Come and See

 

Two years ago, I had never heard of the Barbershop Harmony Society. It wasn’t even on my radar. I can maybe recall seeing a sign for their show, but it didn’t really register with me. But that all changed with a simple invitation. A man named Paul Shannon took the time to ask me personally if my son and I would like to give barbershop singing a try with a special program that was coming up. We thought it over and accepted the invitation. We had a great time, so much so that we are in our second year of membership, and as clichéd as it sounds, it has changed our lives and created opportunities for us that we would’ve never had otherwise, were it not for the Y-City Barbershop Chorus! The point of me sharing this with you is this: a lot of fun and friendship has come into our lives as the result of an invitation. Someone had to invite us to come and see what this type of singing was all about, and I’m very grateful he did and we did.

That’s how we like to operate, isn’t it? We like to see for ourselves. Once in a while, we’ll take the word of other people at face value, but most of the time, we like to check things out for ourselves. We like to investigate something new and come to our own conclusions. Whether it’s a movie or a book or a sport or a singing group or even a church, we want to see for ourselves. That’s just the way we’re built.

A man named Philip understood this very well. Philip had come face to face with Jesus of Nazareth. This Jesus person had approached Philip with a life changing invitation. “Follow me,” he said. Something about this man led Philip to the conclusion that Jesus was the One that the prophets had preached about—the Messiah who was coming to put everything right. The long wait was over! God was going to act in the world in a powerful way.

What do you do with that kind of news? You’ve got to share it someone, don’t you? You feel like you’ll burst if you don’t. So Philip thought of Nathanael and goes to find him. He thought Nathanael would really be able to appreciate how awesome this news was. So Philip goes and he finds Nathanael and he says, “We found the person that the prophecies point to: it’s Jesus of Nazareth!”

Have you ever had someone just totally take the wind out of your sails with a less-than-enthusiastic reaction? You’re dying to share good news with them, and they just shut you down with a negative comment? I think Philip might have felt that way. Because here he comes, bursting at the seams, “We’ve located the Messiah…we know who he is,” and Nathanael’s reply is a classic bubble burster: “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Around here that would be like saying, “Can anything good come out of that state Up North?” Same attitude. Philip, you’ve got to be kidding.

And right here Philip does something brilliant. There were a number of ways he could’ve reacted to Nathanael’s question. He could’ve gotten angry and walked away. He could’ve said, “forget it.” He could’ve engaged Nathanael in a theological debate. But he didn’t. This is what he did. He just said, “Come and see.” Come and see Jesus. Come and see for yourself what all the fuss is about, and make your own conclusions.

Philip was a fast learner. You see, his life was being changed by an invitation. Jesus had invited Philip to follow him. Follow him how, follow him where, follow him why, he didn’t know yet. But He had been invited, and it had changed him. And so Philip is doing the same thing. He’s not offended; he doesn’t give up; he doesn’t argue. He invites. “Come and see.”

And to his credit, Nathanel comes and sees, and when he does, Jesus says some things to him that stops all the eye-rolling right away. Jesus describes Nathanael’s character and behavior in ways that are so private and so personal that it provokes a strong emotional reaction! Nathanael goes right to saying that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah. He’s done a complete 180. Jesus doesn’t disagree, but he goes on to say, “Nathanael, whatever you think being the Messiah means, I’ve come to do something much bigger and bolder. You will see the angels ascending and descending on the Son of Man. I have come to be the bridge between heaven and earth. I have come to be the ladder that extends from God to humanity. And another life is changed by a simple invitation.

So, I have an invitation for you. I invite you to come and see Jesus. What I mean by that is, come and see Jesus the person, the real God in human flesh. Lay down your preconceived notions about who he is or what his church is like. Stop your eye-rolling about the Bible or organized religion and come and see Jesus and listen to what He is saying.

When we come to see Jesus we come with all kinds of thoughts and feelings swirling around inside. We think maybe he’ll help me be a better person, maybe he’ll deal with my loneliness or some other problem. But we come to Jesus hedging our bets, staying guarded as to whether we’ll get our needs met. But when you actually meet Jesus, he will always be far more than you ever imagined him to be. That’s what he told Nathanael that day. Jesus is up to something much bigger and bolder than you could hope for.

See, you know when you’ve really met Jesus when He tells you things about yourself that are so private and personal that you can hardly believe it. What kind of things? Things like this. You need grace. You are trying to be your own savior and lord. You are trying to put God in your debt or at least trying to tilt the odds of the universe in your favor. Personal, I know. But here’s the deal: If Jesus is who He says He is, you owe him far more than a morally decent life. He deserves to be at the center of your life. Even if you are a good person but you’re not letting God be God to you, you’re being your own savior and Lord. Do you realize that?

And if you try other saviors, they won’t work either. If you build your life on your career, or your spouse, and your money, or your morality, you’re doomed! You know why? Because those things can’t save you. If your career fails, it won’t forgive you. It can only punish you with shame. Jesus is the only Savior who if you gain him, He will satisfy you, and you fail him, He will forgive you.

Come and see Jesus. Let Him give to you. Let Him give to you not only solutions to your problems; but forgiveness for the way you’ve contributed to those problems. Let Him give to you not only strength to keep going; but a power that carries you right into the presence of God. You and I are often afraid of disappointment, but Jesus wants to do things for you that go far beyond what you could expect. But you’ve got to come and see. And where do you come and see Him? Here in His Words. Here in Holy Baptism. Here in Holy Communion. Here in His People. Come and see Jesus in a group of imperfect people who have been given His perfect love.

And if you have come to know and love this Jesus; if He has blasted through your expectations to give you far more than you dreamed, my only question for you is, who are you now inviting to come and see?

Portions adapted from Timothy Keller's "Encounters with Jesus"