Come and See: Inviting Others to Follow Jesus

Devotional

Day 1: Leaving the Fig Tree for Greater Things

John’s disciples left everything to follow a stranger who offered no résumé but two words: “Come and see.” Their yes meant abandoning the familiar rhythms of prophetic preparation for the risk of being redefined. Jesus didn’t promise answers but presence. Nathanael’s skepticism under the fig tree mirrors our own hesitations—how often do we cling to safe shadows when glory waits in the open? True seeing begins when we release what we know to grasp what God reveals. [43:06]

“Jesus turned and saw them following and said to them, ‘What are you seeking?’ And they said to him, ‘Rabbi’ (which means Teacher), ‘where are you staying?’ He said to them, ‘Come and you will see.’ So they came and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day.”
(John 1:38–39, ESV)

Reflection: What “fig tree”—comfort, routine, or certainty—might Jesus be asking you to walk away from this week? Where is He inviting you to trade skepticism for holy curiosity?

Day 2: The Courage to Ask “What Are You Looking For?”

Jesus’ question pierces small talk. It demands honesty about our ache for meaning, healing, or belonging. Churches often assume they know what people need—programs, coffee, relevance—but miss the deeper hunger. To ask this question requires humility: we don’t fix, we listen. It’s the difference between handing out bread and sitting at the table to break it together. [44:25]

“One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple.”
(Psalm 27:4, ESV)

Reflection: How would you answer Jesus’ question today? What if you asked it this week to someone who’s never been invited to voice their spiritual hunger?

Day 3: From Nazareth to Unexpected Grace

Nathanael’s scoff—“Can anything good come from Nazareth?”—echoes our dismissals of God’s work in ordinary places. Jesus didn’t defend His hometown; He redefined Nathanael’s vision. Grace often wears the face of the unimpressive: a child’s invitation, a neighbor’s story, a quiet nudge during laundry. Messiahs emerge from backwaters. [48:05]

“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.’”
(John 1:45–46, ESV)

Reflection: Where have you dismissed God’s presence because it seemed too ordinary? Who might be waiting for you to say “Come and see” despite their own “Nazareth”?

Day 4: The Relational Chain of “Come and See”

Andrew didn’t preach a sermon—he grabbed his brother. Peter’s journey began with a sibling’s urgency. Faith spreads through relational threads: a mentor’s nudge, a friend’s persistence, a stranger’s kindness. We measure up not by eloquence but by willingness to link arms and walk others toward the One who renames us. [46:55]

“But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect.”
(1 Peter 3:15, ESV)

Reflection: Who first said “Come and see” to you? Whose journey might hinge on your courage to extend the same invitation this week?

Day 5: Angels Ascending Where We Stand

Jesus promised Nathanael he’d see heaven open—not in temple rituals but in the dirt of daily obedience. Angels move where feet follow. Every “come and see” moment—a shared meal, a hospital visit, a tearful prayer—becomes a Bethel, a place where God’s ladder bridges earth and heaven. [50:10]

“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 1:51, ESV)

Reflection: Where have you missed the “angels” in your ordinary moments? How might today’s routines become sacred thresholds for someone else’s encounter with God?

Sermon Summary

John the Baptist stands in the wilderness and does what he was born to do. He points and says, Look, there is the Lamb of God. His own disciples hear that word and leave him to follow Jesus, and John lets them go. His joy is to step back so the ministry of Jesus can step forward. The Spirit, who does not come and go with Jesus, rests and works in tandem with him as the Son makes his witness. The handoff is relational, not transactional, and it happens in real time with names and faces.

Jesus turns to the two who trail him and asks the first question out of his mouth, What are you looking for? That question puts the hunger on the table. Desire gets named before duty gets assigned. The church, if it will listen, needs that same question in its mouth for itself and for the people across the hall or down the street. Assumptions will not do. What are you seeking?

The two answer, Rabbi, where are you staying? The word is about location, but it also hints at abiding. Jesus answers, Come and see. Invitation, not argument. Presence, not pressure. They come, they see, they stay, and that shared time turns into testimony. Andrew finds his brother and says, We have found the Messiah, and he brings Simon to Jesus. Jesus looks at him and names him Cephas, Peter. Identity shifts at the speed of being truly seen and truly called.

The next day Jesus finds Philip, and Philip finds Nathanael. Skepticism shows up in a sharp line, Can anything good come out of Nazareth? The reply keeps the temperature low and the door wide open. Come and see. Jesus greets Nathanael with a read on his heart and a small sign under a fig tree that somehow lands like lightning. Rabbi, you are the Son of God. Jesus promises more. You will see heaven open and the traffic of angels. Greater things are on the way, and they start with an honest question and a simple invitation.

Grace still sets the terms, not measuring up. The beatitudes still sound like the shape of a life that has been met by mercy. Yet part of measuring up looks like this rhythm. Be seen by Jesus. Abide with Jesus. Invite others to come and see. In a lonely world, someone needs a voice that will say, Come and see, and not wait for somebody else to ask. It might be the only invitation that person ever gets.

Key Takeaways

1. Jesus starts with desire, not duty The first word from Jesus is not a task but a question that surfaces the heart. Desire named in the open becomes the doorway to discipleship, because truth heals what hiding only hardens. The church’s discernment matures when it learns to ask before it prescribes. Honest longing is fertile soil for grace. [44:02]
2. Invitation is come and see The gospel moves on the rails of presence more than persuasion. Come and see honors dignity, resists manipulation, and trusts the Spirit to do the heavy lifting. Proximity makes space for surprise, and surprise often does what arguments cannot. Hospitality turns curiosity into encounter. [48:49]
3. John steps back so Christ advances Calling can be real enough to give joyfully away. John’s decrease is not loss but fulfillment, because his purpose is preparation and release. Ministry that hoards people shrinks, but ministry that hands them to Jesus multiplies. Freedom lives where ego dies. [43:42]
4. Being seen reshapes true identity Jesus looks, names, and re-stories a life in a sentence. The gaze of Christ does not flatter; it creates. A new name signals a new future, and vocation settles in as gift rather than grind. Transformation begins where recognition lands. [46:55]
5. Loneliness meets brave, simple invitations An epidemic of isolation will not yield to silence. A small word at the right time can be a bridge over a deep ravine. The inviter is often the only one God will send to that doorstep. Courage looks like kindness spoken out loud. [51:53]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[33:44] - Measure Up welcome
[37:06] - Grace and Beatitudes recap
[37:34] - Measuring up by invitation
[38:02] - Party invitation story
[40:48] - John the Baptist points to Jesus
[42:50] - Disciples shift to Jesus
[44:02] - Jesus asks, What are you looking for?
[45:21] - Where are you staying? Come and see
[46:55] - Andrew brings Simon; new name Peter
[47:27] - Philip invites skeptical Nathanael
[49:33] - Seen under the fig tree; confession
[50:10] - Promise of greater things
[50:37] - Invitation in a lonely world

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading
John 1:35-51 (ESV)
35 The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples, 36 and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” 37 The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. 38 Jesus turned and saw them following and said to them, “What are you seeking?” And they said to him, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “where are you staying?” 39 He said to them, “Come and you will see.” So they came and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day, for it was about the tenth hour. 40 One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. 41 He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means Christ). 42 He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon the son of John. You shall be called Cephas” (which means Peter). 43 The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Follow me.” 44 Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. 45 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.” 46 Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” 47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!” 48 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.” 49 Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” 50 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.” 51 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.”

Observation questions

What does John the Baptist do when his own disciples start following Jesus, and what does this reveal about his priorities?
How does Jesus respond when the two disciples ask, “Where are you staying?” What does this interaction emphasize about his approach to relationships? [45:21]
What immediate action does Andrew take after spending time with Jesus, and how does this contrast with how people often share their faith today?
How does Nathanael’s skepticism (“Can anything good come out of Nazareth?”) get addressed, and what does Philip’s response teach about handling doubt? [48:05]

Interpretation questions

Why might Jesus’ first question—“What are you seeking?”—be more effective for building discipleship than starting with commands or rules? [44:02]
John the Baptist’s joy came from “stepping back” so Jesus could advance. How does this challenge common cultural views of success or leadership in ministry today?
Jesus renames Simon as Peter (“rock”) after a brief encounter. What does this suggest about how God’s perspective can redefine someone’s identity and purpose? [46:55]
Nathanael’s confession of faith hinges on Jesus noticing him under a fig tree. Why might small, personal details matter in helping people feel seen by God? [49:33]

Application questions

“What are you looking for?” is a question Jesus asks before assigning any duty. What honest longings or needs in your life might God want to address before asking you to “do” something? How could naming those desires deepen your faith?
“Come and see” invitations rely on presence over persuasion. Who in your life could you invite into a simple, low-pressure moment (e.g., coffee, a walk, serving together) to share God’s love without pressure? What makes this feel risky or natural for you? [51:53]
Jesus renamed Simon to reflect his true identity. What false labels or stories about yourself (e.g., “not enough,” “too broken”) might you need to release to embrace how God sees you?
Loneliness often persists because people wait for “someone else” to reach out. When have you hesitated to extend an invitation out of fear or assumptions? What practical step could you take this week to initiate connection with someone isolated?
Nathanael’s skepticism dissolved when he felt known by Jesus. How could paying attention to others’ “fig tree moments” (details, struggles, joys) help you point them toward God’s care in everyday life?

Sermon Clips

79s

#ComeAndSeeInvite

“But part of it is being open to come and see, to be seen, and then to invite others to come and see. Because here's the deal, friend, sometimes you may be the only person that will invite somebody into a relationship with Jesus. You might be the only person that invites somebody to worship or to an event or something off-site or anything. You might be the very person, the only person, the essential person that someone's looking for to be able to begin a relationship in God's love and grace. Right? Did you ever think about that? Hello? Right? Have you? You may be the only person, and if you're reluctant to ask, if you're reluctant to say, come and see, you don't have to have a perfect invitation. If you don't offer come and see, that might be the missed opportunity for that person who's in sadness or depression or looking for a place to serve or is longing for sacred community. We spent all week this week in this regional meeting. Do you know we talked so much about isolation and loneliness? Do you know it's an epidemic? And so the reality is people across our communities are lonely and and they're longing for somebody to say, come and see.”

72s

#BeTheOneWhoInvites

“Because here's the deal, friend, sometimes you may be the only person that will invite somebody into a relationship with Jesus. You might be the only person that invites somebody to worship or to an event or something off-site or anything. You might be the very person, the only person, the essential person that someone's looking for to be able to begin a relationship in God's love and grace. Right? Did you ever think about that? Hello? Right? Have you? You may be the only person, and if you're reluctant to ask, if you're reluctant to say, come and see, you don't have to have a perfect invitation. If you don't offer come and see, that might be the missed opportunity for that person who's in sadness or depression or looking for a place to serve or is longing for sacred community. We spent all week this week in this regional meeting. Do you know we talked so much about isolation and loneliness? Do you know it's an epidemic? And so the reality is people across our communities are lonely and and they're longing for somebody to say, come and see.”

51s

#SeeGreaterThings

“And then, as you know, Jesus says, do you believe because I've seen you? Very truly, I tell you, you'll see far greater things. You'll see angels going up and down. You'll see the glimpses of heaven, and you'll see the power of the son of man, all because I've invited you to come and see. So friends, I invite you as we talk about measuring up to our faith in Jesus, that part of it is, just experiencing God's grace as a pure gift. Amen? Part of it is paying attention to those beatitudes, being pure in heart, seeking God's righteousness, working for justice, being the salt and light of the earth, which we talked about last week. But part of it is being open to come and see, to be seen, and then to invite others to come and see.”

60s

#WhatAreYouLookingFor

“John was willing to step back to get out of the way so that Jesus' ministry could begin. When Jesus turned and saw these two following, he said to them, what are you looking for? And I I didn't pay much attention to this in the past, but I want to say that I think it's an important question, not only for those two disciples who've chosen to follow Jesus, but it's a good question for us, and it's a good question for the people around us. Right? This week, the staff spent some time talking about, what are you looking for? And we got a little deep unexpectedly, where people began to say, I'm looking for a stronger spiritual life. I'm looking for some healing. In all the chaos of the day, I'm looking for peace. Right? And so I would ask you that question. What are you looking for? What are you longing for? What are you missing? Why are you here today? What are you seeking?”

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Come and See: Inviting Others to Follow Jesus

Devotional

Day 1: Leaving the Fig Tree for Greater Things

Day 2: The Courage to Ask “What Are You Looking For?”

Day 3: From Nazareth to Unexpected Grace

Day 4: The Relational Chain of “Come and See”

Day 5: Angels Ascending Where We Stand

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Come and See: Inviting Others to Follow Jesus

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