Come and See:John 1:35-46

“”When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, ‘let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us” (Luke 2:15, NASB).

We have been celebrating the advent season. Advent is a Christian season of preparation for the Nativity of Christ at Christmas. Advent also celebrates the second coming of Jesus to the world. Advent means that we welcome Jesus into our own lives. The past four Sundays we have focused on God’s love, our hope, our joy, and our peace. The news that the Savior was born was good news for the Jews that had been waiting for the promised Messiah.

After Mary had given birth to her first born son an angel appeared to shepherds watching over their flock by night. The occupation of a shepherd was not considered a job with honor and prestige. In those days shepherds were thought to be people of low estate. The job was dirty and the shepherds were thought to be dishonest. God did not send His Son into the world for the good people only. God loves all people and Jesus would die for the sins of all people.

The angel told the shepherds that the Savior had been born in the town of Bethlehem. Bethlehem was the city of David and Joseph was of the lineage of David. The angel told the shepherds that they could find the baby wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a manger. After the angel and the heavenly host had left them the shepherds they decided to go to Bethlehem to see for themselves the baby and His mother. After seeing the baby they told everyone that they came in contact with. Then, they returned to their flock.

Joseph took Mary and the baby to Nazareth, the home of Joseph. Jesus grew up much like most male Jews. He helped His father in the family business. He attended synagogue and learned the Hebrew scripture. He lived at home for thirty years until it was time for Him to begin the work that the Father had sent Him to do. His cousin John the Baptist who was six months older than Jesus was baptizing people in the Jordan River. John told the people to repent of their sins. He told them that the Messiah was coming and they should be prepared to meet Him.

One day John saw Jesus coming by. He introduced Jesus as the “Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world” (John 1:29, NASB)! The next day John looked at Jesus as He walked by. Again, John said aloud, “Behold the Lamb of God” (v. 36). Two of his disciples heard what John said. They followed Jesus. They asked Him where He was staying. Jesus said “Come and you will see.” Andrew found his brother Peter and took him to meet Jesus. Then Jesus went to Galilee. He found Phillip and Phillip found Nathanael. He Phillip told Nathanael that they had found the Messiah. He was Jesus of Nazareth. Nathanael asked if any good thing could come out of Nazareth. Philip answered, “Come and see.”

The shepherds went to see the Messiah. The disciples were invited to come and see where Jesus was staying. The point is this. You and I may tell others about Jesus. We can tell others what we know about Jesus. However, everyone needs to see Jesus for themselves. The world knows about Jesus, but the world does not know Jesus. They have not seen Jesus. The word “see” means to get to know someone. It means to have knowledge about something or someone. Having knowledge about Jesus will not save us. We have to go to Him personally. Each person has to know Him personally. God did not send His Son to die for the church. Rather, he died for those that believe in Him. Collectively, those that believe in Him make up the church. This means that being a member of a church congregation cannot save us from our sins. It takes the sacrificial blood of the Lamb of God to redeem us from our sins.

After three years of ministry Jesus was crucified on the cross. He is not a dead martyr. He rose from the dead and ascended to the Father. He sits at the right hand of the Father. If we do not believe that Jesus was resurrected from the dead we do not believe that He died to save us from sins. We must believe the witness of those that saw Him after He was resurrected. The women went to the tomb to anoint His dead body with spices. Jesus was not in the tomb. The angel at the tomb said to the women, “He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. Come, see the place where He was lying.

Have you seen Jesus? Have you come to know Him for yourself? Do you believe the words of the angels? You must see Him. You must know Him. Come and see.

Note: This is the last week that I will write for this website. Visit the archives. There are over 300 articles and 300 devotionals.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year