Christian Art | Come And See! | Jesus
John 1: 35-42 – 2nd Sunday Year B (Audio Bible KJV, Spoken Word)
35 ¶ Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples;
36 And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!
37 And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.
38 Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye? They said unto him, Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master,) where dwellest thou?
39 He saith unto them, Come and see. They came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day: for it was about the tenth hour.
40 One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother.
41 He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ.
42 And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone.
‘Behold the Lamb of God.’ Throughout the Bible, we are called to know and to develop our relationship with the Lamb. It is in Genesis the Lamb is first mentioned, provided by God as a sacrifice to take the place of Isaac. Through the history of Jewish ritual, a lamb is offered in sacrifice, for expiation, reparation, sanctification. The prophets speak of a meek, tame lamb, sheared without opening its mouth. In the Book of Revelation, or Apocalypse, the full meaning of the Lamb will be revealed, as the king, the Spouse, the lamp, the temple, the place of our eternal dwelling. The Lamb spans all history. And John the Baptist has already, in John’s Gospel, recognised and declared Christ as the Lamb of God who will take away the sins of the world.
John the Baptist calls on his own disciples to recognise Christ. As Christ begins his ministry, John hands over all authority to him. The response of John’s disciples is instant. They follow Jesus. Asked by him what they want, they address him as Rabbi and ask where he is living. They are invited to Jesus’ house and there stay with him. A relationship follows very quickly upon the recognition of Christ and the welcoming offered and shared. So we are invited to recognise Jesus, to develop our relationship with him, to visit, to spend the day becoming close. This is to find our vocation, our relationship with Christ.
There is a further call, to missionary activity. The first thing Andrew does is to take his brother to meet Jesus, telling him that they have found the Messiah. Jesus looks at Simon, assessing him, seeing him as he truly is. It is a feature of Christ’s seeing Simon’s true identity and calling, his true vocation, that he gives Simon an additional name, Cephas or Peter, the Rock who will be the foundation of Christ’s church.
As we pray to discern our own true vocation, we remember that this is really to develop our own living relationship with Jesus. We are called to dwell with him. We are called to dwell within him, and to invite Jesus to dwell within us.
As we pray for vocation, we pray that the light of Christ may shine through us and that we may help to take Christ’s message to the world. We pray that we may see through outward appearances, and perhaps anything we try to show about ourselves which may not be quite true to who we really are. We pray to find and to foster a deep, loving, inward relationship with Christ. Christ fixes his eyes on us. He asks us what we are looking for. May we be true to ourselves as we search and find our search complete in Jesus.
God’s call is mysterious; it comes in the darkness of faith. It is so fine, so subtle, that it is only with the deepest silence within us that we can hear it. And yet nothing is surer or stronger, nothing is so decisive and overpowering, as that call. This call is uninterrupted: God is always calling us.
Audio Bible KJV | Endnotes
Come And See | Easy Invitation To Jesus
The invitation to ‘come and see’ is at the heart of Christian faith and evangelization. It is an invitation to encounter Jesus personally and to experience Jesus’ transformative love and grace.
In the Gospel of John, we see this invitation in action when Andrew and another disciple hear John the Baptist proclaim that Jesus is the Lamb of God. They follow Jesus and ask where Jesus is staying. Jesus responds with the invitation, ‘Come and see.’ They go with Jesus and spend time with him, experiencing Jesus’ presence and teachings.
For some, this encounter with Jesus may happen in a moment of profound conversion, while for others it may be a gradual process of growth and learning.
In the New Testament, we see many examples of people responding to Jesus’ invitation to ‘come and see.’ The Samaritan woman at the well encountered Jesus and went back to her community to tell them about him. Nicodemus came to Jesus at night to ask him questions and ended up becoming a disciple. And the apostles themselves left everything to follow Jesus after encountering him.
As Christians, we are called to live out our faith in all aspects of our lives, both in our personal relationship with Jesus and in our interactions with others. We are called to be a light in the world, to share the love and message of Jesus with those around us.
In the book of Acts, we see the early Church responding to this invitation to ‘come and see’ by spreading the message of the Gospel throughout the world. Those Christians encountered Jesus personally and were transformed by Jesus’ love, and they felt compelled to share this message with others. This evangelization was not always easy, and early Christians faced opposition and persecution, but they continued to spread the message of the Gospel with boldness and conviction.
Today, we are called to continue this work of evangelization. We are called to share the message of the Gospel with those around us, whether it be through our words or through our actions. We are called to be witnesses to the world of the transformative power of Jesus’ love and grace.
The invitation to ‘come and see’ is not just for new believers, but for all at every stage of a faith journey. Christians are constantly invited to deepen relationship with Jesus and to encounter Jesus in new and surprising ways.
This invitation challenges Christians to share faith. So the disciples went and told others about their encounter with Jesus, so we called to share the good news with those around us.
We may not always have all the answers. Ultimately, the invitation to ‘come and see’ is an invitation to experience the love of God in a profound and life-changing way. It is an invitation to enter into a relationship with Jesus that transcends all other relationships and gives meaning and purpose to our lives.
In this passage from his Treatise on Cain and Abel, Saint Ambrose reflects on the nature of Christian prayer as both personal and communal, inner and active. His interpretation moves beyond external forms and focuses on the transformation of the heart, the renewal of love, and the unity of the Church as the Body of Christ [ … ]
Gospel Reading: Matthew 11:28-30 ‘Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.’ In this passage, Jesus extends an invitation to all who are weary and burdened. Jesus promises rest and relief, urging us to take his yoke and learn from him. Jesus’ gentle and humble heart offers rest for our souls, emphasizing that his yoke is easy and his burden light. This passage is a reminder of the hope we have in Christ, who offers us rest and peace amid our struggles. Prayer Dear Jesus, In times of uncertainty and despair, I turn to you, the source of all hope. Fill my heart with your hope that transcends understanding. Help me to trust in your promises and to find joy and peace in your presence. May your hope renew my spirit and give me the strength to face each day with confidence and faith. Let your hope shine through me, bringing light to others who are in need. Amen. Personal Reflection What are the situations in your life that seem hopeless? How can you invite Jesus’ hope into these areas? Reflect on a time when you experienced renewed hope through your faith in Christ. Meditation On The Prayer And Gospel Matthew 11:28-30 is a passage that speaks directly to our need for hope and rest. Jesus’ invitation to come to him is extended to all who are weary and burdened, offering a refuge from the struggles of life. This invitation is not just a call to physical rest but a deeper spiritual rest that brings peace to our souls. Jesus understands the burdens we carry and offers a yoke that is easy and a burden that is light. The imagery of a yoke suggests partnership and guidance; by taking on his yoke, we align ourselves with him, allowing him to share our burdens and guide our steps. This partnership is marked by learning from Jesus, whose gentle and humble heart sets an example for us. The promise of rest for our souls is comforting. In a world where we often feel overwhelmed and stressed, Jesus assures us that he is our source of true rest and peace. His rest is not temporary or superficial but a peace that sustains us through life’s challenges. This promise gives us hope, knowing that no matter what we face, we can find solace in Jesus. Reflecting on this passage, we are reminded of the importance of surrendering our burdens to Jesus. It requires trust and faith to let go of our anxieties and allow him to take control. This surrender is an act of faith, acknowledging that Jesus is capable and willing to carry our burdens. As we learn to trust him more, we experience the peace and rest he promises. The hope we find in Jesus is transformative. It renews our spirits and gives us the strength to persevere. This hope is not dependent on our circumstances but on the nature of Jesus and his promises. It is a hope that empowers us to face each day with confidence, knowing that we are not alone. As we embrace this hope, we are called to share it with others. The hope we receive from Jesus is not meant to be kept to ourselves but to be a light for others who are struggling. Through words of encouragement, acts of kindness, and simply being present, we can extend Jesus’ invitation of hope and rest to those around us. By living out this hope, we reflect Christ’s love and bring his light into the world. In practical terms, fostering hope involves daily practices that keep us connected to Jesus. Spending time in prayer, reading Scripture, and being part of a faith community help us to stay grounded in our faith and renew our hope. These practices remind us of Jesus’ promises and keep our focus on him rather than on our circumstances. Prayer Lord Jesus, You are the anchor of my hope. In moments of doubt and despair, remind me of your promises. Fill my heart with your joy and peace, and let your hope overflow in my life. Help me to trust in your plans and to find strength in your presence. May your hope shine in me, guiding me through every trial and illuminating the path ahead. Use me as a beacon of your hope, bringing comfort and encouragement to those in need. Thank you for the gift of your eternal hope. Amen. Jeremiah 29:11 ‘For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.’ Blessing May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him. May you overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit, and may His hope guide and sustain you in all things. Amen.
The time is come. Jesus has been baptised by John. He has spent time alone in the wilderness, symbolic of the Exodus wanderings, and is come to Galilee to begin his ministry. His first act is to call the first of the apostles to their new vocation. In Mark’s Gospel, as in Matthew’s, this follows upon the arrest of John the Baptist. This clearly differs from the account of John’s Gospel, while the Gospel of Luke could be seen as presenting a more detailed and less stylised account of the meeting of Christ with the fishermen [ … ]
