Come and See
Whenever I get to interact with children, an opportunity inevitably presents itself for at least one child to exclaim “Come look!” Sometimes it is for a work of art (possibly resembling something familiar), and the expectation of the child’s heart is for delight to be experienced as others gaze upon the work of their hands.
Other times, it can be an exclamation of “HELP!” because another child is hurt or because something like a snake threatens the peace of their hearts. The expectation in this circumstance is for one to intervene, to protect, to engage with the challenge at hand.
Even as adults, the invitation to “come look” permeates our everyday lives. Come and see this news article, see that prayer request, see this challenge I am facing, see this social media post, see this project I have finished, or see the work that has yet to be done. Even our conversations with the Father as we request His help are invitations for Him to join us in the tension of everyday life.
Invitation into Community
Whenever we are invited to come and see, we are welcomed into the space of bearing witness to the story of another. Community is built on accepting the invitation to see another person as we engage and invest in their lives.
John 1 welcomes us into the opening scenes of Jesus’ life. A couple disciples bore witness to the amazing interaction in the river with John and Jesus as he is baptized, and they are curious for more. They saw something unique in Jesus, and they followed him. Jesus’ first recorded words in John were “What do you want?” followed by “Come and see” in response to their request of where he was staying (John 1:38-39). From this point forward, Jesus invited his disciples regularly to come witness the power and love of God displayed on the earth.
The same invitation is whispered to our hearts daily. Do you want to come and see what Jesus is doing? In the middle of work, mundane tasks, and daily living, the same call that went to those disciples beckons us to come and see Him.
Invitation into the Pain
Therefore, when Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her also weeping, He was deeply moved in spirit and was troubled, and He said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to Him, “Lord, come and see.” Jesus wept. So the Jews were saying, “See how He loved him!“
– John 11:33-36
The old phrase “misery loves company” pulls from a deeper truth for us as humans. In our pain, we long for someone to rescue us or to have a friend come sit with us in the heaviness of the moment. The Bible is filled with stories of men and women who struggled with feeling alone in the middle of deep grief, loss, betrayal, and loneliness.
Mary and Martha had sent for Jesus with a request to come and see their brother Lazarus, probably with the expectation that Jesus would heal Lazarus like he had done for so many others. The invitation to come and see, once laced with a desperate hope, withered away as Jesus delayed his visit. By the time Jesus arrived, their hope seemed to have evaporated and was replaced with a devastating grief. The original “come and see” gave way to a brokenhearted request for Jesus to come bear witness to the perceived death of their hope of healing.
Jesus refrained from writing off the grief, even though he knew it would soon turn to joy. Instead, he bore witness to the overwhelming grief of the community gathered to mourn Lazarus’ death. He didn’t rush Mary, Martha, or anyone else in attendance to rush through the devastation they felt. Instead, for a moment, he simply came to see the sorrow of death.
As those entrusted with the privilege to love our neighbors, we are also entrusted with bearing witness to their pain while we also hold the timeless hope that God is the author of our stories and our faith. Your presence as you minister to those who are suffering is an invaluable gift as you see them, sometimes at their worst, and hold their grief with love and compassion. Your eyes may see the light at the end of the tunnel, but for a moment, you are invited to feel the weighty tension of the not yet alongside your brother or sister.
Invitation into Hope
He is not here. He has risen from the dead as he said he would. Come and see the place where his body was.
- Matthew 28:6 (NCV)
The disciples had heard Jesus discuss his crucifixion, and they had heard what would happen three days later (Mark 9:31). That conversation with Jesus escaped them after his death. Grief sometimes obscures our vision of what we know is true. The morning that the women went to the tomb, they arrived with the expectation that his body was still behind the massive stone. It took the angel’s invitation to come and see to clear their vision and restore hope.
This “come and see” was to see what was NOT in the tomb. Can you imagine the racing minds as the women looked at the place where Jesus was and found that He was gone? The words of the angel lit the spark of hope once again in their hearts that the story had not, in fact, ended. It was continuing, just as Jesus had said.
That spark of hope from that day has continued thousands of years later to serve as a beacon of hope to countless people across the world. Come and see this Jesus who conquered sin and death for all of us. Come and see Jesus, the one who loved you with an everlasting love. Come and see Jesus who came to set the captives free. We echo the words of so many that have gone before us: hope has come, and his name is Jesus.
Whether you are invited to come and see today the joy of what the Father is doing on the earth, to see the sorrow and tension of the people around you, or to see with eyes of faith the promises He is fulfilling, you are building the kingdom in beautiful ways. As you love those around you from the overflow of God’s love toward you, may those around you accept your invitations to come and see the goodness of God expressed through the community of His people. May you find delight each day as you “come and see” what the Father is doing and what He invites you to do alongside him.
Resources:
Question for consideration: Where is the Father inviting you to come and see something new today?
Further reading: Read through the book of John and make note of the times that people were invited to come and see. What was their expectation? What was it that they saw? What was their reaction?
Written by Amanda Eubanks, Wildfire administrative assistant