John 1:39: "Come and see," he answered. (It was then about four o'clock in the afternoon.
So they went with him and saw where he lived, and spent the rest of that day with him.
John 21:12: "Jesus said to them, "Come and eat." None of the disciples dared ask him,
"Who are you?" because they knew it was the Lord."
There are two gracious invitations in these two verses.
One is at the beginning, and the other at the end of John's Gospel.
There is a mystery and a growth which we should come to understand.
The first invitation: "Come and see," is for babes in grace.
The second invitation: "Come and dine," is for mature Christians.
Notice the order.
"Come and see," is the beginning of spiritual life as it is also beginning of the gospel.
"Come and dine," is a high privilege of the spiritual life, and a blessed result of being a Christian.
John 1:39: "Come and see" -- this is the cry of the gospel to those outside of Christ
saying very clearly that the way to Christ is open.
"Come and see!"
In this very short sentence is an encouragement to inquirers.
Many are like the disciples of John.
They had heard John preached, and they believed his word.
And when they saw Jesus Christ to whom John pointed, they followed Jesus,
but not knowing Him, they had a question for Jesus to answer: "Master, where dwellest thou?"
Jesus answered, "Come and see."
I believe that there are those here who are also anxious to know Jesus Christ.
You have heard His word preached by some of his witnesses, and you really want
|to know Him personally for yourselves.
You have a very vital question to to be answered, and Jesus encourages you to ask.
Even more than asking, Jesus says, "Come and see for yourself."
There are several ways by which a person can "Come and see."
One is by observation.
We should give attention to the teachings of the gospel, and weigh its teachings, and prove them.
If you find it to be false, then turn from it with discuss.
But if you find it worthy of your attention, grab it, hold on to it, and never let it go.
People can be so careless.
They will read an entire novel on the top 10 list.
They will stand in line to see the latest movie.
They will travel miles to listen to a musical concert.
But when it comes to Christ crucified, they are not curious.
Some will attend a worship service, for whatever reason, and they don't expect to understand
what they hear, and if they understand it, they don't seem to care if it is true or not.
It means nothing to them that Jesus died.
Surely, such important truths that involve eternal consequences deciding where a person
will spend eternity should be seriously considered.
Something this important should not never be put on the back burner of your mind.
Such a vital subject deserves our most serious consideration.
So, to find the truth about Jesus: "Come and see."
Open your eyes to see the wondrous things which are written in His Word.
Secondly, "Come and see."
Diligently searched the Scriptures as one means of seeing.
I believe it would be safe to say that the least read book in the English language is the Bible.
Newspapers are read more.
E-mails are read more.
Even dedicated Christians will read only half a chapter a day -- if even that
-- and sometimes only when a crisis arises.
Many Christians have not even read one of the Gospels through at one time,
and not even a short letter of God's Word.
How often do you read desiring to understand the truth of a Scripture.
You think you can understand the Bible by just reading a portion here and there.
That is impossible?
It is ridiculous!
If you have any concern to "Come and see" then read the Bible
with determination and intent to understand, and give more time to reading the Bible
if you would like to discover what God has revealed concerning His Son Jesus Christ.
If you do that, I can tell you the consequences of doing so.
And, if you will seek the help of the Holy Spirit, your search will not be in vain.
You will see Jesus, and you will rejoice in God's great eternal salvation.
Thirdly, I would earnestly urge you to hear the gospel as well as read it.
But take care that what you hear really is the gospel.
You have come to the house of God, and you have come to hear God's Good News.
You have come to see.
When you came into this house of worship today, your thoughts, desire should have been,
"Sirs, we would see Jesus;" then you would know what you must do to be saved.
Then when you have seen, believe!
You know others who have believed.
Remember, your mother?
Remember her testimony and her prayers.
You also have friends who have believed.
Those who have believed in Christ will revealed the difference that Christ makes in their lives.
And they will tell you that Jesus Christ has given them a new heart.
They will tell you that God has changed their lives.
They will tell you that God has answered their prayers.
They will tell you how God has blessed them.
They will also tell you that after this life has ended, they will go to their home in heaven
where they will live forever.
You have seen those who are immoral, and you would have said or thought
that they were among the worst in society, and then, they came to know Jesus,
and now, they are the best in society.
So, you must see God's ability to save -- for only God can change lives like that.
Think of how many of your family and your friends would be so happy
if you would believe in Jesus Christ as your Saviour.
There are Christian people all over this sanctuary, that would be thrilled to see you come to Jesus.
And even the angels in heaven will rejoice in your salvation.
"Come and see!"
The best way to know about Christ is to try Him.
Take him at His word, and experience all that He would give to you and do for you.
You would want to know if, He can forgive your sins, and I tell you now that you can trust Him
to forgive every sin that you have ever committed.
You want to know if we can change the human heart; then, trust Him to change yours.
You would give anything to know if there is a peace that passes all understanding
which will silence the heavy throbs of your guilty heart.
Try Him and see!
You desire to learn if there is a joy which can keep your soul to the darkest hours,
and also bring sunshine into your soul and your life -- try Him and see.
Every person that sincerely seeks Jesus will find Him, and will also find not only eternal joy,
but also present joy.
So, "Come and see!"
When you do, your sin will be forgiven, and you will be pardoned of all your sins.
When you do, your guilty conscience will be completely cleared of guilt.
When you do, joy and peace will be yours today and forever.
So please, do not let this opportunity pass by you -- "Come and see!"
I pray that the Holy Spirit will bring you to the Lord Jesus Christ this very moment.
And let me speak to every beginner in Christ -- to those Christians who are young in the faith.
You must not be satisfied with just merely being saved.
As soon as you become a Christian, and believe in Jesus Christ,
your next priority must be to learn more and more about Jesus Christ.
You should want to learn the doctrines of God, and the truths of God's Word.
"Come and see!"
Search the Scriptures!
See what God has to say that will bless your life.
See all that God will reveal to you.
Every doctrine of God's Word cries out to you, "Come and see!"
Every promise of the Word of God says to you, "Come and see!"
God never runs short of promises, and He always keep His promises.
So, to everyone who has never received Christ, I invite you today to "Come and see."
Come and see Jesus hanging on the cross, and crying out to you, "Come and see."
His promise is to all who come: "Look unto me, and be saved, all ye ends of the earth."
"Come and see!"
What is there to see?
You will see that God was made flesh.
He that made the heavens became human flesh.
It isn't that wonderful!
God came down to us as sinners, that He might take us unto Himself.
"Come and see!"
See the Son of God dying for the sins of mankind.
His griefs and agony are so great that nothing could ever fully describe them.
"I do believe -- I will believe
That Jesus died for me;
And on the cross he shed his blood
From sin to set me free."
"There is life in the look at the Crucified One;
There is life at this moment for thee."
The second part of this sermon is "Come and dine!"
That is much better.
That is closer and dearer and nearer than "Come and see."
"Come and see" may be done at a distance,
but "Come and dine" implies dining at the same table,
eating the same food, and sometimes it means sit side by side,
and just to lean our head on the Saviour's bosom.
Remember, that while we are sinners faith brings us into a justified state
by simply looking to Christ.
But after believing, faith then enables us to truly enjoy Christ.
Some wish to enjoy Christ first, and believe Him afterwards.
But it is not "Come and dine" first, and then, "Come and see. "
Believe in Jesus first, and you will feed on Him and with Him afterwards.
Some seem content just to believe.
Just to be able to say, "I am safe" without wishing to know the blessed enjoyment
which is to be found in Him.
This should not be so!
We cannot be content with the first chapter of John.
We must go on to the last, and never be satisfied until we receive all that is beyond.
"Come and dine" implies even greater enjoyment than "Come and see."
"Come and see" gives peace and satisfaction, but "Come and dine" gives ecstasy and rapture.
It gives us heaven on earth for it gives us Jesus Christ.
I would hope that all the people of God were not just merely delivered from the chains of sin,
and washed in the Savior's blood, but were also brought in to the banquet table.
There is enjoyment there, but there is more -- there is more nearness.
"Oh, to get close to Christ that we could sing:
"So near, so very near to God,
I cannot nearer be;
So near, so very dear to God,
I cannot dearer be;
The love wherewith he loves his Son
Such is his love to me!"
"Come and dine" gives us a vision of union with Jesus because the only meat
that we can eat when we dine with Christ is Christ Himself.
We do not provide the supper.
When He dined on that occasion with His disciples, Simon Peter dragged a net full of fish
out of the sea, but when they came onshore, they found a fire burning and fish frying.
It was not the fish they brought from the sea.
Christ provided the fish, and it was ready-to-eat and said: "Come and dine."
That fire warms our heart when we have fellowship with Jesus.
What a wonderful union that is.
All who have responded to the invitation of the Savior to "Come and dine" experiences
the same wonderful satisfaction and fullness and joy of that closeness.
"Come and dine."
We also see in these words a source of strength for every Christian.
To look to Christ is to live, but to receive the strength to serve Him,
we must "Come and dine."
When our Lord Jesus had raised the daughter of Jairus, He commanded them
to give her meat so that she might be strengthened.
And so, He says to all of us, "Come and dine."
We have as much in need for food for the soul as for the body, and unless we eat,
we shall faint as we continue our journey through this life.
Too many Christians allow themselves to suffer a great deal of unnecessary weakness
because they have neglected this precept of the Master.
If you prefer to be a spiritual imbecile -- a spiritual weakling, then here are some sure ways
to do that.
Take only a little (or none) spiritual food morning and night.
Neglect prayer.
Never attend worship services or prayer meetings.
And never think about religious matters during the week.
Only attend worship services every now and then, and never listen or sing when you do attend.
Do this for a few weeks, and you will be low enough in strength to allow Satan
to have his way with you.
Not many Christians will become fat by feeding on the Word.
So none of us need to be placed on a low diet.
On the contrary, we must feed upon the Word of God that we can accumulate strength
and use every ounce of our energy to serve God.
To serve God, "Come and dine!"
All your strength depends upon your union with Christ.
Away from Jesus, you will wither as a branch severed from the vine.
When you feed on Jesus, you will be like the branch which is drinking up the sap from the stem.
Then you will be strong enough to bring forth fruit, and serve Christ along with
other dedicated Christians.
"Come and dine."
We also can see in these words the foundation of the Christian's growth and progress
in spiritual things.
To see Christ is to begin the Christian life, but to grow in grace we must "Come and dine."
The early history of the first disciples demonstrates this.
They were only babes in spiritual things.
How little they seemed to comprehend the Saviour's mission for He has to say to them,
"Have I been so long with you, and yet hast thou not know me, Philip?"
They misunderstood the nature of His kingdom, and were continually displaying
a carnal and selfless spirit.
It is evident that the early dawn of spiritual life is all that they had then received.
They had seen Jesus, and they loved Him, and they followed Him even through trials
and disgrace, but yet they were still far from possessing the spirit of Christ.
When they reached that stage of living in Christ, they became new men.
It is no longer just mere sight, but an inward appropriation of Christ Jesus by faith,
and the consequences are manifest and wonderful.
They are seen developing themselves under the blessed outpouring of the Holy Spirit
into workmen that needed not to be ashamed.
They endured hardness as good soldiers of the cross.
They fought a good fight, and they finished their course with joy.
A higher life in Christ was clearly theirs.
I long for every Christian here, as I pray that you will long for me to truly grow in Christ,
and then we can say, "Come and dine!"
Many Christians remain dissatisfied and stunted in spiritual things
and remain the same year after year.
They exist, but they do not grow.
The reason is evident.
They're not receiving from Christ the nourishment that they need and they have neglected
to appropriate to themselves the blessings that Jesus is waiting to bestow upon them.
So Christian, live with Jesus -- commune with Jesus.
Come near and dine, and you will find your self growing in holiness, in love, in faith, in hope,
and in every gracious gift of God.
It is such a joy to see people daily living in Jesus Christ.
It is a glorious sight to see an experienced saint -- a man, a woman, a young person
who has been with Jesus so much and have learned of Him, and they have caught the spirit
of the Master, and it reflects brightly all around them.
We must notice that "Come and dine" is also a preparation for service.
"Come and dine," says the Master.
But before the feast is concluded, Jesus says to Peter: "Feed my lambs;
and again Jesus said, "Feed my sheep," and He further adds, "Follow me."
All the strength supplied by Jesus Christ is for service and for use in His vineyard.
In this moment, the Lord Jesus is calling us to have the enjoyment and feasting,
and then that we may then go out to labor and serve in His vineyard.
Jesus would have us all to be fruitful in all good works, and to do His will.
Herein is our Father glorified if we bring forth much fruit.
So eat -- as much as you can consume, but when you have eaten -- go and tell
of the joy you have to sinners everywhere that all the starving may and eat and be full.
"Come and dine," the Lord is calling,
"Come and dine"—
We can eat and drink of Jesus all the time!
He's our daily food supply,
Only He can satisfy.
"Come and dine," the Lord is calling,
"Come and dine." "Come and dine," the Lord is calling,
"Come and dine."
When we eat and drink of Jesus all the time,
He becomes our life within,
And He fills us to the brim.
"Come and dine," the Lord is calling,
"Come and dine."
This sermon has been adapted from several sources by Dr. Harold L. White.
