“Come and See”

A Communion Meditation Preached by

The Rev. Jean Niven Lenk

at the

First Congregational Church of Stoughton

United Church of Christ

The other week, June Fredericksen came up to me at Coffee Hour and invited me to the Women’s Fellowship meeting.  But she didn’t just say, “Jean, would you like to come to our Women’s Fellowship meeting?”  She said “Jean, we’re showing ‘Phantom of the Opera.’  It’s wonderful!  You’ll love it!  Come and see!” 

It was hard to ignore June’s enthusiasm to “come and see,” so I did the only natural thing -- I went and saw.

Many of us use that phrase, “come and see.”  We are eager to share with others what is important in our lives.  “Come and see our baby!”  “Come and see our new house!”  “Come and see our garden and all the flowers that are blooming.”  Whatever it is, if we’re excited about something, then we want to share the good news with our friends.

Such is the case in this morning’s scripture lesson. 

This scene in the Gospel of John occurs early in Jesus’ ministry, as he begins to call his disciples.  Last week, we heard the Gospel of Mark’s version of how Jesus called Peter, Andrew, James and John.  In this morning’s passage, as he prepares to leave for Galilee, Jesus invites Philip to accompany him, and Philip agrees at once to go with Jesus.

But Philip does more, because for him, following Jesus means inviting others to follow, too.  And so Philip goes to his friend Nathanael and tells him how this Jesus of Nazareth is God’s promised Messiah. 

Nathanael’s response is hardly enthusiastic.  You can almost hear the sarcasm in his voice as he wonders, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?”  Nazareth was a small town, not exactly known for putting out sophisticated members of society – much less messiahs -- and Nathanael is skeptical that anyone of importance can come from there.

But Philip encourages him with the words, “Come and see.”  Come and see the One the prophets spoke of.  Come and see this Jesus of Nazareth.

Nathanael’s name means "given of God," yet Nathanael doesn't have a clue about the real meaning of God for his life – at least not until he meets Jesus.  For it is not until Nathanael sees himself reflected in the mirror of Christ’s love that he is able to understand God’s purpose for his life.

Last week, I told you how my neighbor’s invitation to church changed my life.  And today, I want you to think of all the people in your family, your neighborhood, at work or at school, who might be waiting for your invitation to “come and see.”  Come and see our wonderful church.  Come and feel the warmth of our welcome.  Come and join us in worshipping God.  Come and grow spiritually through one of our small groups.  Come and participate in our programs for children… and youth… and adults.  Come and nurture your relationship with Jesus.  Come and learn God’s purpose for your life.  Come and look at yourself reflected in the mirror of Christ’s love.  Come and see.

No matter whether you are a long-standing member of this church or have been coming for only a short time, each of you has the opportunity to share with others how important your faith, and this family of faith, is in your life.  Recent census data reveals that a whopping 41% of households in Stoughton have no faith involvement.  Of those, three quarters of the ones who identify themselves as Christian would prefer to worship in the kind of “historic Christian tradition” that we offer.  Friends, we have a mission field right outside our door, thousands of people who could benefit from the message of love, joy, peace, hope, and forgiveness that can be found in the Gospel. 

Who are the Nathanaels in your life?  Who might be awaiting an invitation from you to come and see – come and see not your baby or your new house or your garden, but the place you call your church home, the people you call your church family? 

Come and see, and find God -- because God is here.  God is here in the conversation before the worship begins.  God is here in the words shared during the passing of the peace, here in the moving notes and lyrics of a hymn, here in the reading of scripture.  God is here, through Christ, in the bread and the wine, broken and poured out for you at this table.  God is here in you and in me.

Invite someone to come and see.  That’s what Jesus call us to do – to go out and share the Good News of his forgiving love, to go out and make disciples.  That is called being the church.  Wherever we are, we can be the church, the living body of Christ, by inviting others to develop a relationship with God.

It’s called evangelism -- we cringe when we hear the “e-word,” don’t we?  But did you know that “evangelism” literally means the “message of the angels.”  And you are the angels.

Who are the Nathanaels in your life?  Who is needing, wanting, waiting to hear about Christ; who needs to know God’s love, compassion, kindness, and mercy?

Be an angel bearing God’s message.  Be a disciple answering Jesus’ call.  Be an evangelist sharing the Good News of Christ. 

Invite someone to “come and see.”  Your invitation just might change their life.  Amen.