The Wise Guy, Nathanael

Nathanael said to him . . . 

 - From John 1

Nathanael has a reputation. Most serious Bible students are probably familiar with the verse that includes "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" And in the minds of most people, I would bet their picture of this, is Nathanael rising to his feet, stoically, sternly, with a furrow across his brow and disdain in his voice: "Hmmmph! Can anything good come out of Nazareth?"

You know . . . like a guy wearing robes in front of the Church, with several doctoral degrees. White hair, deep, booming voice.

But like all the Apostles, Nathanael was blue collar. He was not educated. And when I read this passage, I see something more like one of my funny, snarky uncles. Nathanael grinned, shrugged and said "Oh really? As if anything good came out of Nazareth!" And then the bystanders all joined in some hearty laughter.

Nathanael had a sense of humor. He loved sarcasm and irony. He was quick with his wit, and kept people on the edge of their seats. "What's he going to say next?"

But the problem is, he was about to engage in three years wandering around with the Son of God, and King of Kings. Wasn't Jesus serious all the time, like a Vulcan? Imagine Nathanael mouthing off at almost everything that came from Jesus' mouth, or one of the others! He got on the nerves of some of them, especially Judas. "Why don't you get serious?! Don't you have any dignity? You're making us look bad!"

Jesus just smiled and moved on.

And often, Jesus, too, laughed at Nathanael's clever rejoinders! 

The Scribes and Pharisees found Nathanael proof positive that the Jesus Movement was a hoax, a passing fad. They couldn't stand his irreverence, and his lack of class. A real holy man would not put up with it. 

Yes . . . God chooses people that drive the educated class crazy. 

God has a sense of humor.