Emphasis Preaching Journal

At the time of Jesus, the fig tree had become a symbol -- rabbis would sit under the fig trees and teach or meditate, as each Jew should to become worthy of being a Jew. Jesus could see in Nathanael a sincerity, an innocent desire for knowledge of God, yet an impatience with those who naively accept what is told them. He must check out each new idea, see for himself, then digest it and re-examine it. Yes, Nathanael was shrewd, cautious, intellectual. You couldn't put one over on him and he wouldn't put one over on you.