When Philip found Nathanael in John 1:45, he shared the greatest news he had ever heard: “We have found Him of whom Moses wrote in the Law, and the prophets also wrote: Jesus the son of Joseph, from Nazareth.” Nathanael’s response was skeptical: “Can anything good be from Nazareth?” Yet Philip’s reply is one of the most powerful invitations ever spoken: “Come and see” (John 1:46). It is simple. It is personal. It is compelling.
The same invitation is echoed throughout Scripture. When the Samaritan woman met Jesus at the well, she went into the city and said, “Come, see a Man who told me all the things that I have done; this is not the Christ, is He?” (John 4:29). The power of true discovery in Christ always results in a desire to share Him. When people genuinely encounter Jesus, they cannot help but invite others to do the same.
I. What Do We Mean by “Come and See”?
Too often, people hear an invitation to Christ and misunderstand the nature of it. This is not an invitation to come see a religion of opinions, or a faith of traditions and “maybes.” We’re not asking the world to come and see what might be, or what could be, but to come and see what is. We are calling people to examine the Christ as revealed in Scripture. We say with confidence, “Come and see the Lord.” Not as we imagine Him, not as culture reshapes Him, but as He is truly presented in the Word of God.
This invitation is not to explore our personal views or denominational distinctives, but to encounter the living Jesus. “Come and see” is a call to witness firsthand the truth of who Jesus is and what He commands.
II. Come and See Jesus for Who He Truly Is
A. See Jesus as the Son of Man
Jesus was born of a virgin, fulfilling the prophecies of the Old Testament (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23). He entered the world in human form, identifying with our weaknesses, experiencing our struggles, and showing us how to live in obedience to God. Paul wrote, “He emptied Himself by taking the form of a bond-servant and being born in the likeness of men” (Philippians 2:7).
B. See Jesus as the Son of God
He was not only human—He was divine. John 20:31 declares, “These have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that by believing you may have life in His name.” Jesus performed miracles (John 2:11), calmed storms (Mark 4:39), forgave sins (Mark 2:5), and rose from the dead (Matthew 28:6). He did what no man could do because He was not just man—He was God in the flesh (John 1:1).
C. See Jesus as the Savior of the World
He came to die. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:16). He took our sins upon Himself. He was our substitute. “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). We say to the world: Come and see the One who died for you.
III. Come and See His Church
Jesus didn’t just save individuals—He built a church. He said, “Upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it” (Matthew 16:18). That church still exists. It is not a man-made denomination, but a spiritual body composed of those who have submitted to Christ through obedient faith.
“So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls” (Acts 2:41). Verse 47 says, “The Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.” Come and see the church that belongs to Christ—those saved, called out, and added by the Lord Himself.
IV. Come and See What He Commands
A. See What Jesus Commands to Be Saved
We must not simply admire Jesus—we must obey Him. He said, “He who has believed and has been baptized will be saved” (Mark 16:16). When the crowd at Pentecost asked what they should do, Peter replied, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins” (Acts 2:38). Come and see what the Bible says—not man, not tradition—about salvation.
B. See What Jesus Commands for Life
Jesus also teaches us how to live. Titus 2:11-12 says, “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all people, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously, and in a godly manner in the present age.” Come and see that the gospel is not just about being saved from something—but being saved for something.
C. See What Jesus Will Say on the Last Day
Jesus will judge all people. He said, “Do not be amazed at this; for a time is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear His voice, and will come out: those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who committed the bad deeds to a resurrection of judgment” (John 5:28-29). Will you be ready to stand before Him?
V. Come and See—Then Go and Tell
We do not invite people to a dead religion but to a risen Lord. Our task is not merely to say, “Come and see,” but also to go and tell. When Andrew met Jesus, “he first found his own brother Simon and said to him, ‘We have found the Messiah’… He brought him to Jesus” (John 1:41–42).
Do we speak of Christ with that same urgency today? Do we believe, as Paul did, that “I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes” (Romans 1:16)?
Conclusion: The Invitation Still Stands
We invite you—sincerely and boldly—to come and see. See the Lord as He is. See His sacrifice, His church, His commands, and His promises. See the truth that saves.
Then go and tell others. Invite your friends, your family, your neighbors: Come and see.
And when we do, may it be said of us as it was of those in ancient times, “They turned the world upside down” (Acts 17:6).
The Simple Gospel 