Sermon LXXII.
[CXXII. Ben.]
On the words of the Gospel, John i. 48,“When thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee,”
etc.
1. What we have heard said by the Lord Jesus Christ to Nathanael, if we understand it
aright, does not concern him only. For our Lord Jesus saw the whole human race under the
fig-tree. For in this place it is understood that by the fig-tree He signified sin. Not that it al-
ways signifies this, but as I have said in this place, in that fitness of significancy, in which
ye know that the first man, when he sinned, covered himself with fig leaves. For with these
leaves they covered their nakedness when they blushed for their sin;3637 and what God had
made them for members, they made for themselves occasions of shame. For they had no
need to blush for the work of God; but the cause of sin preceded shame. If iniquity had not
gone before, nakedness would never have been put to the blush. For “they were naked, and
were not ashamed.”3638 For they had committed nothing to be ashamed for. But why have
I said all this? That we may understand that by the fig-tree sin is signified. What then is,
“when thou wast under the fig-tree, I saw thee”?3639 When thou wast under sin, I saw thee.
And Nathanael looking back upon what had occurred, remembered that he had been under
a fig-tree, where Christ was not. He was not there, that is, by His Bodily Presence; but by
His knowledge in the Spirit where is He not? And because he knew that he was under the
fig-tree alone, where the Lord Christ was not; when He said to him, “When thou wast under
the fig-tree, I saw thee;” he both acknowledged the Divinity in Him, and cried out, “Thou
art the King of Israel.”3640
2. The Lord said, “Because I said unto thee, I saw thee when thou wast under the fig-
tree, marvellest thou? thou shalt see greater things than these.”3641 What are these greater
things? And He said, “Ye shall see heaven open, and the Angels of God ascending and des-
cending upon the Son of Man.”3642 Let us call to mind the old story written in the sacred
Book. I mean in Genesis.3643 When Jacob slept at a certain place, he put a stone at his head;
and in his sleep he saw a ladder reaching from earth even unto heaven; and the Lord was
resting upon it; and Angels were ascending and descending by it. This did Jacob see. A man’s
dream would not have been recorded, had not some great mystery been figured in it, had
3637 Gen. iii. 7.
3638 Gen. ii. 25.
3639 John i. 48.
3640 John i. 49.
3641 John i. 50.
3642 John i. 51.
3643 Gen. xxviii. 11.
On the words of the Gospel, John i. 48,’When thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee,’ etc.
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On the words of the Gospel, John i. 48,’When thou wast under the fig tree,…