You Will See Greater Things: Christ, the Son of Man, and Heaven Opened

by Ron Ash September 29, 2026

Daniel’s vision, the angelic battle in Revelation, the psalmist’s praise, and Nathanael’s encounter all point to Christ as King and the meeting place of heaven and earth.

Feast of Saints Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael, Archangels

“Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than this.” Jesus’ words to Nathanael in John 1:50 are not a dismissal of his new faith. They are an invitation to go deeper: beyond amazement at a single sign, toward the identity and mission of the One standing before him.

Nathanael’s first encounter with Jesus

Before Nathanael meets Jesus, Jesus says He saw him under the fig tree. The Gospel does not tell us what Nathanael was doing there, so we should be careful not to turn that detail into a certainty about a private prayer or a hidden event. What John emphasizes is Nathanael’s surprise that Jesus knows him. Nathanael responds, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel” (John 1:49).

Jesus then promises that Nathanael will see “heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man” (John 1:51). The language recalls Jacob’s dream of a ladder joining heaven and earth (Genesis 28:12). Jesus is saying that the greater revelation is not merely that He knows where Nathanael was. The greater revelation is who Jesus is: the Son of Man through whom heaven and earth are joined.

Daniel’s Son of Man and the everlasting Kingdom

Daniel 7:9–10, 13–14 presents a vision of the Ancient of Days seated in judgment, with the heavenly court gathered before Him. Then “one like a son of man” comes with the clouds of heaven and receives dominion, glory, and kingship—a dominion that will not pass away.

John’s Gospel invites us to hear Daniel’s vision in Jesus’ promise to Nathanael. Jesus is not simply a wonder-worker who happens to know a hidden detail. He is the Son of Man who receives an everlasting Kingdom. The Catechism teaches that Christ already reigns through His Church, while the Kingdom has not yet reached its full completion (CCC 668–672). Our hope rests in His enduring rule, not in our ability to read every sign around us.

The angels serve God; victory belongs to the Lamb

Revelation 12:7–12 describes Michael and his angels battling the dragon. The dragon is cast down, and heaven proclaims victory through “the blood of the Lamb” and the faithful witness of those who held fast to Christ (Revelation 12:11).

The passage is not meant to make us fascinated with evil or fearful of every struggle. The Catechism teaches that Satan is a created being, not God’s equal, and that his power is limited by divine providence (CCC 391–395). The center of the vision is the victory of God and the Lamb. Michael and the angels serve God’s purpose; they do not replace Christ as the source of salvation.

Psalm 103:21 calls the Lord’s hosts to bless Him, “you ministers who do his will.” The Church teaches that angels are spiritual creatures who serve God and assist in His saving plan (CCC 329–336). Revelation’s vision and the psalm belong together: the angels worship and do God’s will, while the Lamb conquers through His self-giving love.

The psalmist’s answer: praise and trust

Psalm 138:1–7 begins with wholehearted praise. The psalmist gives thanks for God’s steadfast love and faithfulness, says that God answered when he called, and celebrates the strength God gives. The passage then looks outward: the kings of the earth will hear the Lord’s words and praise His ways.

This prayer echoes Daniel’s vision of a Kingdom extending beyond every earthly authority. It also gives us a fitting response to the Gospel. Nathanael’s first confession is a beginning; the psalm teaches the believer to keep returning to gratitude, trust, and praise as God’s work becomes clearer.

“You will see greater things”

When Jesus asks, “Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree?” He is not shaming Nathanael for believing. He is leading him from one astonishing moment toward a fuller revelation. Nathanael will see that Jesus is the Son of Man, the one in whom the way between heaven and earth is opened.

For us, the invitation is similar. We may remember a moment when a prayer seemed answered or when Scripture spoke powerfully to our circumstances. We can give thanks for that grace without making one experience the whole foundation of faith. The greater gift is Christ Himself: His Kingdom, His Cross and Resurrection, His presence in the Church, and His call to follow Him.

The readings also shape how we live. We praise God for His faithfulness, resist the temptation to give evil the final word, and join the angels in serving God’s will. We bear witness to Christ with courage and humility, trusting that the Lamb’s victory is greater than every power that opposes goodness.

For reflection

Have I allowed a particular sign or experience to lead me closer to Christ, or have I stopped at the sign itself?
Where do I need to trust God’s faithfulness and call on Him for strength?
How can I serve God’s will and give witness to Christ today?

A prayer

Lord Jesus, Son of Man and King of an everlasting Kingdom, open my heart to see more than the signs I first notice. Strengthen me when evil and hardship feel overwhelming. Teach me to praise You, serve Your will, and bear faithful witness to the victory of Your Cross and Resurrection. Amen.

Scripture and Catechism references

Scripture: Daniel 7:9–10, 13–14; Psalm 138:1–7; Psalm 103:21; John 1:47–51; Revelation 12:7–12; Genesis 28:12.
Catechism of the Catholic Church: CCC 329–336 (the angels); CCC 391–395 (the fall and limits of Satan); CCC 668–672 (Christ’s Kingdom); CCC 309–314 (the mystery of evil and God’s providence).