John 1:35-46 (NRSV)
Read John 1:35-46 on biblegateway.com
Verse 35The next day John again was standing with two of his disciples, Verse 36and as he watched Jesus walk by, he exclaimed, "Look, here is the Lamb of God!"
Verse 37The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. Verse 38When Jesus turned and saw them following, he said to them, "What are you looking for?" They said to him, "Rabbi" (which translated means Teacher), "where are you staying?" Verse 39He said to them, "Come and see." They came and saw where he was staying, and they remained with him that day. It was about four o'clock in the afternoon. Verse 40One of the two who heard John speak and followed him was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. Verse 41He first found his brother Simon and said to him, "We have found the Messiah" (which is translated Anointed). Verse 42He brought Simon to Jesus, who looked at him and said, "You are Simon son of John. You are to be called Cephas" (which is translated Peter).
Verse 43The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, "Follow me." Verse 44Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Verse 45Philip 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." Verse 46Nathanael said to him, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see."
Devotion
“Come and see.” What an open invitation. No qualifications need to be met, no references offered, no fees paid. Just, “come and see.” “Check it out.” Jesus has the elegant, honest confidence in God and in himself that he doesn’t have to sell or protect anything. This freedom—to be oneself in the service of God—is so rare, so priceless that those who went to see knew that they had found God’s anointed one in their midst. Those who followed Jesus soon echoed his words, “Come and see.” What might happen if we give up our need to control or to sell God’s freeing mercy?
Prayer
Blessed God, give us the courage to see clearly, especially in confusion of these days of war, that we might glimpse the world sparkling with holy power and ardently seek to share that vision. Amen.