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COME AND YOU WILL SEE

"'Come,' he replied, 'and you will see.' So they went and saw where he was staying and spent that day with him. It was about the tenth hour."

"Come and you will see." This is Jesus' invitation with a promise to his first disciples Andrew and John. Andrew and Philip also invited Peter and Nathanael with slightly different inviting words, "Come and see."  It is an invitation without a promise. Christian life starts with coming to Jesus. It is to experience Christ. It is to make a confession of faith. It is to follow Jesus. But that is not the end. It is to see greater things than that. In this passage we learn what it means to come and see Jesus.

First, “‘What do you want?’" (35-39). In verses 35-51, we read about the first disciples of Jesus. "The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, ‘Look the Lamb of God!'" Many loving fathers may find it difficult to let their daughters go at their weddings. Letting go is not an easy thing to do. John, in the climax of his popularity, urged his disciples to look and follow Jesus. John's message was clear: “Do not look at me. Now, look at the Lamb of God and follow him." When the two disciples heard him say this, they left John and followed Jesus (35-37). They knew that John did not want them to linger around him. Out of respect for their master John, they left and followed Jesus.

Seeing them following him, Jesus said, “‘What do you want?’” Jesus asked this question as a test. Jesus certainly knew about them. But Jesus helped these disciples to clarify their purpose. In this question, Jesus also implied His willingness. Jesus, in fact, way saying, "What can I do for you? What do you want me to do for you?"

There is a story of a woodcutter who was always dreaming about his good fortune. One day the God of Heaven granted his wishes. Now he could fulfill any three wishes – whatever they might be – but he could not decide right away, because he wanted so many things. So while walking back home, he was thinking about all the good things he could have. Then he became very impatient with the heavy tools and wood he was carrying. So he said, "Well, I wish all these tools and wood would disappear." Immediately, all the things he had disappeared. So he ran to his house and saw his wife making bread dough. His wife was quite upset, seeing her husband coming with empty hands. So she shouted, "Why did you come so early?" Because she did not even give him a chance to explain the good news, out of anger and frustration, he said, "Let all the dough be on your face." Then, all the bread dough stuck in her nose. His wife was shouting in pain and humiliation. What could he do? So, he said, "Well, may my wife be normal as she was." Well, that's the way he used all his three wishes.

What is the point? We may get whatever we want so eagerly in this life. True wisdom is not in merely seeking solutions for our passing needs. God is gracious and merciful. Why? If we focus on our needs, then our needs will be met. But it is a journey that never satisfies.

James 4:3 says, "You do not have, because you do not ask God." Jesus said, “‘So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you’" (Lk 11:9). A real challenge is when our wishes are granted. A person who does not know what he really wants with his life misses precious opportunities.

These two men said, “‘Rabbi, where are you staying?’" They were not seeking passing needs (jobs, riches and honors and all the things of this world). They were seeking Jesus. They were trying to take hold of Jesus. Rather, taking hold of the Source is more important than all the blessings in this world. Take hold of Christ Jesus through whom every good and perfect gift comes (James 1:17). 

Look at verse 39. “‘Come,' he replied, 'and you will see.'” Jesus invited them with a promise. Later, Jesus said to the same disciples, “‘Come, follow me…and I will make you fishers of men’" (Matthew 4:19). That is Jesus' command and promise. Jesus’ promise at this time was not so definite and specific. At the beginning of our journey, we may not be so sure of what we really want. In the course of following Christ, our desires are sanctified and our goals become clear. Each person would see something different.

"So they went and saw where he was staying, and spent the day with him." Jesus says in Luke 9:58, “‘Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.’" Anyway, they spent a day with Jesus. John the Baptist sent his two disciples, and Jesus welcomed them. Even now people come to Jesus because others send them. People come to Jesus with others’ encouragement. Each person must spend time with Jesus. Studying John’s Gospel is a wonderful way to spend time with Jesus. Study with an open mind. Focus on Jesus. Seek him. We will see Christ. Our spiritual eyes will be opened. “‘Come and you will see.’” This is Jesus’ promise to each of us.

Second, "We have found the Messiah" (40-42). Look at verse 40. "Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, was on of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus." Probably, Andrew and John spent at least one night with Jesus. They had been listening to Jesus. They probably asked about the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world. They understood that Jesus is the Lamb of God. Jesus is the Mediator between God and man. Jesus is the Savior of the world. To the Hebrew people, "The Messiah" meant "the Savior of the world." The true Messiah is the one who saves men from their sins and from the hand of Satan. The "Messiah" was regarded as "everything to everybody."

Andrew found his brother Simon and told him, "We have found the Messiah, (that is, the Christ)" (41). Andrew went to his own brother and invited him to Jesus. This is wonderful! The first sad story in the Bible is the story of Cain, who murdered his own brother, Abel. Since then there have been many struggles among brothers, such as Jacob and Esau and Joseph and his brothers. At the same time, God calls brothers together. Moses and Aaron served God together. James and John, Andrew and Peter, and later Jesus' brothers served God together. John and Charles Wesley served Christ together. Among us, we see brothers and sisters serve God together. God, in his sovereign wisdom, does all this. This also happens because people invite their family members to Christ. Peter might be Andrew's younger or older brother. In the gospels, Andrew always appears to be vague. But he was very clear about his view of Jesus. He said, “‘We have found the Messiah’" (41). Those who have the joy of knowing Christ invite others.

When Andrew brought his brother Simon, meaning "sand," to Jesus, Jesus did not say a word to Andrew. Jesus was interested in Andrew’s brother instead and said, “‘You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas: (which when translated, is Peter)’” (42). At this time, Peter was quite fishy (smelling of fish) and did not look like a great man. Nevertheless, Jesus planted hope in him. It was to make him a solid leader, like a rock. Andrew did not complain to Jesus because he only paid attention to Peter. Jesus made Peter as the Rock of the church. A simple invitation to Jesus does wonderful things in life. We never know how Jesus will raise up a particular person. Ultimately, it is not we, but rather Christ, who raises people. Therefore, by faith we must extend this invitation to the people we love and know.

Third, “‘You shall see greater things than that’" (43-51). When Jesus saw Philip, he saw he was leadership material. He seemed to be very intelligent and cautious. Jesus said to him, “‘Follow me’" (43). Jesus himself invited Philip. The invitation was so powerful and moving that Philip immediately responded and followed Jesus. .

Then Philip found Nathanael and told him about Jesus, using the basis of the Old Testament. “‘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’" (45). Philip's testimony was wordy and specific. Nathanael knew the Bible enough to tell that the Messiah should be born in Bethlehem, the town of David, so he said, “‘Can anything good come from Nazareth?’" (46a). Philip just said, “‘Come and see’" (46). Philip avoided an unnecessary argument with his friend. He simply invited Nathanael to Jesus.

When Jesus saw Nathaniel approaching, he said of him, “‘Here is a true Israelite, in whom there is nothing false’" (47). Jesus could have talked about many negative aspects of Nathanael. Nathanael was a true Israelite, in whom there was nothing false. It sounds as if Nathanael was only a man of great strength. One's strength or weakness, to a great extent, depends on how we look at it. If we look at a person with love and affection, even all weaknesses become strengths. But if we look at others' strengths with an eye of distrust, then their strengths become their great weaknesses. If a person is so truthful that he cannot bear any form of falsehood, such a person would not be pleasant company. Such a person is difficult to deal with.

Jesus praised Nathanael's genuine love for the truth. Probably, in his life, nobody really appreciated Nathanael as Jesus did. In amazement he asked, “‘How do you know me?’” Jesus answered, “‘I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you’" (48). Jesus already knew about Nathanael. Nathanael, amazed at Jesus' supernatural knowledge, made a great confession of faith. “‘Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel’" (49). He was probably very emotional and quite impressionable. Nathanael, in joy and wonder, made a huge confession of faith. Nathanael's heart was in the right place.

Jesus said, “‘You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You shall see greater things than that’" (50). Here, Jesus predicted that Nathanael would see greater things than what he had experienced thus far. Jesus then added, “‘I tell you the truth, you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man’" (51). These verses refer to the story of Jacob in Genesis 28. Jesus said to Nathanael figuratively, in light of Jacob's dream, "If you believe, your spiritual eyes will be opened and you will be able to see the spiritual world." His name appears only twice – here and in John 21:2. Definitely, he later became one of the Twelve. Therefore, we conclude that his other name was Bartholomew.

Then what are "the greater things than that?" Greater things are Jesus, our transformation and the kingdom of God. We see Jesus better. We grow in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus. We also experience transformation in our lives. We experience changes within us. This is what spiritual life is about. No matter what we experience in Christ at the present, there is always something greater than that in the future. When we were spiritually young, we spoke, thought and behaved like little children. When we grow up, we put away childish things. As years go by, God shows more and more wonderful things in life. We must conduct our lives with a sense of hope. If you are a Christian, this is what Jesus promises, “You will see greater things than that!" A sad commentary on life is for those who believe that nothing greater will be left ahead. Many only look to a gloomy future ahead. But this is not what following Christ Jesus is about. Your 20s may be better you’re your teenage years. Your 30s may be greater than your 20s. Your 40s should be richer than your 30s. Your 50s will be wiser than your 40s. Your 60s are going to be deeper than your 50s. Your 70s are to be more peaceful than your 60s. Your 80s must be more hopeful than your 70s, because the kingdom of God is near. Your days of glory are imminent.  By God’s grace, we must anticipate and plan our lives. Better days are ahead because of Christ Jesus.

In this passage, we see different patterns of how people come to Christ. John and Andrew came to Jesus through the testimony of John the Baptist. Peter came to Jesus through his brother Andrew’s invitation. Jesus personally called Philip. Philip invited Nathanael. No matter how they came, it was Jesus who responded to them one by one. This is true with us. We come to Jesus in different ways. Yet, we all need to meet Christ and follow him. With the rapid development of technologies, many means are available in bringing people to Jesus. Yet, one-to-one invitation is still the most effective. Come and see! This is an invitation we can make to anyone. May God help us to know Christ. May God enable us to love people, including our brothers and sisters and friends, and to bring them to Christ. Come and see greater things in this life—the growing grace of Jesus, transformation within and the glory of heaven, which will be opened for us by the angels of God someday.

Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION ®. NIV®;. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society.
Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.