Jesus was in Galilee, the northern part of Israel, when he invited Philip to follow him. Philip hurried to find his friend, Nathanael, and announced, “We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph” (John 1:45). Hearing the news, Nathanael quipped, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” (John 1:46). The two men went to find Jesus. Seeing them, Jesus said of Nathanael, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!” (John 1:47). Nathanael was puzzled since he had never met Jesus before this encounter.

John 1:48-49
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.” Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!”

King of Israel is a name originally used in the Old Testament to describe God. Certainly, the entire world is under God’s rule, but he chose Israel to be his special possession. God’s throne is in the heavens, and it was said to be in the temple (2 Kings 19:15; Isaiah 6:1). God was described as ruling from Mount Zion, another name for Jerusalem (Psalm 48:2, 99:1-2; Jeremiah 8:19). In the New Testament this name is given to Jesus. The angel Gabriel told Mary that God would give Jesus the “throne of his father David,” that he would “reign over the house of Jacob forever,” and that his kingdom would never end (Luke 1:32-33). After Jesus’ birth, the wise men came looking for the “king of the Jews” (Matthew 2:2).

When Nathanael called Jesus King of Israel, he gave Jesus the same name as God, declaring him to be God. Also, Nathanael was giving Jesus the name Messiah, the Anointed One. He was describing Jesus as the One Israel had been waiting for. Jesus is the One you’ve been waiting for as well. Have you asked him to be your King and rule on the throne of your heart?

Lord Jesus,
I ask you to rule on the throne of my heart. Be the King of my thinking. Capture my thoughts and make them fall in line with yours. Be the King of my emotions. Help me to be passionate about the things you are passionate about. Be the King of my actions. Help me demonstrate my love for you with my life.
In your name. Amen.