Come and See: A Simple Invitation to Know Jesus Better
I have a rare certification. My sweet Pastor husband and I lived in the Kansas City area in the late 1980s. He attended Nazarene Theological Seminary, and I taught school in Independence, Missouri. When I applied for my Missouri teaching certification, I received a Lifetime Certification to teach in the state of Missouri.
I believe I received my certification within the last year they gave out the lifetime certification. My Missouri certification enabled me to acquire certificates in various states throughout the following years because it didn’t expire! In fact, if I really wanted to teach now that I’m back in Missouri, I probably could! But I do not.
Student Teaching
I began my teaching career though in Idaho. I went to school there, and survived my student teaching there. Actually, I was student teaching Junior High Speech the day the Challenger exploded. To be honest, I don’t remember what I did. I somehow just survived the day. Nor do I recall my supervising teacher coming to rescue me, nor even helping me.
I liked my supervising teacher. She was kind and encouraging. However, once she passed her classes to me, she spent her days in the teacher’s lounge. She wasn’t a teacher fully invested in me. She was available, but most times, I didn’t even know the right questions to ask her. I learned from her, and I was looking for someone to give me more.
John the Baptist
I think that’s a bit what John the Baptist’s disciples must have felt like. Don’t get me wrong, I believe John invested intentionally and diligently in his disciples. However, he clearly told everyone he was not the one they were looking for. Someone else was coming, and his job was to prepare them for the One who was greater than he, the One who would be the answer to all their questions.
One day as John called people to repentance and baptized them in the water, Jesus showed up. Their encounter is described in the first chapter of the gospel of John. John the Baptist stated Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world (verse 29). He also declared Jesus is the One he had been talking about, the One who is greater than himself (verse 30). In addition, the day after he baptized Jesus, he specifically pointed Jesus out to Andrew and another of his disciples. He again declared that Jesus is the Lamb of God (verse 34).
Andrew and His Friend
I can only imagine what Andrew and his friend were thinking. After all, they followed John the Baptist, and now he was telling them, this man is the One they were all looking for! They were living the moment they dreamed of. However, Jesus appeared to be like any other guy. Scripture tells us, “He didn’t have an impressive form or majesty that we should look at him, no appearance that we should desire him.” (Isaiah 53:2, CSB)
Yet Andrew and his friend were curious, so they followed Jesus. They didn’t run up to Him and say, “Hey! John tells us you’re the One!” As I read John 1:32-33, I pictured they walked a short distance behind him. The passage tells us Jesus turned around and saw them following him.
What are You Looking For?
When Jesus turned around, He asked them a question. Most versions state the question as “What do you want?” We can read that question with many different tones and attitudes. The CSB phrases the question “What are you looking for?”
The word translated looking means to seek in order to find, to aim at, strive after, crave. It’s the same word used in Matthew 2:13 when Herod searches for the Christ child to kill him. Jesus asked Andrew and his friend, what is your purpose, your motivation? What do you desire or long for? What drives you to follow me?
The two men hint at their deep longing when they call Him Rabbi. They had been disciples of John the Baptist. They understood you stayed with the one you desired to learn from and imitated his lifestyle. I suspect they spoke the word Rabbi with hope that Jesus would include them among His students.
Where are You Staying?
However, they don’t come right out with their wish. Instead, they ask a simple question. Where are you staying? We read that question as if they were wondering what hotel he might be using. When I looked up the word translated staying, I got a bigger picture. I believe they were asking more than where do you live? They wanted to know where they could find Him again. Where could they spend time with Him and learn from Him?
Come and See
Jesus answers their simple question with a simple answer. “Come and see.” Jesus invites them to show up where He is and experience what it’s like to be with Him. The word translated see is a word that means to not only see with one’s eyes, but to also see with one’s mind. To gain a new perspective, to know.
I love that Jesus welcomes them without forcing them. He doesn’t say, “Well, c’mon then.” Nor does He say, “Good choice to hang out with me, especially since John just told you who I was!” Rather, Jesus opens a door of opportunity with an attitude that says I would be delighted to have you with me.
We are Andrew and His Friend
Have you ever stopped to consider how you might be like Andrew and his friend? For most of you reading this blog, you know who Jesus is. Most likely, you would even say you believe He is the Lamb of God, God’s own Son. You follow Jesus, perhaps at a distance, perhaps as close as you can get.
Just like Andrew and his friend, we come with our questions. We wonder things like what are you really like Jesus? How do you want me to live? Do I need to give something up to please you? Will you really give me a good life? I hear you love me, but do you like me? Are there days when you just put up with me Lord? Do you value me? Do you really want me to be part of your family?
Jesus responds to us just as He did to Andrew and his friend. Jesus invites us to come and see. He beckons us to show up and be in His presence. In addition, He calls us to be prepared to experience and learn.
We must come with open eyes and an open mind. When we come and abide where He abides, He reveals what we cannot yet comprehend. As our Rabbi, He teaches us what to believe, and even how to live as one who believes.
Come in Prayer
Consider each time you come to pray, entering the presence of Jesus, He invites you to come and see. He opens a door of opportunity for you to gain a new perspective and to know Him better. He beckons you with an attitude that declares He is delighted you’ve come to join Him.
You don’t need a rare certification to be with Jesus. He invites all of us to abide where He abides. Yet, that in and of itself is rare indeed. The God of all creation, the Lord of all lords and King of all kings welcomes us into His holy and glorious presence. We just need to come and see.
Come and See Photo by Art Almighty on Unsplash
