Come & See

Come & See

Introduction:
Today we are looking at the beginning of Jesus’ earthly ministry. It simply starts with an invitation, “Come you see.” {John 1:35-39} In the first chapter of John, the apostle introduces his readers to Jesus, the Son of God. John writes that Jesus is the pre-existent and co-eternal Word of God who became flesh (Jn. 1:1, & 14), The creator of the universe (vs 3 & 10), The life and true light of men (vs 4, 5, & 9), The only begotten Son of God “full of grace and truth” (vs 14), Superior to Moses (vs 17), and The only one who has seen the Father (verse 18). As the Gospel of John unfolds, readers are repeatedly prompted to “Come and See” who Jesus is and engage with Him. In Jn. 1:36, John the Baptist identifies Jesus as the “Lamb of God.” When two of his own disciples hear this, they immediately begin to follow Jesus (vs 37). One of the disciples was Andrew, Simon’s Peter’s brother (Jn. 1:40). The other, an unnamed disciple, could possibly have been John the apostle Jesus turns to both of John’s disciples and asks a simple yet profound question: “What are you seeking?” (Jn. 1:38). The you here is directed at the two men, but it has universal application, as does the same word in Jn. 3:3 and Jn. 3:5. What I mean by that is, Jesus’ question extends BEYOND Andrew and the unnamed disciple. Jesus wants to know whether we seek after Him for superficial reasons, such as fame or curiosity, Or if we earnestly desire to have our sins forgiven and become genuine disciples. This question challenges everyone who claims to be a disciple of Christ. What are we really seeking? Jesus knows our thoughts (Jn. 2:24-25), yet He still wants us to articulate what is on our minds. John’s two disciples cannot answer the question, so they reply with a question of their own, “‘Rabbi’ (which means ‘Teacher’), ‘where are you staying?’” (Jn. 1:38). In a gentle manner, Jesus says to them, “Come and See” (vs 38). A chain reaction happens here. They came, they conversed, they saw, and they left to get more. As this world seeks for fulfillment and contentment, they search in the wrong places. They look to money, power, drugs, alcohol, sex, and other false avenues of contentment. They are searching in the wrong direction. Genuine and lasting satisfaction only comes in Jesus Christ. Someone needs to point them to Jesus. Andrew leaves to get his brother Simon, I believe there is another, “Come and see” implied in Andrew’s Conversation with his brother. Andrew wants Peter to see what he saw. Sometimes, it is just an invitation. Come to study, Come to church, Come to camp, Hey here’s an idea… Come to VBS, Just – “Come and See!!!” Phillip is so inspired by Jesus, he announces it to Nathaniel. We have found the Messiah. “Come and See!!!” Imagine this, the first call to disciples is in a small town called Bethsaida, The favorite sons of this small fishing community are called to be the first disciples of Jesus. And it starts with a simple invitation, COME AND SEE!Yet, even as amazing as this is, it is this simple invitation that gets Peter, Andrew, Phillip and Nathaniel to follow Jesus. Could it be that simple? John pointed, Jesus invited, and they followed. Philip’s words to Nathanael, “Come and see,” are a wonderful model for us in learning how to share our Christian faith with others and invite them into the experience of faith. Talking about our faith is often difficult. But there are many ways to say to others, “Come and see.” Anyone can do it. WHY IS IT SO HARD? Jesus found Philip and said to him, “Follow me.”
Philip found his friend Nathanael and said to him (Jn. 1:43-46). After laying out the heart of the story of Philip and Nathanael, you might turn to the question of why many people find it difficult to talk about their faith. This is an important topic to address. Why do many of us find it difficult to talk about faith?
Maybe we have been strong-armed by well-intentioned people, and we want nothing to do with it for fear of appearing self-righteous. Maybe it’s those experiences of people on the street corner carrying signs that say “Repent.” Maybe it’s because of people who come to our door with their Bibles and tracts. Maybe it’s our fear of being associated with them that makes us reluctant to say anything at all about faith. Maybe we fear being seen as pious, dogmatic, narrow-minded, less than sophisticated. John Vannorsdall, former chaplain at Yale, Speaks to these concerns in a story of being visited by door-to-door evangelists. He captures what is for many people the negative experience of bearing witness to one’s faith. He says of those who come to his door: “They come with a gift, a personal and important gift. I understand that…[But] they aren’t just visitors. They come to tell us what to believe and how to live, and there is a violence in that against which we’d prefer to close and lock the door…It makes me want to run, or at least to pretend that I’m not at home. I cherish the gifts of God’s grace. I fear people who would take away, by the violence of their unwavering demands, the more graceful kingdom that God has so quietly given.” Our culture does not encourage talk about faith, does it? Faith and religion are not commonly accepted topics of conversation in social settings. Many of us spend much of our time in the workplace or other environments that are secular, “intellectual”, and pluralistic. Talk of religion is uncommon or discouraged. “To each his own” people say of religion and politics. There are plenty of people around us who are skeptical, cynical, or downright hostile to religion, especially organized religion—the church. It’s okay to be “spiritual but not religious,” people say, often meaning, “Don’t talk to me about organized religion.” Some people in our congregations are uncomfortable talking about faith because it’s too personal. They wouldn’t know what to say or how to talk about things that are so deep and private. So, it’s easier just to go to church and try to live a good life and do it quietly. But the question remains: What does it mean for us to bear witness to our faith and share the gospel with others? How do we do that in words and actions? “COME AND SEE” Consider The Invitation “Come and See” Think for a moment about the effect those words might have on you if you were to hear them in an everyday context. Would they generate a sense of excitement about whatever it might be you were being invited to witness? Perhaps they might ignite your curiosity. Perhaps you might be thankful that someone thought to include you. “Come and See” The words are both simple and warm, Issuing an invitation not only to see something, but also to join a community. To come along and be part of something. “Come and see” Have you ever used those words to invite friends to come to church with you? Have you ever talked to your friends about Jesus and what He has done in your life? If some laugh and say you’re foolish to believe as you do, don’t argue with them. Be friendly just as Jesus is. After a while, your friends may be curious and willing to “come and see” what church is all about. Best of all, they may come to know Jesus. We see a good example of this in the passage we heard from John’s Gospel. Jn. 1:43-51After meeting Jesus, Philip was excited and found his friend Nathanael and he invited him to “come and see” the long-promised Messiah. The law and the prophets were the two most important parts of the Hebrew Scriptures. Philip told Nathaniel that he found the one that the Scriptures had been telling them to anticipate. The Messiah was now in their midst, but the Messiah went beyond the prophets of the Old Testament. He was the Word-the one who most perfectly revealed God and God’s will. But Nathanael’s response was skeptical. “Can anything good ever come out of Nazareth?” Nazareth was a nowhere place, an insignificant village never mentioned anywhere in the Hebrew Scriptures and certainly not associated with Messianic expectations. Nathanael’s response likely carried with it some longstanding prejudice. Philip responded to Nathanael, not by arguing with Nathanael, or trying to convince him otherwise about Jesus or Nazareth. Philip responded with just three words, “Come and See” (Jn. 1:46). “Come and see for yourself, Nathanael. Come check it out. Don’t take my word for it. I’m not here to strong-arm you or convince you, or cram my truth or belief down your throat. Just come, see for yourself, make up your own mind.” In a world where it’s so hard to talk about faith, Philip is a simple example of what it means to bear witness to our faith. Philip simply invites others to “come and see.” To see and experience for themselves what has been meaningful and life-changing for him. Philip’s example suggests that ours is not to sweet-talk or convert, Paul said “For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel” (1 Cor. 1:17). Ours’ is simply to invite others to experience God’s love. If they’re not interested, or they dismiss our invitation, that’s okay. We’ll invite them again sometime. Our job is to invite. The rest is up to God. This would be a good time in the sermon to ask… How can we invite other people to experience Christ. The questions might be: Who around you is hurting and needs your love, along with a word about what your faith has meant to you? When recently have you invited a friend or family member to come to church with you or to attend a concert, dinner, or Bible study? Who around you might be open to reading and studying the Bible with you one-on-one in a coffeehouse or other setting? How can you invite someone to “come and see” who Jesus is and what the Bible and the Christian faith are really about? An important aspect of bearing witness to our faith is… By living the good news of the gospel in daily life. In this sermon outline I’m placing primary emphasis on the idea of the spoken invitation to others. The way we live our lives is an integral element in that process. (2 Cor. 3:2-3) The Bible says that we are known by our fruits; Fruits of repentance, Fruit of the Spirit. So how we live our lives is telling others about the power of the gospel and how it changed us.So, by doing this we often have opportunity to invite others to experience the good news that has transformed how we live our daily lives. The most powerful witness we can bear to the gospel is when others see us “do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with [our] God?” (Mic. 6:8). We might want to spend some time on the relationship between living our faith and talking about our faith. Henry French says, “True evangelism is simply sharing in one way or another what’s real for you. Evangelism is speaking and living the good news of God’s love, God’s justice, God’s forgiveness, God’s compassion, and God’s salvation. Usually living the good news will come before speaking the good news” GOD DOES THE REST Once Philip invites Nathanael to come and see Jesus, Philip disappears from the story. He has completed his task. When Jesus sees Nathanael coming toward him, he says this of him, (Jn. 1:47-50). The encounter between Nathanael and Jesus is cryptic, but rich in meaning and symbolism. There is plenty here for another sermon on another day. But the bottom line is this: Because of his direct encounter with Jesus, Nathanael moves from skepticism and doubt to an affirmation of faith. What changes Nathanael’s life isn’t Philip’s persuasiveness, but Nathanael’s own encounter with Jesus. Nathanael’s own experience leads him to declare, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” “not with wisdom of words” – 1 Cor. 1:17 Philip’s example reminds us that the willingness of others to embrace the gospel doesn’t finally rest on our powers of persuasion. After Paul said that he was not sent to baptize he said, “but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect.” (1 Cor 1:17). Paul deliberately avoided reliance on eloquence or rhetorical skill. He did not want faith to rest on admiration for human wisdom. If people responded to the speaker rather than the message, the cross of Christ would be emptied of its power. Genuine faith must be rooted in the message of the cross, not in the charisma of the messenger. The ability to see Jesus comes as “God [gives] the increase” (1 Cor. 3:6)Ours is to take others by the hand and invite them to get a glimpse of what we’ve seen. The culture around us is often indifferent and skeptical… Even hostile towards the church and anyone willing to talk of their faith. In our secular, post-Christian, pluralistic world all “truth” is often seen as relative and a matter of one’s opinion. But “the light shines in the darkness and the darkness does not overcome it” (Jn. 1:5). As people of God we’re called to bear witness to that light. Conclusion: “Come and see!” Simple, open, inviting words. When’s the last time you said to someone, “Come and see?” This is not about forcing Jesus, your faith, or your church, on anyone. It’s about being willing to say to someone in some small way, “This is what gives me life and hope, and keeps me going.” “This is what God’s love means to me.” “This is what my faith has meant to me.” “Come and see” are words anyone can learn to say. You can say them. I can say them. Don’t worry, you can do it. Try it. Just three little words, “Come and see.” God does the rest. Invitation: The last time we see this this invitation, “Come and see”, it comes from the angels.In Matthew 28:6 the angels tell the women who have come to prepare Jesus’ body for burial “He is not here; He has risen, just as He said. Come and see the place where He lay.” Andrew and Philip came to see the Lamb of God, found Him and got their friends and family. The women at the tomb came to bury Jesus, found Him risen, went and told the disciples. The equation is simple…. “Come and See” …. “Go and Tell”