus from Nazareth!"
Nathanael was not sure that what Philip said was true. Could he have really met such an important person? If Philip had, how could this person be from the city of Nazareth? Nazareth was not an important place at all. But because Philip was so excited, Nathanael agreed to go meet Jesus.
Jesus saw the men coming. Even though Jesus had never met Nathanael, Jesus knew all about him. Jesus said, "Nathanael, you are a man from Israel who always tells the truth."
This surprised Nathanael. He had never met Jesus before. "How do you know me?" he asked. Jesus answered, "I saw you under the fig tree before Philip talked to you."
Now Nathanael knew what Philip said was true! Jesus was very special. "You are the Son of God," said Nathanael. He became one of Jesus' helpers, too.
Jesus knew all about Nathanael. Jesus knows all about us, too.
Our story comes from the Bible. It is found in the part, or book, of the Bible called John. John was one of the special helpers of Jesus.
Jesus traveled to many places to help people and tell them about God. But Jesus wanted some helpers as He traveled and talked about God.
Jesus was visiting a town called Bethany. He decided to go to another town called Bethsaida, near a lake called Galilee.
Before Jesus left Bethany, He met a man named Philip. Philip was the kind of helper Jesus wanted. So, Jesus told Philip, "Follow Me."
Philip was excited about being Jesus' helper. He went to find his friend Nathanael.
Philip found his friend Nathanael sitting under a fig tree. It was a nice shady place where Nathanael could study. He liked to study the Scriptures, God's Word.
Philip said, "Nathanael! I just met the person Moses talked about long ago. He's the one all the Scriptures tell about—God's Son! It is Jesus from Nazareth!"
Nathanael was not sure that what Philip said was true. Could he have really met such an important person? If Philip had, how could this person be from the city of Nazareth? Nazareth was not an important place at all. But because Philip was so excited, Nathanael agreed to go meet Jesus.
Jesus saw the men coming. Even though Jesus had never met Nathanael, Jesus knew all about him. Jesus said, "Nathanael, you are a man from Israel who always tells the truth."
This surprised Nathanael. He had never met Jesus before. "How do you know me?" he asked. Jesus answered, "I saw you under the fig tree before Philip talked to you."
Now Nathanael knew what Philip said was true! Jesus was very special. "You are the Son of God," said Nathanael. He became one of Jesus' helpers, too.
Jesus knew all about Nathanael. Jesus knows all about us, too.
Bible Paraphrase: The Lord is my helper. (“The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?” – Hebrews 13:6 NIV)
Text Truth: Jesus knows all about us.
When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him, “Here truly is an Israelite in whom there is no deceit.”
“How do you know me?” Nathanael asked.
Jesus answered, “I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you.”— John 1:47-48
Everyone wants to feel that someone in this world really knows them and can empathize with life's happenings.
Jesus completely knows you. Just like He knew all about Nathanael, Jesus knows all about you. He knows what you are going through. What is different about Jesus is that He says, "I'm here with you, ready to talk about what we both know." He has time. Do you?
Look at pictures of your child at favorite activities and memorable times. Talk about how Jesus doesn’t need pictures to remember. He knows everything about us.
Make a collage of activities, food, and toys your child likes. At the top, write “God Knows” and your child’s name. Remind your child that God knows all about us.
Play a memory game as you talk about all the things God knows about us. If you don’t have a memory game at home, make your own using photos of your family. You need several pairs of pictures. Laminate the pictures to make them last longer. Lay them face down. Try to pick pairs. Talk about the people shown in each match.
You'll Need: paper, cardboard, gingerbread cookie cutters, pencil, safety scissors, crayons or washable markers
Act out the Bible story by using paper or cardboard figures for Jesus, Nathanael, and Philip traced from gingerbread cookie cutters. Make the tree with rolled-up paper. Tell the story as you and your child moves the figures. This activity will help your child realize that Jesus was not around when Nathanael sat under the tree. Yet Jesus knew he had sat there. Even though we can’t see Jesus. He knows all about us and cares for us.
Thank God for knowing all about us. List things that you are glad that Jesus knows about you.
Text Truth: Jesus knows all about us.
Family Devotional
“How do you know me?” Nathanael asked.
Jesus answered, “I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you.”— John 1:47-48
Everyone wants to feel that someone in this world really knows them and can empathize with life's happenings.
Jesus completely knows you. Just like He knew all about Nathanael, Jesus knows all about you. He knows what you are going through. What is different about Jesus is that He says, "I'm here with you, ready to talk about what we both know." He has time. Do you?
Activities You Can Do at Home
Remember with Pictures
Look at pictures of your child at favorite activities and memorable times. Talk about how Jesus doesn’t need pictures to remember. He knows everything about us.
Activity Collage
Make a collage of activities, food, and toys your child likes. At the top, write “God Knows” and your child’s name. Remind your child that God knows all about us.
Memory Game
Play a memory game as you talk about all the things God knows about us. If you don’t have a memory game at home, make your own using photos of your family. You need several pairs of pictures. Laminate the pictures to make them last longer. Lay them face down. Try to pick pairs. Talk about the people shown in each match.
Make Figures, Tell the Story
You'll Need: paper, cardboard, gingerbread cookie cutters, pencil, safety scissors, crayons or washable markers
Act out the Bible story by using paper or cardboard figures for Jesus, Nathanael, and Philip traced from gingerbread cookie cutters. Make the tree with rolled-up paper. Tell the story as you and your child moves the figures. This activity will help your child realize that Jesus was not around when Nathanael sat under the tree. Yet Jesus knew he had sat there. Even though we can’t see Jesus. He knows all about us and cares for us.
Pray and Give Thanks
Thank God for knowing all about us. List things that you are glad that Jesus knows about you.
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Story illustrations are the copyright of Sweet Publishing and licensed by FreeBibleimages (http://freebibleimages.org) for free download under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Share-alike 3.0 unported licence.
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