Come and See (a sermon on John 1:29-42)

I wonder
if you’ve ever tried to explain something to someone
but finally ended up telling them,
“I can’t really do it justice.
It’s just the sort of thing you have to see for yourself.”

Words can’t quite capture
the taste, or sound, or feel
of it.

And anyway,
tastes and sounds and the things we touch
aren’t carbon-copy experiences;
they’re not the same for everyone.

And besides all that,
why spoil the wonder
even a little bit?

Faith is like that.
Not one-size-fits-all.
There is no style of worship,
no prayer practice,
or renewal method,
or translation
that nourishes everyone equally.

There is no way to really explain
through science or theology or otherwise
the mystery:
of incarnation,
of forgiveness,
of water and words that claim us,
of a meal that is salvation, welcome, forgiveness,
Jesus
all in one bite.

And besides all that,
why spoil the wonder
even a little bit,
when faith like a child -
trusting, eager, open -
is the goal?

Photo by Callum Pritchard on Unsplash

Come and see is an invitation, yes,
from Jesus to John’s disciples
who are so very clearly looking for something.

And certainly
come and see is an invitation
from Jesus to us,
who are also lost and looking
for something, or someone.

But first, here’s what come and see is not:

It’s not a bait-and-switch,
like,
come and see! All are welcome!
Well, all who are like us.
Allow us to tell you how terrible we think you are
and how, precisely, you should change
in order to fit in here.

It’s not an ulterior motive,
like,
come and see how your money
will help us stay open,

or how your presence
will mean that we’re diverse,

or how the idol of your youth
will give us security, however false.

It’s not a ticket for the bleachers,
like,
come and see us do things our way
so you can assimilate more easily.

Instead,
come and see is a uniform shirt and a spot on the roster.
It’s a promise of change,
for all of us -
because God loves us too much
to leave us the way we are.

Come and see is an invitation, yes,
but not an invitation to see us.
Come and see is an invitation to see Jesus.

Come and see what God is doing.
Come and see how God is working
through you,
and me,
and us together,
in ways that may not be familiar or comfortable.

Come and see grace -
lavish,
undeserved,
surprising.
The balm
of turning off every fiber within you that tries so hard
to be worthy of love, and care, and delight.

Come and see the body of Christ -
the bread, certainly,
broken and given for you,
and also the people -
imperfect,
quarrelsome,
and so dearly loved.
Sinners, and saints - each one.
Broken, hurting, afraid -
and also filled with the Spirit.
Each one created in the image of God
and called beloved.
Fragile and strong children of God,
who love and are loved,
serve and are served,
teach and learn.

Come and see Jesus.
The one who abides with us and in us.
Who never leaves us or forsakes us.
Who is with us always.

I wonder
who first invited you to come and see.
Who first witnessed your disappointment, or fruitless effort,
or hurt, or shame,
and said, lovingly,
Oh, you’ll be right at home here.
Who first taught you to sing and pray and listen
for the still, small voice.

Come and see.
I can only tell you
what it’s been for me.
And even that imperfectly,
because it’s still unfolding and, as I said,
a holy mystery.

I don’t know what it will be for you.
But if you long to experience love, welcome, mercy;
if you are hungry to be part of something bigger than your effort;
if you need to be reminded that God is for you
in every sense of the phrase,
then you won’t be disappointed.

Or, actually,
you will be disappointed - by us, certainly,
but not by God.

I’m not saying that it won’t involve change.
Change is basically the whole thing.

I’m not saying it will be comfortable,
or that the point is for you to feel good -
it’s not.

But come and see is an invitation to relationship.
It’s the promise that when you’re not comfortable,
and when you don’t feel good,
Jesus is right there with you.

It’s the promise that the both the wonderful
and the terrible are accompanied
by the one who knows you deeply and loves you without end.
It’s the promise that resurrection always follows death,
that new life is precisely what God does.

Truly,
grace is one of those things
that’s hard to describe.
Sure, you can define it.
Can talk about captives being released
and the broken made whole,
about unexpected mercies,
and undeserved favor.
God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense.

But really?
You need to experience it for yourself.

The good news is that it’s here!
Jesus is here!
Come and see.