Come and see, go and tell

Our Gospel reading for tomorrow is John 1:43-51, which begins:

The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, "Follow me." Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael and said to him, "We have found him about whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus son of Joseph from Nazareth." Nathanael said to him, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see."

When Jesus began to preach the Kingdom of God, it was important that he deliver the message himself. The first people Jesus called to follow him thought it was such a good idea that they hastened to tell others. Andrew told his brother Peter, and Philip told his friend Nathanael.

Nathanael was skeptical, which is actually healthy to a point. Read the remainder of this passage to see that Nathanael's meeting with Jesus sealed the deal. He became a follower on the spot. It seems that once people meet Jesus, they are never the same after that. I can imagine that Nathanael went to his friends and also said, "Come and see."

You are invited to the worship service of Holy Cross Church - Episcopal each Sunday morning at 10:00 a.m. You might be unfamiliar with Episcopal services. They don't make very good television because of all the participation by the worshippers. So if you have the least bit of interest or curiosity, please "Come and see."


In peace,
Linda+
The Rev. Linda McCloud
Vicar, Holy Cross Church Episcopal
Billings, Montana
406-208-7314
www.holycrosschurchbillings.org
photos: tourist boat on the Sea of Galilee;
Gate of Capernaum (Capharnaum) in the Galilee
August 2004