Category: Come and See – The First Disciples

Genesis 28:12, 19 (NIV)
¹² [Jacob] had a dream in which he saw a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it.
¹⁹ He called that place Bethel, though the city used to be called Luz.

John 1:51 (NIV)
⁵¹ [Jesus] then added, “Very truly I tell you, you will see ‘heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on’ the Son of Man.”

“It is fitting that after all the questions, testimonies, and confessions regarding Jesus’s messiahship from others, Jesus for the first time speaks about himself. Jesus’s statement breaks all messianic categories and expands the horizon regarding what Jesus’s disciples are invited to ‘come and see.’ Although contextually the statement is a final response to Nathanael, the statement itself is plural: ‘You (plural) will see.’ Thus, this authoritative statement is an address to all the disciples, both in the early ministry of Jesus and in the history of the church.

Jacob’s vision of God in Genesis 28 is realized by the disciples, by the church. Jacob saw a vision; the disciples saw the Word-become-flesh. The dwelling place of God is fully realized in ‘the Son of Man.’ A person, not a place, is Bethel, the ‘house of God.'” (Edward Klink III, John, ECNT)

Prayer: Father, how blessed we are. Jesus, you are the Word-become-flesh dwelling place of God, and we worship you. May we stay, follow, and remain with you. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Let’s worship to the song, “House of the Lord” by Phil Wickham (click here).

– AK

John 1:48, 50 (NIV)
⁴⁸ “How do you know me?” Nathanael asked.
Jesus answered, “I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you.”
⁵⁰ Jesus said, “You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You will see greater things than that.”

“Finally, John is aware that the process of discipleship and conversion are not matters left in human hands. Nathanael must ‘come and see,’ but Jesus has ‘seen’ him already. ‘I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you’ (1:48). These are remarkable words that point to Jesus’ supernatural knowledge, but also to God’s sovereign awareness of those who will accept the light. God sees us before we see him. God will ‘come and see’ before we ever think about discipleship. God makes his overture before we consider making our own.” (Gary Burge, John, NIVAC)

God wants to show us greater things, but though Jesus was able to see Nathanael a long way off, Nathanael had to come near to Jesus to encounter him. Nathanael had to go home to Cana with Jesus, described in John 2, to the wedding feast and to see Jesus change water into wine. There is an immediate start to the fulfillment of the promise that Nathanael would see greater things.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, we respond to your overture, your invitation for us to follow you. May we see the greater things you have promised. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Let’s worship to the song “Living With a Fire” by Jesus Culture (click here).

– AK

John 1:38-39 (NIV)
³⁸ Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, “What do you want?”
They said, “Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are you staying?”
³⁹ “Come,” he replied, “and you will see.”

“Jesus turns and asks, ‘What do you want?’ (literally ‘What are you seeking?’). Again there is far more meaning than appears on the surface… and it always demands a thoughtful response regarding the deep desires that drive the individual. In a real sense he is demanding, ‘What do you really want out of life?’

Their response, ‘Rabbi, where are you staying?’ seems evasive at first glance. On the earthly level, they seem to say only ‘Where are you lodging?’ But the term menō (‘staying’) is a major concept in John and implies a desire to ‘dwell’ or ‘remain’… At the deeper level, they are expressing a desire to follow Jesus and ‘remain’ with him.

Jesus’ response in 1:39a, ‘Come and you will see,’ is then an invitation to salvation. Philip uses these exact words in 1:46 to invite Nathanael to become a follower of Jesus. Both terms are used in John to depict a faith-decision… The clear implication is that these two followers of John had been searching for what Jesus was now offering them.” (Grant Osborne, John: Verse by Verse)

Prayer: God, we want you. And in all the areas of our lives where that is less true, overcome us in those places with your great love and great power. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Let’s worship to the song, “Mighty to Save” by Hillsong (click here).

– AK

John 1:35-37 (NIV)
³⁵ The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. ³⁶ When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!”
³⁷ When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus.

The biblical understanding of the wording ‘passing by’ is not a casual walking in front of you, but it is the language of God’s holy presence coming to engage and encounter people for a very significant moment of salvation—not only for the individual, but also for the nations.

Exodus 33:19 (NIV)  
And the LORD said, “I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the Lord, in your presence. 

Moses encounters God and receives God’s promise of salvation to the nations.

1 Kings 19:11 (NIV) 
The LORD said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by.”

Elijah, when he was deeply discouraged, encounters God and he is assured of God’s faithfulness and plans.

It is in that same understanding with which we are to view today’s passage, that these two disciples are about to have a very significant encounter with Jesus, that will not only bring them to salvation, but will also be used for God’s salvation to the nations. (P. Gus)

Prayer: Father, pass by us; we need encounter again. Lead us into the fuller expression and revelation of the salvation we have received. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Let’s worship to the song, “Let There Be Wonder” by Matt Redman (click here).

– AK

Let’s read aloud together the following confession, passage and prayer:

The Manila Manifesto
Our first responsibility is to witness to those who are already our friends, relatives, neighbors, and colleagues. Home evangelism is also natural, both for married and single people. Not only should a Christian home commend God’s standards of marriage, sex, and family, and provide a haven of love and peace to people who are hurting, but neighbours who would not enter a church usually feel comfortable in a home, even when the gospel is discussed.

Another context for lay witness is the workplace, for it is here most Christians spend half their waking hours, and work is a divine calling. Christians can commend Christ by word of mouth, by their consistent industry, honesty and thoughtfulness, by their concern for justice in the workplace, and especially if others can see from the quality of their daily work that it is done to the glory of God.

For true evangelism comes from the overflow of a heart in love with Christ. That is why it belongs to all his people without exception.

John 4:29, 42
²⁹“Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?”
⁴² They said to the woman, “We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world.”

Prayer: Father, may our hearts and mouths overflow to share with others your invitation to “come and see.” In Jesus’ name, amen.

Let’s worship to the song, “Come and See” by Matt Redman (click here).

– AK