Simple Invitations

 In today’s Gospel reading (John 1:43-51), we learn a lot about how our Lord “grew” His Church, via the calling of the Apostles.

We as Orthodox Christians speak often about how it is that we might share this faith with others.  Some speak of plans to go outside the building with outreach programs.  Some speak about garnering attention via news articles or advertisements.  Some propose “door-to-door” evangelism.

While there’s nothing wrong with any plan to engage others in our faith, it’s most often the personal testimony of one of us whose faith has changed our life that speaks to someone who is seeking a change in their life.

In the verses preceding today’s Gospel, we find Jesus receiving baptism from St. John, who testifies, “This is the Son of God.”  From this, the Forerunner speaks with his disciples (these were John and Andrew) and says to them, Behold the Lamb of God.  St. John records this:  They heard him (St. John) speak, and they followed Jesus.  Our Lord confronts the two, asking What do you seek?  They don’t answer the question directly, but ask only, Rabbi, where are You staying?  And the first invitation from our Lord is given—Come and see.

As a result of this encounter with the Lord, Andrew goes to his brother Peter and testifies, We have found the Messiah!  John records that Andrew brought Peter to Jesus, who calls him by name and then gives him the new name, Cephas, or “a rock.”

On the following day Jesus goes to Galilee and finds Philip, to whom He issues a second invitation, Follow Me.  Philip then goes and finds Nathaniel, giving him essentially the same message that Andrew gave to Peter.  We know Nathaniel’s famous saying, Can anything good come out of Nazareth?  Now, it is Philip who issues the invitation, Come and see.

In a few brief and simple encounters, we find Peter, John, Andrew, and Nathaniel gathered into the fold of the ranks of the Apostles, all by two or three word invitations!  They come not by command, but voluntarily.  They come not coerced by things of the world, but by heartfelt longing for God to fulfill His promise to His people, a longing founded in their own pursuit of understanding Holy Scripture.

Note that these first five Apostles become bonded to our Lord not by door-to-door efforts, nor by advertising, nor by things worldly.  They come by personal testimony—first of the Forerunner, then of those sent by him, a founding that is confirmed by our Lord’s two invitation phrases: Follow Me and Come and see.

As we encounter people who need to find our Lord in their lives, what better pattern to adopt that that which is shown us by our Lord and His closest Apostles?

Jesus seals the attachment of Nathaniel when, brought by Philip to see the Lord, He says to Nathaniel, Behold, and Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit.  Nathaniel is confused about how Jesus knows him, to which the Lord replies, Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.  Nathaniel knowing where he was and how impossible it is that Jesus should know this confesses, Rabbi, You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!  It is a confession of faith not yet firmly rooted, which teaches us that in coming to the faith, there is no “instant formula” for accepting Holy Orthodoxy.  It takes Peter three more years with the Lord to confess, You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God, a confession similar to Nathaniel’s, but at that time one more firmly rooted in a faith that has been established on the rock of what has been witnessed about truly Who Jesus is.

Let us be inviting to all who seek to find their path to salvation in Holy Orthodoxy.  And let us offer to them the same heartfelt invitations.  Follow Him as we attempt to do.  And, with us, Come and see.

Glory to Jesus Christ!