The One Thing

John 1:39, 46b Come and See

John 1 is heavily packed with a lot of lessons. Something that always strikes me as intentional are the first three words. "In the beginning". How cool would it be if after opening the book of Genesis there would be a hyperlink to the first three words that would lead us straight to John 1:1? I mean there would be no wilderness, no exile. Happily ever after would seem more plausible when we read John 3:16. But that doesn't happen. We go through the fall, the slavery, the wilderness and the exile and we come to the feet of Jesus. But think about it-He was there all this time, right from the beginning. He saw all of it before He decided that He would rather die than let things continue like this and He was being quite literal about the dying part. But the portion that sticks to me are Jesus's words to the disciples of John the Baptist-"Come and see". That isn't the usual response you give when someone asks for an address. But I like "Come and see" far better than "Follow me", mostly because the latter is a tall task. How do you follow on the footsteps of the Son of God? I would rather go after Him, go in search of Him and find out. These words tell me something I need to incorporate into my lifestyle. Jesus was never about telling. He was about seeing. He wanted witnesses, not story tellers. He didn't call eloquent speakers or skilled writers. He called the laymen to follow Him. When He first called me I remember what He said. He told me to 'Know (Him)". Exactly two words. I remember hearing them even though the room was completely silent. But the fact that He spoke to me rather than sending a word through a disciple is not what I focus on. I focus on what I had to do to know Him. I chased after Him and when I tired out, He chased after me. I believe we are still chasing after one another. He, because He loved me first. I because He taught me what love was to begin with. Being with Jesus is a life changing journey. I am sure that those first disciples had no idea what they were getting themselves into. But they went nonetheless. Was it just to see? Was it simply curiosity that kept on being stoked by the miracles He kept performing one after the other? I would like to believe that it was recognition. I would like to believe that though it was Peter who acknowledged Jesus as Messiah long before the resurrection, every one over there actually knew in their heart because they went after Him, not to quench their curiosity, but rather to be His witness, as we are all called to be.