Here is the rough manuscript of the homily on John 1:29-42. Again, please feel free to continue the conversation!

“Come and See”

This story captivates my imagination. Can you picture it? John – this provocative, outspoken prophet. He’s defying the establishment and he’s outside of the Temple, outside of the walls of the city, preaching and baptizing in the muddy Jordan river. People were drawn to John. His message of repentance pricked their hearts. They wanted to come clean, to be washed and ready for the kingdom of God – and it was exciting to hear the conviction in John’s voice when he said that this kingdom was coming soon.

Imagine these two friends. We don’t know much about these guys before this story. But we know that they were longing for something – something they couldn’t seem to find in the Temple, or in the synagogue, or in the routine of their daily lives. They went searching for it in the words of this crazy, compelling prophet. And the longing began to mix with excitement and anticipation as they listened to him proclaim “there is one who will come after me whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.”

And then one day he comes. They don’t realize it at first. But imagine the tone of John’s voice and the look in his eyes when he motions to Jesus and says, “Behold, the lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.”

Without any apparent hesitation they follow this man – knowing or hoping that what they are longing for will be found in him.

And Jesus sees these two guys following him. Can you feel the awkwardness here? He doesn’t shoo them away, but asks them a very important question. “What are you looking for?” He doesn’t ask why they are following him or who they are. He doesn’t even pause to introduce himself. He cuts to the chase and asks them this probing question, “What are you looking for?”

What would you say? What are you looking for?

Their reply seems to me like a bit of a dodge. I don’t think his lodgings are really what’s on their minds, but they answer his question with a question, “where are you staying?” Jesus lets them off the hook, but he gives them an answer that is as profound as his question. He says, “Come and See.”

He didn’t say, I’m staying two blocks past the synagogue in the brown house. He said, “Come and see.”

What are we looking for when we first catch a glimpse of Jesus? Peace? Hope? Healing? Meaning & purpose? A vision? Like Peter, do we want Jesus to tell us who we are, and perhaps give us a new name? If these two new disciples had given the deeper answer to the question, “What are you looking for,” do you think Jesus’ response would have been any different?

I think there is something profound for all who begin following Jesus in these words. It’s not that Jesus is going to give us exactly what we want, or take us where we want to go. But following Jesus means going we know not where, to receive we know not what, in faith that our journey of obedient faith will lead us ultimately to salvation.

The way to be a Christian is to “come and see,” following Jesus wherever he leads us. Not by intellectual assent to propositional truth. Not by church attendance. A Christian is one who follows after Jesus, choosing to “come and see” where he leads each day.

As we are becoming a new community of followers of Jesus – a church connected to the larger Church of all Christ’s followers – we feel compelled to gather because we are longing for something. We sense this calling and when Jesus asks us what we are looking for, we struggle to put it all into words. But when we look upon Jesus, we realize that we are seeking him. And so we are setting out together, not knowing exactly where, or how to get there. But we are going to follow Jesus and “come and see” where he leads us on this adventure.

The coming year is going to challenge us tremendously – as individuals and as a community. We are in some ways like a new baby that has to learn how to walk and talk and grow up together. In some ways we are like a new marriage, where we will have to learn how to communicate with one another and make decisions together, and submit to one another. We don’t know what this year will bring. But we are beginning a journey together where we will follow Jesus and ‘come and see’ what will happen!