Albert Barnes Commentary John 1:51

"And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye shall see the heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man." — John 1:51 (ASV)

Verily, verily—In the Greek, “Amen, amen.” The word “amen” means “truly, certainly, so be it”—from the Hebrew verb meaning to confirm, to establish, to be true. It is often used in this Gospel. When repeated, it expresses the speaker’s sense of the importance of what he is saying, and the “certainty” that it is as he affirms.

You shall see—Not, perhaps, with the bodily eyes, but you will have “evidence” that it is so. The thing will take place, and you will be a witness of it.

Heaven open—This is a figurative expression, denoting “the conferring of favors.”Psalms 78:23–24 says, he opened the doors of heaven, and had rained down manna. It also denotes that God was about to work a miracle in attestation of a particular thing .

In the language here, there is an evident allusion to the ladder that Jacob saw in a dream, and to the angels ascending and descending on it, Genesis 28:12. It is not probable that Jesus referred to any particular instance in which Nathanael would literally see the heavens opened. The baptism of Jesus had taken place, and no other instance occurred in His life in which it is said that the “heavens were” opened.

Angels of God—These are pure and holy beings that dwell in heaven and are employed as ministering spirits to our world, Hebrews 1:14. Good people are represented in the Scriptures as being under their protection, Psalms 91:11–12; Genesis 28:12. They are the agents by whom God often expressed His will to humanity, Hebrews 2:2; Galatians 3:19.

Angels are represented as strengthening the Lord Jesus and ministering to Him. Thus they aided Him in the wilderness, Mark 1:13; in the garden, Luke 22:43; and they were present when He rose from the dead, Matthew 28:2–4; John 20:12–13.

By their ascending and descending upon Him, it is probable that He meant that Nathanael would have evidence that they came to His aid. Nathanael would have “the” kind of protection and assistance from God that would show “more fully that He was the Messiah.”

Thus His life, His many deliverances from dangers, His wisdom to refute His skilled and cunning adversaries, the scenes of His death, and the attendance of angels at His resurrection, may all be represented by the angels descending upon Him. All this would show Nathanael and the other disciples most clearly that He was the Son of God.

The Son of man—This is a term by which He often describes Himself. It shows His humility, His love for humanity, and His willingness to be esteemed “as a man,”Philippians 2:6–7.

From this interview with Nathanael we may learn the following:

1. That Jesus searches the heart.
2. That He was truly the Messiah.
3. That He was under the protection of God.
4. That if we have faith in Jesus, it will be continually strengthened, and the evidence will grow brighter and brighter.
5. That if we believe His word, we will yet see full proof that His word is true.
6. Since Jesus was under the protection of God, so all His friends will be. God will defend and save us also if we put our trust in Him.
7. Jesus applied terms expressive of humility to Himself. He was not eager even to be called by titles which He might claim.

So we should not be ambitious for titles and honors. Ministers of the gospel most resemble Him when they seek the fewest titles and do not aim at distinctions from each other or their fellow believers. See the notes at Matthew 23:8.