Nathanael said to him, “How do you know me?” Jesus answered him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” John 1:48
We are not told what Philip was doing under the fig tree. But whatever it was, it was already known to Jesus.
You find something similar in the story of the woman of Samaria. Jesus said to her, “You have had five husbands.” How could Jesus possibly have known this? Then the woman goes to her friends and says, “Come see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?” (4:29). No one could have known this, except God, who knows all things!
Paul talks about a person who comes to church and “the secrets of his heart are disclosed, and… falling on his face, he will worship God and declare that God is really among you” (1 Cor. 14:25). God has remarkable ways of communicating through his Word that he knows everything about us. “The Word of God is living and active, sharper than any two edged sword… discerning the thoughts and the intentions of the heart” (Heb. 4:12).
Spurgeon says, “How often have I heard inquirers say, ‘It seemed to me, sir, as if that sermon was meant for me… I felt sure someone had told the preacher about me… I perceived that God was… speaking to my soul.” Nicodemus became a follower of Jesus, because Jesus knew him in a way that only God ever could. That is why he says, “You are the Son of God!” (1:49).
Since Jesus already knows you completely, you have no reason to run from him and there is nothing that you ever need to try and hide from him. Are you trying to run or hide from him now? Why?
