Nathanael

Nathanael

*"Look, I don't know how to describe it other than: He knew me before He knew me."*
―Nathanael to John.[src]
**Nathanael**, also known as **Bartholomew**, was a former architect in Caesarea Philippi and became one of the twelve disciples of Jesus.

## Biography

### Early Life

Nathanael of Bethesda was born in Bethesda. When he was a boy, Nathanael was inspired to become an architect. He wanted to build synagogues, eventually. One with colonnades that sing. Parapets that practically pray. Vaunted halls that draw the soul upward the God. Nathanael thought that is what God made him for. When he finished Hebrew School, he decided nothing would stop him.

### An Architect

#### Working from Nothing

Nathanael's mind earned him respect among other Jews in Capernaum. He was able to prove himself to other known architects in the region. He was recommended to learn architecture in the Roman city Caesarea Philippi. As a Jew, it was very difficult for him to find those who respected him.

#### Commissions

Nathanael was commissioned to build many small buildings, but since he was not Roman he was generally not seen as the primary architect. After helping with construction jobs in the area, Nathanael was hired by a foreman named Leontes. As the job goes on, Nathanael is approached by a other foremen who want to commission his designing abilities. With is coming success, Nathanael began getting big-headed. One day, as they near finishing the project, the roof collapses. Nathanael is fired on the spot.

#### Do You See Me?!

Completely ruined Nathanael begins weighing his options and sees no good ones. He goes outside the city to a fig tree, and he burns his sketches of the synagogue he had dreamed of building since his childhood and scatters the ashes like on his body and into the wind. He goes back to the city and gets drunk on the cheapest alcohol he can find.

### Following the Son of God

#### Come and See

Nathanael is waken up the next mourning by his old friend, Philip. Years ago, Philip had left Bethesda to be a disciple of John the Baptizer. Philip tells him about someone John introduced him to, the Messiah. Jesus of Nazareth. Philip invites Nathanael to meet Jesus and after Nathanael makes fun of Nazareth, he agrees.

That night, Nathanael meets Jesus. Jesus called Nathanael "the truth-teller" and says :"You are a true Israelite in whom there is no deceit." Nathanael is very confused because that is a key characteristic of his personality. Then Jesus says: "I saw you under the fig tree." Nathanael immediately declares that He is the Son of God, The King of Israel. Finally Jesus says: “Like Jacob, you will see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.” Jesus calls Nathanael to join him.

#### In Bashan and Syria

Nathanael meets Jesus' other disciples Simon, Andrew, Big James, Thomas, Thaddeus, Mary, and Ramah. The group is travelling to Syria so Jesus can heal a multitude of people there. For the entire day, Nathanael helps organize the crowd, and he watches Jesus heal. During the day, he meets two other disiples John and Little James.

#### The Feast of Tabernacles

The group travels to Jerusalem to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles. Jesus has Nathanael design the booth they will stay in during the Feast.

#### A Demoniac, Zealot, and Baptizer

A few days later, in the outskirts of Jericho, Jesus goes to meet with John the Baptizer while Nathanael, Big James, John, Thaddeus, and Little James go to gather supplies for a new tent. When they return to camp, they find a demoniac terrorizing some of the others and a Zealot fighting the demoniac off. Jesus heals the man and calls Simon the Zealot (nicknamed as Zee), to follow Him. That night, James meets Zee while Simon and Matthew are sent to look for Mary whom left the camp.

#### Shabbat Controversy

On Shabbat, Philip arrives back to camp and tells everyone that John the Baptizer was arrested and sentenced to life in prison. Jesus takes the party to a synagogue in Wadi Kelt, where Jesus heals a Elam, a man with a withered hand. Leaving the synagogue, Jesus permits his hungry party to pick grains, upsetting the Pharisees. Then Jesus claims to be the Son of Man and the Lord of the Sabbath.

#### "I'll Be Back"

Jesus tells the disciples of a Sermon He is planning that will define His ministry. While Jesus tells them about the Sermon, a squadron of Roman Soldiers come to detain Jesus for questioning. Once the Romans leave with Jesus, the party discusses what to do next. Nathanael gets in an argument with Zee on if they should break Jesus out, arguing against it. He wins and the group decides to wait for him. When He arrives, He teaches the disciples how to pray.

#### Sermon on the Mount

Jesus sends out Nathanael, Little James, and Thaddeus to look for a spot to set up the sermon. They find a plot of land overlooking the Sea of Galilee, but the landowner doesn't like them. They take him to a public house, but the trio fails at convincing the man. Then two men standing at the bar help them for no reason. Before the group can thank the two men, the two men leave. The former architect and former stonemason are able to finish fairly quickly. The others arrive first thing in the morning and a giant crowd is right behind them. Nathanael helps organize the crowd of nearly four thousand people. Then Nathanael meets one of the men who helped them at the public house. The man introduces himself as Judas, and Nathanael introduces Judas to Simon.

### Apostleship

#### Mourning Big James

Around fourteen years after Jesus' resurrection, Big James is killed with the sword by King Herod Agrippa. Nathanael and the other disciples travelled to Jerusalem to sit Shiva to mourn James. John takes this time to interview everyone who was there during Jesus' ministry.

#### Martyrdom

In some point after the Big James death, Nathanael was killed in the name of Jesus, accourding to the words of Mary Magdalene to Mary, mother of Jesus

## Appearances

* *Season Two*
	+ *Thunder*
	+ *I Saw You*
	+ *Matthew 4:24* (mentioned)
	+ *The Perfect Opportunity*
	+ *Spirit*
	+ *Unlawful*
	+ *Reckoning*
	+ *Beyond Mountains*