Come and See: Becoming a Follower of Jesus

Imagine that you are going about your day. It is just like any other day. Someone comes up to you. They seem to know you. They know things about you that no one knows. They show you things that are impossible. They speak words of wisdom, unlike anything you have ever heard. They ask you to come and see. Imagine Jesus came up and chose you.

This was a reality for twelve men called to be apostles. Twelve men who Jesus personally selected to be with Him. These men where present for everything. All of the teaching sessions, including the explanations afterwards.  Each and every one of the incredible miracles. They had exclusive access to Jesus, the Son of God. This was the best backstage pass of all time.

It all started with John the Baptist. Two disciples of John the Baptist were standing with him, when a man walks by. John identified the man as “the Lamb of God”! The two disciples knew from listening to John that his mission was to “Prepare the way of the Lord.” They concluded that Jesus was the one and started following him. Jesus turned around and confronted the two disciples. He asked them what they were seeking, and he invited them to come and see.  

Come and see. That is such a simple phrase, but it is shrouded in mystery and hope. The context of John 1:35-39 is talking about where Jesus was living, but the implication seems to be much more than that.  They were looking for the next teacher, the one John was talking about. These disciples were eager to find out more, but what were they expecting?

No prophet had spoken to Israel as the messenger of God since Malachi. The last words of Malachi foretold of Elijah the prophet returning. Did they expect this to be the Messiah?  We are told that these two disciples stayed with Jesus that day to learn from him. There is no indication of what Jesus said to the two disciples, but it is easy to conclude that the message of Jesus was powerful. One of the two who followed Jesus was Andrew. After talking to Jesus, Andrew went to find his brother, Peter. Andrew confidently told Peter, “We have found the Messiah.” He then brought Peter to Jesus.

Jesus makes the same offer to us today.  He invites us to come and see what spiritual blessings are available to us.

Matthew 7:7,8   “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.”

Jesus wants us to come and see.

Later, Jesus leaves Judea and heads for Galilee. To get there he passes through Samaria heading toward a field, that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus rested from his journey by the well. A woman came to the well to draw water while the disciples were away at the city to buy food.

Jesus and the woman talked about water. Jesus asked for water from the well but explained to her the value of living water that He can provide. Unlike water from the well, the living water that Jesus offers “will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” Jesus talks to the woman about her husbands. He tells her things that that no one else knows about herself.

Jesus explains to her about true worship. “The true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” Jesus explains to her, that he is the Messiah, the one who is called Christ.

The woman left her water jar and went away into town. She called out to the people to come and see a man who told me all that I ever did!

Come and see.

A simple invitation made by someone who believed. Her invitation spread through the city. Many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman's testimony, “He told me all that I ever did.” So, when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them, and he stayed there two days. And many more believed because of his word. They said to the woman, “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world.”

Jesus explained to his disciples when talking to them about the Samaritan woman. “Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest.” Both Andrew and the Samaritan woman shared their excitement about Jesus with all those around them. We should follow their example and invite others to come and see.

Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!  - Psalms 34:8

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