Come and See More of Jesus

A few years ago, I received a pair of binoculars for my birthday. On a family trip to the Grand Canyon, they revealed the hidden beauty of what our eyes alone could not fully capture. I remember saying over and over to my children, “Come and see this!” The rafts in the river below, the striated layers of rock, even a soaring California condor it all came into focus when we slowed down and looked more carefully.

In a much deeper way, Jesus issues the same invitation in John 1 “Come and see.” It’s not just a call for curious seekers; it’s a divine summons that echoes through time for first-time faith and for seasoned believers who need fresh awe.

Come and See Then

In the opening chapter of John’s Gospel, we’re introduced to this beautiful phrase. John the Baptist sees Jesus and cries out, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” (John 1:36). Two of his disciples, curious and moved, begin to follow Jesus and ask, “Rabbi, where are you staying?” Jesus replies, “Come and you will see” (verse 39). They go, they see, and they stay.

It’s a simple moment, but loaded with divine meaning. Jesus—God in the flesh invites ordinary men to come near, to spend time with Him, and to behold more than just a residence. They are about to witness glory.

The pattern continues. Jesus finds Philip and says, “Follow me” (verse 43). Philip, now convinced he has found the promised Messiah, runs to tell his friend Nathanael. But Nathanael, skeptical, asks, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” (verse 46). Philip doesn’t argue theology he simply says, “Come and see.”

And when Nathanael approaches Jesus, he quickly discovers that Jesus already knows him knows not just his name, but his heart. Astonished, Nathanael declares, “You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” (verse 49). Jesus, with a promise, responds: “You will see greater things than these” (verse 50).

And he meant it. Nathanael and the other disciples would witness miracles, healings, teachings, even resurrection. But more than that, they would see the glory of God in the face of Christ.

Come and See Now

But what about us? We don’t walk the roads of Galilee. We don’t sit beside Jesus in the flesh. How do we “come and see” Him today?

The answer is not in physical proximity, but in spiritual clarity. Jesus said in John 6:35, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.” To “come” is to believe. And to believe is to see.

Faith is our lens now. Not casual belief, but deep, enduring, soul-satisfying faith the kind that hungers and thirsts for Christ like the Israelites longed for manna in the wilderness. Faith that keeps coming back to the Bread of Life, again and again.

Faith Is a Slow Lens

Like the disciples, we don’t grasp the full glory of Jesus in one moment. When they first met Him, they called Him “Teacher.” Later, “Messiah.” Then, “Son of God.” It was a gradual unveiling more glory seen with every step of faith.

That’s our journey too.

Some of us have walked with Jesus for decades. We know the stories, the verses, the miracles. But familiarity can dull our vision. We start living like park rangers at the Grand Canyon present every day, but no longer pausing to be amazed.

John 1 reminds us to gaze again.

The apostle writes, “We have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). This is no ordinary man. He is the one Jacob dreamed about the true ladder between heaven and earth (Genesis 28). Jesus is the intersection of eternity and time, heaven and humanity.

Do we still see Him like that?

Keep Coming, Keep Seeing

The Christian life isn’t a one-time decision to look at Jesus it’s a lifelong practice of coming and seeing more. More of His kindness. More of His justice. More of His compassion for the weak, His holiness in suffering, His victory over death.

The invitation of Jesus in John 1:39 is open-ended. He doesn’t say, “Come and see once.” He says, “Come and you will see.” It’s an ongoing call to keep returning, keep trusting, keep beholding.

2 Corinthians 3:18 tells us that as we behold the glory of the Lord, we are being transformed into the same image, “from one degree of glory to another.” In other words, the more we look, the more we become like Him.

Tell Others: Come and See

When we’ve truly seen Jesus, we want others to see Him too. Just like Andrew told Peter, and Philip told Nathanael, we say, “Come and see.”

That invitation might be to a church service, a coffee conversation, or simply a quiet moment of prayer. But it’s the most powerful thing we can say: Come and see the Savior who knows your name and your heart. Come and see the Lamb of God. Come and see the One who satisfies the soul.

And for those of us who have already come, the invitation still stands: Come again. Come and see more.

Because there is always more of Christ to behold. And He is always worth the closer look.

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