Monthly message

“Come and See”

The next day, Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Follow me.” Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!” Nathanael said to him, “How do you know me?” Jesus answered him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” Jesus answered him, “Because I said to you, ‘I saw you under the fig tree,’ do you believe? You will see greater things than these.” And he said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”
John 1:43-51 (ESV)

Phillip looks at his encounter through the lens of faith and obedience: Jesus calls, Philip follows. Nathanael, on the other hand has doubts. He needs a vision adjustment. It is as if he is visiting an optometrist who is trying to get him to see more clearly, to fit him with the best lenses possible, asking which one is better, one or two? Which is better now, two or three?” When Nathanael responds to the invitation, he encounters Jesus, who gives him new eyes with which to see. What looked ordinary to him before, now looks extraordinary. He is able to see the world through Jesus’ eyes as his vision has been adjusted toward the kingdom. Nathanael begins the ongoing process of being able to see like Jesus sees.

As we mature in faith, our eyes become more accustomed to seeing others with love. Jesus’ vision becomes our vision. As our vision changes, we are excited to invite others to come and see. It becomes important to us for them to know that they are seen, and we become almost like children who exclaim, “Daddy, come and see what I found!” Joy fills our hearts, and we cannot help but invite others on the journey of faith. Inviting others to “Come and See” the One who truly sees flows freely out of excitement and grace as Jesus’ community of disciples grows.

The reality of our faith journey is that unless we become excited about our relationship with Jesus by inviting others to come and see what we are experiencing, we are failing in our discipleship. Bishop John Bradosky writes in the March NALC newsletter “The body is bleeding out because its leaders, its servants, and its people have forgotten how to make disciples as Jesus described and modeled. This is real people, dealing with real life together—and pointing each other to Jesus. What we are failing at is real ministry. Not commercial or mass marketed events, but real ministry in real lives—the way Paul, Peter, and John did it—the way Jesus taught it. The church has somehow lost it on a large scale.”

I agree with the Bishop that it is time we must reach and engage people with authentic, relational discipleship. This is not a quick fix. Disciples cannot be mass produced; they must be cultivated one relationship at a time.

How do we, like Philip, do this? We issue invitations, one at a time to others, so that they might come and see the gospel of Jesus Christ. We must believe St. John’s is the place where this happens.

In Christ,

—Pastor Ernie

news & events

April 19Easter Egg Hunt

Annual Easter Egg Hunt Saturday, April 19 from 1—2:30 PM. We need donations of candy (individually wrapped, no nuts). Bring in candy by April 12—put it in the box outside of office.

May 8 - NEW!Men’s Prayer Breakfast

Thursday, May 8 at 7:00 am at Greg’s BBQ in Statesville. Join us for a half hour of fellowship, dining and prayer.

May 10Men’s Community Breakfast

Saturday 8:00 AM — 10 AM at St. John's.
Come & bring your neighbor—Donations accepted to benefit Iredell Christian & 5th Street Ministries

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