May 1st

May 1st

Come and See!

These simple words used several times in the New Testament, turn out to lead to something profound. Like the hotel room door to the suite slightly ajar, inviting us in to a whole different experience, “Come and See” invites us in to the rest of the story.

There are 5 places that we see these words either exactly or very closely phrased this way. Let’s look and see what these words are inviting us to witness.

Luke 8:16-17 “No one lights a lamp and hides it in a clay jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, they put it on a stand, so that those who COME in can SEE the light. For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open.”

This verse is least similar to the phrase but it is interesting that it is talking about shining a light on everything! AND we are to be the light so other can come and see.

Now the rest of them:

John 1:35-42 (*39) The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!” When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, “What do you want?” They said, “Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are you staying?” (verse 39:) “COME,” he replied, “AND you will SEE.” So they went and saw where he was staying, and they spent that day with him. It was about four in the afternoon. Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah” (that is, the Christ). And he brought him to Jesus.

Jesus was announced as Messiah by John the Baptist to his followers and they start tagging along. Then Jesus uses these wonderful words Himself and invites them to come and see. They did and their eyes were opened and this becomes the beginning. From there Andrew grabs Simon Peter and so on. Life is never the same for them after that and as a result life is never the same for anyone including us! The very next day Jesus calls Phillip to follow Him and a few verses further down we see those same words uttered by Phillip as he invites his buddy Nathanael to COME AND SEE.

John 1:45-46 Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Nathanael asked. “COME AND SEE,” said Philip.

Later in John we see those words again as Jesus arrives to Bethany after Lazarus has died.

John 11:32-34 When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. “Where have you laid him?” he asked. “COME AND SEE, Lord,” they replied.

Those very words precede the biggest miracle that the people have seen thus far…The raising of Lazarus after 4 days dead! They led Jesus to the grave and He called Lazarus out.

The final verse is the pinnacle of our faith:

Matthew 28:5-7 The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. COME AND SEE the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”

When Mary Magdalene and the other women went to the tomb where Jesus was buried, they were met by an angel who invited them to COME AND SEE the empty tomb! We serve a living God, who continues to invite us to COME AND SEE what He wants to do in us and through us. He gives us a great commission to invite others to COME AND SEE who He is and what He will do in them!

Jesus, Thank you for your standing invitation to come and see you. Help me to remember that the invitation is always there and help me to do that. Help me to set aside time for you, help me to step out in faith and open that invitation and step through that door. Help me to extend that invitation to others all around me every day. Thank you for your plan and making me a part of it!