Lets Walk Together

John 1:43-51

As a child, I often called out “Come and See!” to my parents. Something would catch my attention, and I just had to share it. I still do that frequently when I look out the back windows of our home. The sunrise most mornings is so spectacular that I have to get my husband’s attention. Come and See. Probably all of us have invited others to celebrate the discoveries of life by uttering those words. Come and See! Come and Enjoy!

In these scripture verses, it is clear that Jesus is not going to wait for people to find him. Jesus decides to go to Galilee and find Philip. When Jesus finds Philip, his invitation is clear, “Follow me.” (John 1:43) There is no theological debate. Philip leaves Jesus to find one of his friends, Nathanael.

Both Philip and Nathanael are well-educated men. They have been well-versed in the law and the prophets. Both of them knew of the promise of the Messiah. Both knew that a savior would be sent from God. Yet, Nathanael is doubtful when Philip announces that he has found the one they have been hoping for. Nathanael points out what must seem obvious. What good has ever come out of Nazareth, a town not known for much of anything?

But again, with no theological debate, Philip merely says, “Come and see.” Those are the simple words that we are all probably quick to say when something delights us. Are we quick to say them about the Lord? Come and see. It seems so very simple. In this scriptural story Jesus invited Philip, Philip invited Nathanael. Each makes an invitation because there is a deep desire to share good news with others. The good news is Jesus himself whom Philip and Nathanael have been waiting for since they began studying and understanding the scriptures.

If you take a moment to reflect on your own life, can you remember who invited you to come and see this one called Jesus? How is that invitation still changing your life?

This text tells how it works. The Christian faith is passed from person to person. That’s how it started with Jesus. I often wonder what it was about Jesus that caused people to follow him with no hesitation at all. Too often we are hesitant to tell of all the things Jesus has done in our lives, to keep the chain alive by simply saying : “Come and see.”

Without a doubt, there was something special about Jesus that drew people to him, something perhaps magnetic that made them give up their known lives and jobs to pursue an unknown. As we read through the gospels, we come to know many people whom Jesus had profound effects on. We are on that list. Our lives have been changed because of Jesus. Whatever our deepest need is, Jesus meets us. That is the news we need to pass on to others.

Needless to say, there are many skeptics in our world today. There are also people who might find Jesus an interesting person but who reject the Christian faith in its entirety. How do we convince today’s skeptics?

Some people have preconceptions of the church, just as Nathanael seemed blinded by his preconceptions about Nazareth. Many times these preconceptions are unfair. But we probably need to ask ourselves if we are in all earnestness, showing how our faith is embodied in our lives, as individuals and as community members.

Nathanael’s confession of faith, declaring positively who Jesus is after just meeting him shows that his faith has overcome his suspicion about Jesus. When we contemplate our faith and how we can bring others to know Jesus, I think we know in our hearts that if they could only experience what we have in the Lord. If they simply could see, it would be enough.

Our calling is simply Come and See. We need to go to others, to those not really expecting us.

Read this scripture again and play around with the idea of seeing. We are all seen so clearly by our loving Messiah.

Perhaps our task as Christians is not to have to prove anything about the faith. Our task is to simply say,” Come and see.” Philip could have given Nathanael all his opinions about Jesus.

Maybe he could have said, “There is something about this man Jesus that draws me to follow him. He seems to know a lot about the scriptures.” Even when Nathanael expressed skepticism about nothing good coming out of Nazareth, Philip could have refuted with a list of successful people.

But no. Philip merely said, “Come and see.” It was like he knew he did not have to advertise for Jesus. People just had to see for themselves. That remains our task in today’s times. It is not really different than it was 2000 plus years ago. Just tell people Come and See! Come and see what Jesus is doing for you.

Have a blessed Easter!