In John’s Gospel we have seen Jesus baptised
by John the Baptist, we have heard John declare ‘Behold the Lamb of God, who
takes away the sins of the world’, we have seen Jesus call Andrew and Simon
Peter, disciples of John, to follow him. Now Jesus decides to go from Bethany
to Galilee, to go back home. He begins by saying to Philip ‘Follow me’ a simple
invitation, which he accepts. Coming from Bethsaida, the same city as Andrew
and Peter it is certain that Philip knows them, and is well-disposed to join in
with them, and to answer Jesus’ invitation. He then finds Nathanael and
testifies that Jesus is he who is spoken of in the Law of Moses and the
prophets, the Messiah, the saviour of Israel. Nathanael’s reply, ‘Can anything
good come out of Nazareth?’ looks like a proverbial saying – it reminds us of Jesus’
ordinary earthly existence, growing up in a backwater town. Nathanael’s initial
scorn will be transformed; such is the power of God. Philip counters by saying ‘Come
and see’, Jesus’ answer to John’s disciples who want to know where he is
staying. This invitation to come and see for oneself lies at the heart of the
proclamation of the Good News, it remains as key now as it did nearly two
thousand years ago.
Jesus
sees Nathanael coming towards him and says ‘Here is an Israelite in whom there
is no guile’ he’s plain-speaking, honest, there’s no flannel here. Nathanael is
amazed before long has acclaimed Jesus as a teacher, the Son of God and King of
Israel. Clearly something good can come out of Nazareth, good enough to save
the world. For the kingdom to grow we cannot simply expect to open our doors
and see people flood in, we have to invite people in, to say to them ‘Come and
see’ and make sure that they see Jesus in Word, Sacrament, and in the lives of
those around them. Having been called, they can respond to that call. This is
what the church is for – to call people to be in a relationship with Jesus, to
be nourished by him. We need to continue to repeat the simple invitation of Jesus
‘Come and see’, to come and see the one who is shown in the Law and the
Prophets as the Messiah, the Anointed Saviour, so that people can become close
to Him.
This
openness, this willingness to be changed by an encounter with Christ, encourages
us to look outwards and share our faith with others – to live lives of joy, in
the knowledge that God loves us and saves us. Our faith as Christians is not
something which we keep to ourselves, but rather something which we share, and
which affects all of who and what we are, and think, and say, and do. Ours is a
radical faith which has at its aim to change the world. It may sound strange or
overambitious, but if we acknowledge Jesus Christ as the King of Heaven and
Earth, who came to save humanity, we have to call the world to follow him. Our
faith then is not a private matter, or something which we just do on a Sunday
morning for an hour or so, but rather something which changes our lives, and
affects every part of who we are and what we do. What we see starting in this
morning’s Gospel is something which we can bear fruit in our lives, if we
accept the invitation to ‘Come and see’ and encourage others so to do.
The
Gospel is the Good News of Jesus Christ, good news that God loves humanity,
that He saves us, that He gives Himself to save us from our sins, and nourishes
us with His Word and His Sacraments, so that we can have life in Him, and life
in all its fullness. What starts with the Incarnation is still bearing fruit here
and now, still encouraging people to come and see, to meet Jesus, to be nourished
and changed by Him, let us accept His invitation, and offer it to others that they
too may enter into the joy of the Lord and give glory to God the Father, God the
Son, and God the Holy Spirit, to whom be ascribed, as is most right and just, all
might, majesty, glory, dominion, and power, now and forever.
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