At a recent retreat during devotions, the leader asked us to think of the most important word in the Bible, assuring us there was no wrong answer. After the words “Jesus,” “love,” “grace,” etc., were mentioned, the leader suggested the word “come,” and asked the group to list any verses with the word “come” that came to mind.
In thinking of global mission we often stress Jesus’ command to “Go!” but I reflected on this word “come” for a sermon I recently shared:
“Come, follow me”: In Matthew 4:18-20 we see Jesus walking along the Sea of Galilee, calling his first disciples, Peter and Andrew. “Come, follow me,” Jesus says, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” (NIV)
When the disciples take this step of faith, they begin a life of surrender and discipleship through a relationship with Jesus. In Mark 8:27-33 we see Peter learning a lesson the hard way. When questioned, Peter confesses Jesus as the Christ. But when Jesus starts talking about the suffering he himself will endure, Peter begins to rebuke him. Peter’s rebuke elicits a stern rebuke from Jesus who says, “Get behind me, Satan!” telling Peter that he isn’t setting his mind on the things of God but on the things of man. Being a disciple of Jesus is humbling, and responding to his invitation to “Come, follow” won’t be easy.
Mark 8:34 records these words: “And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, [Jesus] said to them, ‘If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.’” Pondering Jesus’ words, I thought back to our recent travels to South Asia and Africa. In visiting many of our workers and the ministries of faithful local pastors and lay evangelists, I have witnessed that Jesus’ invitation to come and follow will inevitably lead to suffering. However, I can also testify that they have the joy of the Lord and his strength, which helps them withstand the stresses and strains of life in full-time ministry.
Jesus invites the world to “Come and see” and to have our spiritual eyes opened. In John 1:39, Jesus invites Peter and Andrew, “Come and you will see.” In the same chapter, Nathanael questions Philip, “Can anything good come out Come to me of Nazareth?” Philip invites him, “Come and see.” Also, later on, the woman from Samaria meets Jesus and goes to her people and proclaims, “Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did! Can this be the Christ?” (John 4:29)
These verses point to Jesus, who invites us to come and see him daily. We are invited to catch a vision of who Jesus is and his mission to the world. Proverbs 29:18 says, “Where there is no prophetic vision the people cast off restraint, but blessed is he who keeps the law.” May we open our eyes and come and see who Jesus is, know him, and know what he has in store for those who know him as Lord and those who don’t. May we repent of areas of disobedience as we come and see him, and follow our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. His grace is available to all his disciples.
Jesus invites us to come to him for rest. When we abide in him in the vine, as Jesus illustrates in John 15, we find rest and fullness of life. In another passage, Jesus says, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28) It’s easy for us to get weary in doing good. We can easily get our priorities mixed up and find ourselves in habits that take us away from abiding and resting in Jesus’ strength.
Jesus invites those who are thirsty to come and drink. How many of us are thirsty for God’s Word? In John 7:37-39 the Apostle writes,
On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’”
This is a wonderful, spiritually thirst-quenching invitation that is available to everyone.
May we be found faithful in coming to Jesus and sharing far and wide his invitations to “come!”
And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”
Romans 10:14b-15