"Come and See"

John 1:43-46 The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, he said to him, "Follow me." Philip, like Andrew and Peter, was from the town of Bethsaida. Philip found Nathanael and told him, "We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote-Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph." "Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?" Nathanael asked. "Come and see," said Philip.

When Philip began to follow Jesus, the first thing he did was invite a friend to meet Jesus. His friend, Nathanael, was skeptical. He questions the validity of Philip's comments that Jesus is the One of whom the prophets wrote. The area Jesus was from was not exactly known for turning out great Jewish leaders.

Philip does not seem to be rattled by Nathanael's concerns. Note this: Philip has hardly been with Jesus for 24 hours himself. He is not exactly a fully matured disciple ........not by a long shot. When he faces his friend's concerns, he does not try and come up with twenty defensive statements about why his friend is wrong in his assumptions about Jesus. Philip is not well versed in scripture. Philip does not act all "holier than thou" with his friend or condemn him. Philip simply says "Come and see".

In other words, I don't have all the answers, but I know the One who is the answer. Come and see for yourself. Sometimes we get very fearful about taking our faith public. We know how much Jesus has blessed our lives. We know that His love will set our friends and neighbors free as well. When we do get the nerve to tell our friends about our faith, we get anxious that we won't have all the answers.

 Or.....when they raise a question or react with an objection about Jesus, we are tempted to either get defensive or cop some kind of "spiritual" attitude. John reminds us in this scripture in a very indirect way: You and I don't have to have all the answers. We don't have to defend Jesus. Like Philip, we find ways through our words and actions to invite our friends to "come and see"......check Jesus out for yourself. The guy that got me to church was no spiritual genius. He did not have a seminary degree! He had experienced the love of Christ in his own life and simply persisted in inviting his friend to church. Jesus took care of the rest! So who do you know that does not have Jesus in their life? Begin to pray for them. Pray for the courage and strength to point them to Jesus.

Heavenly Father, I am not the answer nor do I have all the answers.  Let me, through my words and actions, continue to lead people to You.  You will handle the rest.  Amen.

 Jerry Sweat is Lead Pastor at Beach Church in
Jacksonville Beach, Florida.