Out Our Way: Come and see - John 1:35-39

Out our way, sometimes you can't really explain something so well as to simply allow someone to experience it. Like cowboying. All my life growing up with movies and TV shows and books on the West, I thought I knew all about it. Not even close.

I remember when Charlie first invited me to come along to cowboy with him, I thought to myself, "Well, what can it hurt?" Now, after years of sprained ribs, banged heads, badly bruised legs, arms, back and a broken toe, - Doc put all his 1,200 pounds on my foot as I was not paying attention to "Babe" coming up to the gate to whinny at him and was standing in his way - I know the answer. But I also got a taste of cowboying and every ache and pain was well worth it. People can talk and describe and encourage - but they cannot create the experience that can only be found first-hand,

In today's text, John the Baptist knew who Jesus was and told his disciples. Though they trusted John, it was only when Jesus invited them to come and see for themselves and they accepted the invitation that they really found out for certain. "Come and see" has alway been the call of Christ. Blind faith sounds good and it is the mantra of the "Snake Oil" TV Evangelists who bilk millions off the gullible. It is the mantra of the politicians and social activists who "talk the talk but don't walk the walk." But Jesus says "Come and see."

What did those disciples see? They spent the whole day with Jesus and lived with Him as He lived. They saw his faithfulness to God, the Scriptures, and the teachings of the Elders. But more, they also saw the power of God at work. They saw sight given to the blind, hearing to the deaf, healing to the sick, and even life restored to the dead. Come and see. See for yourself and decide based on what you observe.

Miracle workers still abound in our world even if they aren't as mystical. How about Danny Thomas' St. Jude's hospital? The place itself is a miracle - free medical care, free board and housing for families, top medical staff and researchers ... and, above all, a fantastic recovery rate for children who would have died a few years ago from cancer. Most of us know Danny Thomas as a famous and very successful entertainer, comedian and producer. He was all of that and more. But he was also a disciple of Jesus Christ. "Children are dying, Lord, what can I do?" "Come and see." So Thomas followed Jesus and prayed - and St. Jude's became reality.

Many claim to be disciples and invoke the Name of Jesus as did Danny Thomas, but instead of hospitals and charities they built mansions and villas, and even amusement parks all to line their own pockets. Come and see! "Follow me and I will save you," says this popular preacher. But have lives changed? Is the sole focus of these "changed" ones to serve others, or do they end up only serving themselves?

We "grunts" in God's world may not get much attention, but who we are and Whose we are is as plain as day to everyone around us. Those who do not know Christ must judge whether to consider Him or not based on the testimony you and I offer as His followers. Is Jesus for real? Folks will come and see, but they will start with us.

Be blessed and be a blessing.

Brother John  

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The Rev. John Bruington is the retired pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Havre. He now lives in Colorado, but continues to write "Out Our Way." He can be reached for comment or dialogue at [email protected].