Come and see

John 1:43-51
Jesus calls Philip and Nathanael
 
“Come and see” is a simple invitation that Jesus offers to two new disciples just before this passage in John 1. One of them is Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. According to the gospel of John, Andrew and the unnamed disciple were probably studying under John the Baptist, and when John revealed that Jesus was the Lamb of God, they began following Jesus, literally. Jesus turned around and asked them, “What are you looking for? (v.38). They asked him, “Where are you staying?” (v.38). They wanted to know more about Jesus and wanted to go with him, so Jesus offered the invitation to “Come and see” (v.39). They spent the whole day in his presence and during that time together, Jesus revealed who he was. We don’t know exactly what was said to convince them, but just by being close to Jesus and spending time with him, Andrew knew that Jesus was the Messiah, the one they had been looking for.

We hear this invitation again in this passage from Philip. Jesus decided to go to Galilee and found Philip there. It sounds as if he was purposely seeking out Philip. He went to the place where he could find him, and when he did, he simply said, “Follow me” (v.43). We don’t know the exchange between Jesus and Philip, but perhaps Philip just knew who Jesus was by being in his presence. Perhaps it was something in Jesus’ voice when he extended the invitation. Perhaps it was the fact that he felt sought out by Jesus. Since Philip was from the same city as Andrew and Simon Peter, we can assume they knew each other. Perhaps Andrew had already shared that they had found the Messiah, and so when Philip met Jesus face-to-face, he just knew in his heart.   
Philip in turn tells his friend, Nathanael, who scoffs at first: “Can anything good come out of Nazareth? (v.46). They had been searching their whole lives for the Messiah. For generations, their people had been actively seeking Jesus. Now, they find out that their great Savior was under their nose the whole time in a Podunk town? Surely not! But Philip extended the same invitation that Jesus extended to the others, “Come and see” (v.46).

It's a simple invitation. Just come and see. Not, come and be saved, or come and do all of these things in order to be a disciple. Just come and see. Because when we come and see Jesus for ourselves, Jesus will reveal himself to us in the precise way that speaks to our hearts. Even though our family and friends point us to Jesus, just like Andrew and Philip did, we all have to come and see Jesus for ourselves. Just come and see.
 
Reflection Question:
Have you come to Jesus and seen him? Reflect on that experience.
Were you more like Philip or Nathanael? Did you follow right away or were you skeptical?
What do you need to see in order to follow Jesus?
Have you shared this simple invitation with your friends or family?
 
Action: Pray about a friend or family member who needs to “come and see,” and then extend this simple invitation.