January 14, 2024 – Epiphany 2B
“The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Follow me.” Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found him about whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus son of Joseph from Nazareth.” Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” When Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him, he said of him, “Here is truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit!” Nathanael asked him, “Where did you get to know me?” Jesus answered, “I saw you under the fig tree before Philip called you.” Nathanael replied, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” Jesus answered, “Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than these.” And he said to him, “Very truly, I tell you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.” John 1:43-51
“Come and see.“
Think, for a moment, about the effect of those words might have on you were you to hear them in an everyday context. Would they generate a certain sense of excitement about whatever it might be you were being invited to witness? Perhaps curiosity? Or maybe gratitude that someone thought to include you? Come and see. The words are both simple and warm, issuing an invitation not only to see something, but also to join a community. To come along and be part of something. Come and see.
Upon hearing the call from Jesus, Philip runs like the wind to his friend Nathanael. Now it seems to me that Philip seems compelled to tell someone about this man Jesus whom he has met, and the one he tells does not share in his enthusiasm. Philip and Nathanael were friends, so Philip should have had some idea that Nathanael might not share his enthusiasm about Jesus. Is there something about this Jesus that would compel him – would compel many of his followers to do things that might go against their nature? We see it time and time again. One by one the followers of Jesus meet him, become entranced by him, drop whatever they were doing and then run out and tell others including their family and their closest friends. It was the history of the early church – it is the reason that the church grew – and grew so quickly in the first 100 years. It was a story told and shared face to face – one on one. How beautiful are the feet of those compelled to tell others to “come and see”.
You know, we worry so much about how to grow the church – how to get new members – how to increase our numbers. Maybe we should add a service. Maybe we should change the service. Maybe we should try a new Evangelism program. There are things that we can do that fall under Evangelism – try to be more accommodating; try to be more loving, more welcoming, more inviting; try new worship styles – try to provide more opportunities for people to develop a relationship with Jesus Christ. But the best evangelism program that ever existed, existed at the very beginning of the church: one person, having been impacted by Jesus in such a way that it reaches deep into their heart, that it changes their life, one person turning to their neighbor, or relative, or friend, or even the lady at the grocery store who bakes their bread, and inviting them to “come and see.”
Pastor Dave
Lutheran Schreff 