John 1:29-42 (NRSV)
Read John 1:29-42 on biblegateway.com
Verse 29The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him and declared, "Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! Verse 30This is he of whom I said, 'After me comes a man who ranks ahead of me because he was before me.' Verse 31I myself did not know him; but I came baptizing with water for this reason, that he might be revealed to Israel." Verse 32And John testified, "I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. Verse 33I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water said to me, 'He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.' Verse 34And I myself have seen and have testified that this is the Son of God." Verse 35The next day John again was standing with two of his disciples, Verse 36and as he watched Jesus walk by, he exclaimed, "Look, here is the Lamb of God!"
Verse 37The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. Verse 38When Jesus turned and saw them following, he said to them, "What are you looking for?" They said to him, "Rabbi" (which translated means Teacher), "where are you staying?" Verse 39He said to them, "Come and see." They came and saw where he was staying, and they remained with him that day. It was about four o'clock in the afternoon. Verse 40One of the two who heard John speak and followed him was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. Verse 41He first found his brother Simon and said to him, "We have found the Messiah" (which is translated Anointed). Verse 42He brought Simon to Jesus, who looked at him and said, "You are Simon son of John. You are to be called Cephas" (which is translated Peter).
Devotion
I can recall vividly when our first child was born. Eager to show him off, we invited my parents to come to see their new grandchild. When they arrived at our house and rang the doorbell, my father didn't even utter a "hello" or appear to recognize that my wife and I were there, but walked right in and made a beeline past us for the bassinet, eager to get a glimpse of the new arrival.
I like to think that the disciples began following Jesus with this same eager anticipation. Jesus responds to their questions with the invitation "Come and see."
"Come and see!" With these same words we are invited to follow Jesus. Together with Andrew and Simon and all the rest, we are invited to come closer to him who has come to us. With eager anticipation to share the precious good news of Jesus' dwelling with us, we extend the same invitation to others: "Come and see!"
Prayer
Dearest Jesus, as you invite us to abide with you, may we invite those whom we meet to come and see what it means to be in your gracious presence. Amen.