Come and See: Encounters with Jesus in John

Devotional

Day 1: When Jesus Asks What You’re Truly Seeking

Jesus’ question cuts through pretense: “What are you looking for?” He doesn’t demand resumes or theological exams, but invites raw honesty about our deepest hungers. We often chase control, security, or purpose while calling it faith. True seeking begins when we name our hidden motives – the craving for safety through rigid plans, the fear of vulnerability masked as responsibility. Jesus meets us in that confession, not to shame but to redirect our gaze toward himself as the ultimate answer to every ache. What we think we want often shrinks before who he actually is. [46:52]

The next day John again was standing with two of his disciples, and as he watched Jesus walk by, he exclaimed, “Look, here is the Lamb of God!” The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. When 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?” He said to them, “Come and see.” (John 1:35-39, ESV)

Reflection: What specific fear or desire most often distracts you from seeking Jesus himself? How might naming that honestly before him create space for deeper trust?

Day 2: The Courage to Say “Come and See”

Philip’s simple invitation to Nathanael – skeptical, blunt, dismissive – models how ordinary believers spread faith. No arguments, no perfect answers, just relational persistence. The dechurched often wait for someone to notice their absence and extend a hand. Invitations work not because we’re persuasive, but because Jesus is compelling. Our role isn’t to manufacture outcomes but to bridge the gap between curiosity and encounter. Every “come to dinner” or “read John with me” plants seeds only Christ can grow. [59:13]

Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found him about whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus son of Joseph from Nazareth.” Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” (John 1:45-46, ESV)

Reflection: Who in your life needs a “come and see” invitation more than a theological debate? What one practical step could you take this week to extend it?

Day 3: Named Before Proving

Jesus renames Simon – impulsive, unstable – as Peter (“rock”) before he acts like one. Divine naming isn’t recognition of current merit but prophecy of Spirit-shaped potential. We often disqualify ourselves from God’s purposes, citing past failures or present weaknesses. Yet Christ sees who we’re becoming through his redemption. Our identity isn’t earned through flawless performance but received as grace. The name he gives always outpaces our ability to live into it… until we grow into his vision. [01:03:04]

He 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). (John 1:42, ESV)

Reflection: Where do you feel unworthy of the identity Christ gives you? How might embracing his naming liberate you from performance-based faith?

Day 4: Known Under the Fig Tree

Nathanael’s skepticism crumbles when Jesus references a private moment – praying? doubting? – under a fig tree. Divine knowledge isn’t surveillance but intimate familiarity with our hidden stories. We hide shameful chapters, yet Christ already knows the scenes we’ve locked away. His “I saw you” isn’t accusation but reassurance: every secret struggle is met with compassion. Being fully known becomes safe when we realize he still says “come.” [01:04:29]

Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, “Here is truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit!” Nathanael asked him, “Where did you get to know me?” Jesus answered, “I saw you under the fig tree before Philip called you.” (John 1:47-48, ESV)

Reflection: What “fig tree moment” do you fear Jesus seeing? How might his prior knowledge of it invite relief rather than shame?

Day 5: Greater Things Still Unseen

Jesus promises Nathanael he’ll witness angels ascending/descending – a Jacob’s ladder moment. But the greater sight is Christ himself as the bridge between heaven and earth. Our glimpses of glory always point beyond themselves. Following Jesus means living in holy anticipation: the best revelations aren’t behind us. Every encounter with him is both complete and provisional, satisfying our hunger while making us hungry for more of his infinite depths. [01:09:20]

Jesus answered him, “Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than these.” And he said to him, “Very truly, I tell you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.” (John 1:50-51, ESV)

Reflection: When has a past experience of God’s presence made you complacent? How could expecting “greater things” renew your spiritual curiosity today?

Sermon Summary

John’s Gospel begins by showing who Jesus is, the eternal Word, God in the flesh, Creator, life, light, and the full revelation of God. John then moves from that cosmic truth into personal encounters. Jesus does not meet people with a generic formula. Jesus sees people, knows their stories, knows their wounds and doubts, and invites each person to see who he is.

John the Baptist points to Jesus and says, “Behold the Lamb of God.” Two of John’s disciples begin following Jesus, and Jesus turns with a question that still lands deeply: “What are you looking for?” Jesus does not first ask what they know, what they believe, or whether they have the right resume. Jesus gets underneath it all. The searching heart has to ask whether it wants significance, security, acceptance, success, answers, control, or Jesus himself.

The desire for control can feel like a desire for safety. Control promises that if life can be planned, prepared for, and handled, vulnerability can be avoided. But following Jesus requires trust, and trust means admitting that control does not belong to human hands. Jesus exposes the difference between seeking his gifts and seeking the Giver. Good things can become distractions when they are wanted more than life with Christ.

Jesus responds to the disciples’ question about where he is staying with a simple invitation: “Come and see.” That invitation keeps moving through the chapter. Andrew finds Simon. Philip finds Nathanael. Neither man tries to win an argument or give a polished presentation. They simply invite another person to encounter Jesus. The gospel often spreads through that ordinary, courageous invitation: come to church, come ask questions, come read John, come see what Jesus is like.

Jesus meets Simon and gives him the name Peter, rock, before Simon has done anything particularly rock-like. Jesus names Peter not merely by who he is in that moment, but by who he will become as he walks with Jesus. Jesus meets Nathanael in a different way, exposing his honest bluntness and revealing that he had seen him under the fig tree. Nathanael discovers that before he came looking for Jesus, Jesus had already seen him.

Jesus receives honest skepticism without shaming it. Nathanael’s “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” becomes, “You are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel.” Jesus then promises greater things still. Jesus is Jacob’s ladder, the place where heaven and earth meet. Christ’s invitation remains the same for the searching, the skeptical, the uncertain, and the sent: come and see.

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Key Takeaways

1. Seek Jesus, not merely his gifts The desire for good things can quietly replace desire for Christ himself. Control, clarity, security, and purpose may all be legitimate needs, but none of them can bear the weight of being a savior. Jesus asks what the heart is looking for because he intends to bring it into real relationship with him. [52:56]
2. Trust begins where control ends Control often feels like safety because it promises an escape from vulnerability. Trust in Jesus requires admitting that life cannot be managed into peace. Christ does not always hand over the plan, but he gives his presence to those who follow him. [52:07]
3. Jesus sees the hidden person Nathanael thought he was coming to see Jesus, only to find that Jesus had already seen him. Shame tries to persuade people that hidden failures, fears, and doubts make them unacceptable to God. Jesus knows the whole story and still says, “Come and see.” [64:29]
4. Come and see is enough Andrew and Philip do not attempt to force belief or fix another person’s life. Their invitation is simple because Jesus himself is the One who changes the equation. Courageous witness often begins with one person being invited to encounter Christ honestly. [70:36]
5. Jesus names what disciples become Jesus calls Simon “rock” before Peter acts anything like a rock. Christ’s call is not limited by the weakness visible at the beginning of a person’s story. Walking with Jesus slowly forms people into what his grace has already named them to become.

## [63:04]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[39:02] - The Eternal Word Becomes Personal
[41:31] - Jesus Meets People Personally
[44:36] - What Are You Looking For?
[47:50] - The Search for Control and Safety
[54:37] - Come and See
[56:40] - Jesus Is the Destination of Scripture
[60:13] - Simon Becomes Peter
[63:31] - Nathanael Is Fully Seen
[65:24] - Skepticism Gives Way to Faith
[67:45] - Jesus Is Jacob’s Ladder
[69:20] - The Invitation Still Stands

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

John 1:35–51

35. The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples, and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” [42:32]

36. The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. [42:39]

37. Jesus turned and saw them following and said to them, “What are you seeking?” [42:43]

38. And they said to him, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “where are you staying?” [42:52]

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. [42:55]

40. One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. [43:02]

41. He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means Christ). [43:09]

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). [43:15]

43. The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Follow me.” [43:24]

44. Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. [43:31]

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.” [43:34]

46. Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” [43:43]

47. Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!” [43:49]

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.” [44:00]

49. Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” [44:07]

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.” [44:17]

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.” [44:19]

Observation questions

What different actions lead people to Jesus in this passage—John the Baptist pointing, Andrew bringing Simon, Jesus finding Philip, and Philip inviting Nathanael? [57:38]
What does Jesus say and do when the first two disciples begin following him, and how is his response different from simply giving them information about himself? [46:34]
What details in Nathanael’s words and Jesus’ words show both Nathanael’s blunt skepticism and Jesus’ personal knowledge of him? [01:03:31]
What changes in Nathanael’s response from verse 46 to verse 49, and what does Jesus promise him after that response? [01:05:21]

Interpretation questions

Why might Jesus begin his conversation with the two disciples by asking, “What are you seeking?” What kinds of heart-level desires can be hiding beneath a person’s interest in Jesus? [52:56]
Philip does not argue with Nathanael’s skepticism about Nazareth; he says, “Come and see.” What does this suggest about how believers can respond when someone has honest doubts or objections about Jesus? [01:05:43]
Jesus calls Simon “Peter,” meaning rock, at the beginning of his journey. What does this reveal about the way Jesus sees a person’s present weakness and future growth? [01:02:49]
Jesus says Nathanael will see “greater things,” then describes heaven opened over the Son of Man. How does this show that Jesus is the One who brings people into relationship with God? [01:08:39]

Application questions

When Jesus asks, “What are you seeking?” what answer rises most quickly in your heart right now: security, control, acceptance, clarity, success, relief, or Jesus himself? What might that answer reveal? [47:19]
Where are you most tempted to manage life so carefully that you do not have to feel vulnerable? What would it look like to bring that specific area to Jesus in trust this week? [52:07]
Are there good gifts from Jesus—such as peace, answers, provision, healing, or direction—that you may be seeking more than Jesus himself? How can you pursue relationship with him in the middle of that need? [53:06]
Nathanael discovered that Jesus had already seen him before he came looking for Jesus. Is there a failure, fear, doubt, or part of your story that you tend to hide from God or others? How does Jesus’ full knowledge of you change the way you can approach him? [01:04:41]
Who is one person in your life who may be searching, skeptical, distant from church, or simply waiting for an invitation? What would a simple, natural “come and see” invitation look like for that person? [01:10:41]
If you feel more like Nathanael than Philip right now—full of questions or uncertainty—what is one practical way you can keep coming to see Jesus rather than stopping at your questions? [01:06:35]
Jesus names people not only by what they are today but also by what his grace can form them to become. Where do you need hope that Jesus is still shaping your character, faith, or calling? [01:03:04]

Sermon Clips

43s

#SeekTheGiver

“Sometimes we come to Jesus because we're hoping that he will give us what we're seeking. But Jesus' question exposes their hearts and it exposes our hearts this morning. Are we seeking Jesus or are we seeking what he can provide to us? These things that Jesus can give us are good things. Some of the things that we seek, they're okay, they're good. Some of them are great things. But if we seek the gift and not the giver, we're missing the point completely. The point isn't what Jesus can do for us. The point is him. It's relationship with him, life with him.”

47s

#JesusKnowsYou

“And for us today, that's really good news because you don't have to introduce yourself to Jesus this morning. He already knows you. We try to hide all these things from God all the time. Our shame says that Jesus won't accept us because of, fill in the blank, but he already knows. He already knows your past, your doubts, your failures, your fears, your questions, your hopes, the parts of your story that no one else knows. He knows. And he knows it all, and he still invites you to come and see. He knows you fully, and he still wants you, a relationship with you.”

37s

#InviteComeSee

“you should invite them. Invite them to come and see. You don't have to convince them. You don't have to have all the answers. You don't have to fix their life. Just invite them to come and see this incredible Jesus. Because that's what's happening in John chapter one. John points Andrew to Jesus, and then Andrew finds Simon, and Jesus finds Philip, and then Philip finds Nathanael, and all these encounters lead to Jesus. And maybe that's how God wants to work through you.”

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