「當你還在無花果樹下時，我就看見了你。」（若1:48）
在斐理伯遇見巴爾多祿茂（納塔乃耳）之前，巴爾多祿茂在無花果樹下，究竟在做些甚麼呢？為甚麼當耶穌說：「當你還在無花果樹下時，我就看見了你」時，他不但尊稱耶穌為師父，甚至「天主子，以色列的君王」呢？
當初斐理伯介紹耶穌的時候，巴爾多祿茂對納匝肋和在納匝肋長大的人，懷有歧視，不覺得這些住在北方，與外邦人來往的猶太人會有甚麼出色。這是可以理解的，是猶太人普遍的觀念。其實，巴爾多祿茂自己也是北方人。所謂「文人相輕，自古如是。」因此，當耶穌見面之初，讚賞他的時候，巴爾多祿茂並不領情，沒有稱呼耶穌為師父，反問耶穌怎樣認識他。耶穌的第二句說話，為甚麼有這樣大的威力，令巴爾多祿茂稱他為師父，為天主子和以色列的君王呢？
在舊約眾多的預言之中，葡萄樹和無花果樹常與末世的情景並提，有災難性的（依34:4；耶8:13；岳1:12），也有平安的（岳2:22；米4:4；匝3:10）。巴爾多祿茂在無花果樹下，可能在默想以色列的前途，祈求默西亞的出現。耶穌竟然能夠看透他的心，甚至隔空聆聽到他的渴求。耶穌真神人也，難怪巴爾多祿茂大為折服，有如此的反應。
朋友，耶穌可曾看透你的心，聆聽過你的渴求嗎？不用擔心，您仍有自由，可以拒絕祂的邀請。
聖父啊，讓我擯棄苟且安逸的態度，敞開心扉，迎接我的救主基督。亞孟。
"When you were under the fig tree, I saw you." (John 1:48)
Before Philip met Bartholomew (Nathanael), he was under the fig tree. What was he doing there and then? Why did he not only call Jesus respectfully Rabbi, but even the Son of God, the King of Israel when Jesus said he had seen him under the fig tree?
When Philip first mentioned Jesus, Bartholomew had prejudices against Nazareth and Galileans. He did not think highly of these people who mixed with Gentiles in the north. This is understandable and was a popular view among the Jews. In fact, Bartholomew himself was also a northerner. In-group contempt is common. Thus, when Jesus praised him they first met, Bartholomew was not amused. He did not address Jesus Rabbi, but retorted how Jesus knew him. What made Jesus' second sentence so powerful that Bartholomew was moved to call him Rabbi, the Son of God and king of Israel?
Among the many prophecies in the Old Testament, vine and fig tree were mentioned together many times in eschatological scenes. Some are catastrophic (Isaiah 34:4; Jeremiah 8:13; Joel 1:12) while others are peaceful (Joel 2:22; Micah 4:4; Zechariah 3:10). Perhaps Bartholomew was meditating the future of Israel, praying for the appearance of the Messiah under the fig tree. Jesus was able to read his heart and to hear his prayer from a distance. Jesus was truly divine. No wonder Bartholomew surrendered completely and reacted in this manner.
Friends, has Jesus seen through your hearts, listened to your desires? Don't worry. You still have your freedom to reject his invitation.
Heavenly Father, let me abandon my complacency, open up my heart and welcome Lord Jesus Christ, my Saviour. Amen.
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