Come and See

One of the interesting moments of calling comes in the first chapter of John's gospel as the writer speaks of two disciples of John the Baptist leaving the Baptist to go after Jesus.  When Jesus saw them, there is a brief conversation in which they ask, "Rabbi, where are you staying?" and He responds by saying, "Come and see."  (John 1:35-39)  The words "Come and see"  are not as direct as the "Follow me" voiced in other places.  It is word that carries with it a literal word about a place, but even more it speaks of an invitation to a journey not clearly defined.   

The word "come"  invites a would be disciple to come after Jesus, to go where He is walking, and to visibly identify with Him.  The word "see" serves as invitation to see what can obviously and clearly be seen with the eyes of birth, but also an invitation to see those things which belong to the invisible realm and which are not yet clearly seen.  So, the invitation is not just about a place to sleep.  It is also about choosing to go wherever.  It is an invitation to come to Jesus and see where it is that a life with Him will go.     

There is a sense of adventure about this word.  There is an even greater sense of mystery as we decide to go to know-not-where and experience the presence of Christ on the road which will open up the journey.  "Come and see" Jesus says.  "As we go together, we will see where the road takes us."  Such is the invitation to those early disciples and to us as well.  There is only one way to see the invisible things He will reveal to us along the way and that is in the choosing to come after Him.