Come and See
Scripture Reading — John 1:43-51
“We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth. . . . Come and see,” said Philip.
Philip and Nathanael met Jesus.
Do you know the expression “the wrong side of the tracks”? If a town was divided by railroad tracks, people living on one side often showed their prejudice for people on the other side by saying they were from “the wrong side of the tracks.”
Nathanael thought Jesus was from the wrong side of the tracks when he first heard about him. Philip was trying to tell Nathanael that Jesus was the fulfillment of God’s promises. But when Nathanael heard that Jesus was from Nazareth, he said, “Can anything good come from there?”
Philip’s response was simple: “Come and see.” He didn’t try to argue Nathanael into believing in Jesus. He just encouraged Nathanael to see for himself who Jesus was and what he was doing, regardless of the town Jesus came from.
What a perfect invitation to us and to each person we encounter! The best thing we can do and the best thing we can offer others is to see Jesus. We can see God’s offer of salvation through his Son. We can see the Lord’s grace, power, and forgiveness of sin. Jesus came to break down all the barriers between people and groups and nations, showing that God offers his love to all people everywhere. Come and see!
God, when we come to see your Son, Jesus, open our eyes to recognize him as our Savior and Lord. Open our hearts to receive him into our lives today. Amen.
About the author — Rebecca Jordan Heys
Rebecca Jordan Heys serves as a pastor at Calvin Christian Reformed Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan. She and her husband, Kyle, are the parents of two children.
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