Devotional: Come & See
John 1:43-46 (NIV)
"The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, he said to him, 'Follow me.' Philip, like Andrew and Peter, was from the town of Bethsaida. Philip found Nathanael and told him, '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.' 'Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?' Nathanael asked. 'Come and see,' said Philip."
This passage from John is one of the most powerful examples of invitation in the Gospel. Philip finds Nathanael and tells him, “We’ve found the one Moses and the prophets wrote about—Jesus of Nazareth!” Nathanael’s response is full of skepticism: “Nazareth? Can anything good come from there?” But Philip doesn’t argue or try to convince him. He simply says, “Come and see.”
This moment is real and relatable. How often do people try to argue or convince others about Jesus, trying to answer every question and solve every doubt? But Philip shows us something different. He doesn’t have all the answers. He doesn’t try to defend Jesus with facts. Instead, he invites Nathanael to experience Jesus for himself. And that’s the heart of what it means to share Christ. It’s not about having all the theological answers or forcing beliefs on others—it’s about inviting people to experience Jesus for themselves.
Philip doesn’t need a theology degree to invite Nathanael. He just needs to have experienced something real in his life. All Philip had to do was share his personal experience of Christ and offer a simple invitation: “Come and see.” Jesus didn’t ask Nathanael to understand everything before meeting Him. He invited him to come and encounter Him directly. Jesus meets people where they are, in their doubts, in their questions, and in their struggles. That’s the beauty of the invitation to “come and see.” It’s not about being perfect or having all the answers. It’s about introducing people to Jesus and letting Him do the work in their hearts.
The same invitation is extended to everyone today: "Come and see." Come and experience what it’s like to be in relationship with Jesus. Come and see what happens when He begins to transform lives. This invitation isn’t just for others—it’s for each person to come deeper into an encounter with Christ, to see His goodness, His grace, and His power in a new way every day.
Prayer:
Father, thank You for the simple but powerful invitation to "come and see." Thank You that we don’t have to have all the answers or be perfect—we just need to offer others the chance to experience You for themselves. Lord, You’ve already shown up in our lives in such profound ways. We’ve tasted Your goodness, Your grace, and Your love. And now, we want to invite others to taste it too.
Give us the courage to extend that invitation, to say "come and see" to those around us, even when we don’t have all the answers. Help us not to shy away from sharing what You’ve done in our lives. Whether it’s through a conversation, a kind act, or simply being present, may our invitation be genuine and filled with love.
Lord, we trust You to do the work in people’s hearts. Help us to be faithful in our part, knowing You will meet them where they are, just as You met us. Thank You for Your never-ending love, and for always being ready to reveal Yourself to anyone who will come. We pray this in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Reflection Questions:
Who in your life might be struggling with doubt or skepticism about Jesus? How can they be invited to "come and see"?
How has Jesus personally transformed your life? How can you share that transformation with others?
What are some simple ways to invite others to experience Christ, whether through church, a conversation, or serving together?
In what areas of life can we trust Jesus to do the work, knowing we are only responsible for offering the invitation?
Additional Resources:
Video: "Come & See" by Timothy Keller
Article: "Sharing Your Faith 101" by the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association
Song: "Come and See (Live)" by Matt Redman
Bible Study Book: "Come & See: Bible Study on John" by The Daily Grace Co.
