“Come and See”

John 1:43-51

Pastor Tom Johnson, January 18, 2015

Jesus is at the beginning of his ministry. “Follow me,” he says, calling each of his disciples. He is beginning to reveal the love of the Father to the world. He has not preformed his first miracle at the wedding at Cana. It is still early in Jesus’ going public. People are just beginning to hear about this Jesus of Nazareth. To complicate things a little further, Jesus is not the first to go out and recruit followers. He will not be the first to be called the promised Messiah. The Roman and Judean authorities have seen public figures rise and fall. People are scared of what violence could come upon those who follow these self-proclaimed leaders. Many would-be messiahs and their followers had already been arrested, flogged, and even put to death.

Philip finds Nathanael and says that they have finally found the true Messiah—the One of whom Scripture prophesies—the One who comes from the town Nazareth—the One whose father is named Joseph.  Nathaniel appears already weary, cynical, and jaded. Maybe he has heard people get excited before only to be disappointed later. Perhaps he had friends and family follow one of these false messiah’s. To Nathaniel, Philip may sound like he is just another voice crying “wolf.” “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Nathaniel asks. “Is there any hope from a border town? Is there any progress to be made from someone who grew up in this backward region of Israel?”

Nathaniel raises a good question. Why should he just take Philip’s word for it? What makes Philip think that people will just drop what they are doing and follow this new guy? Nazareth is an unlikely place to find a revolutionary who will deliver Israel from its Roman occupation and establish world dominion and peace. The good news of Jesus is a simple message. Jesus lived, taught, died, and rose again so that we can now have forgiveness and eternal life. We still use the obsolete Old English word Gospel which means good story or news. We should not be surprised by our own weariness, cynicism, and jadedness or the weariness, cynicism, and jadedness of others. Our world is every bit as complicated as that of Philip and Nathaniel’s—maybe even more so. There are many voices competing for our attention. There are many different religious paths. We have many questions about how spiritual truths fit in when we are making so much technological progress and making new discoveries in the natural world through the dynamic field of science. “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Nathaniel asks.

“Come and see,” Philip responds. These are words of genius. Philip is inviting, winsome, and challenging with these words. It is no surprise that he will be known as “Philip the evangelist.” These few words “come and see” accomplish a lot. “Come” invites another person to follow. Once we are walking together, we are partners. We share a common journey. Our goal and destination is Jesus. Nathaniel’s physical journey to Jesus is not a long one. But his spiritual journey toward Jesus will be a lifetime just as ours. Philip counters Nathaniel’s cynicism, doubt, and unbelief by winsomely inviting him to follow (and partner with) him on a journey of discovery to experience for himself who Jesus is. That is what it means to be a Christian. We are invited and we invite. We empathize with people’s doubts; we don’t judge. We are helped and we help others with whatever obstacles there may be to move forward to get to know Jesus.

“Come and see!” the evangelist says. “Come!” The time to be spiritually complacent, frightened, or lazy is over. It’s time to get moving. It’s time put ourselves in a place where we can encounter this Jesus. “Come!” Instead of challenging your knowledge of geo-politics, the natural world, and your own experience with people, we invite you to move forward with us to be your partners in the joy of discovery. Join us for a journey of grace-filled surprises is by faith and not by sight. “See!” This is Philip’s way of inviting Nathaniel to experience Jesus. We do that through the senses. It is a good reminder that our pilgrimage as Christians is both intellectual and existential. Don’t check your brain at the door but open it up to new and spiritual realities. “See! Look! Experience Jesus for yourself!” Don’t take my word for it or anyone else’s. Your journey will be as unique as you are as an individual. We are optimistic that what you will discover will enrich and enliven your soul.

“Come and see!” Come to the Scriptures that speak of Jesus from Genesis to Revelation. He is the Word made flesh. Experience the living Word who speaks through the Scripture we read and hear faithfully preached. Come to the Font where Jesus washes us with the water, the Word, and Holy Spirit. This is the place he delivers forgiveness, adopts us as his daughters and sons. From here we are sent out to invite others to experience it for themselves. Come to the Table. Take, eat. Drink of it all of you. Receive the Body and Blood of Jesus with the bread and the wine. Receive the continued assurance that you are a forgiven child of God. Be strengthened in body and soul to everlasting life. Come to Jesus. Experience his grace, his forgiveness, and his love.