— John 1:35-51 —
Have you ever been introduced to someone who changed your life?
Maybe it was a friend who believed in you when you didn’t believe in yourself. A mentor who pointed you in the right direction, or someone whose presence simply made you feel seen and known.
That’s what this moment in John 1 is like—a series of life-altering introductions. But the most significant one isn’t between people; it’s between a person and Jesus.
Now, I want to share something more personal with you.
I believe I was called to read the Bible—to draw near and build a relationship with Jesus. But when I first opened the pages, I didn’t start where most people would expect. Not in Genesis, not even in Matthew (the first book of the New Testament). I believe I was drawn to John, not by coincidence, but by the Holy Spirit.
Why John?
Because God wanted me to know Jesus—not just as a figure in history, but as the Word made flesh, Light of the world, Lamb of God, and the Friend who calls us by name.
And when I read John 1:35-51, it felt like a personal invitation. A divine whisper:
“Come and see.”
I’ve spent seasons waiting for clarity—afraid to move forward without a map. But Jesus often leads with an invitation, not a detailed itinerary. When I’ve responded to Him with open arms, I’ve seen things I never would have planned: unexpected peace, purpose, and healing.
Following Jesus isn’t about knowing everything. It’s about trusting the One who knows you.
Now, let’s revisit the story together.
John the Baptist is standing with two of his disciples when he sees Jesus walking by. With just one sentence — “Behold the Lamb of God!” — everything shifts.
Those words are enough for Andrew and the other disciples to leave John and follow Jesus. John doesn’t stop them. He knows he was only ever meant to point the way.
Jesus turns around and asks a question so simple and yet so profound:
“What do you want?”
Isn’t that a question worth lingering on?
It’s the kind of question that stops you in your tracks. What are you searching for? What is your soul longing to find?
They answer not with a request, but a desire for presence:
“Rabbi, where are you staying?”
Jesus simply says, “Come, and you will see.”
This is how it begins for many of us, not with lightning or thunder or flashing lights, but with a simple invitation to come and see.
Come and see where Jesus dwells.
Come and see what He’s like.
Come and see who He is.
And when you do, something shifts in you.
You become like Andrew, who ran to tell his brother, “We have found the Messiah.”
Or like Philip, who couldn’t keep the joy to himself.
“We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth.”
And when Nathanael hesitates — “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” — Philip replies with the exact words Jesus said: “Come and see.”
This is how the story spreads, not through pressure or persuasion, but through the simple power of witness. You don’t have to convince everyone. You just need to say what you’ve seen.
Tell the truth about what Jesus has done in your life.
When Jesus meets Nathanael, He doesn’t mock the doubt; He honors the honesty.
“I saw you while you were still under the fig tree.”
Whatever that moment meant to Nathanael, it was enough to undo his doubt. Enough for him to say, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel.“
Jesus replies with a promise:
“You believe because I told you I saw you. You will see greater things than that.”
This promise is not just for Nathanael, but for all who believe in Jesus.
You who are just beginning to read the Word.
You who don’t know where to start but feel a pull toward Jesus.
You who still show up with questions.
You who quietly follow because something about Jesus stirs your heart.
You who feel small, unseen, or unsure.
You will see greater things.
It is a promise of greater understanding, deeper faith, and a closer relationship with Him.
Your story is still being written.
Jesus is still inviting, still calling, and still seeing.
He still whispers, “Come and see” to the weary and the wondering.
Come and see.
Come with your questions.
Come with your wonder.
Come with your longing to know what He is really like.
God does not call the qualified; He qualifies the called.
And that truth changes everything. It means no past mistake disqualifies you, no present struggle defines you, and no fear of the future can diminish the One who calls you.
He already sees you.
He knows where you’ve been.
He sees your future, your coming transformation, and even your hidden strength.
Jesus calls you not by what the world says, but by what He is shaping you to be.
It’s a personal invitation. It always has been.
Reflection Questions:
- If Jesus turned to you today and asked, “What do you want?” — what would you say?
- What would it look like for you to follow Him again today?
- And if someone asked you who Jesus is, what story would you tell?
Let this be your prayer this week:
Lord Jesus, I want to know where You dwell. Help me come with curiosity, follow with faith, and share what I have found in You with joy. Amen.
