Come and See

John 1:45–46 “45 Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” 46 Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.””

Luke 2:8-20, Mt 2:1-2, 9-11

Introduction

1. God gives the invitation

Angels go to the shepherds. A star rises for the wise men.

The initiative is always God’s. Christmas is God coming after us.

Emphasize: Christianity is not humans climbing up to God, but God stepping down to us and saying, “Come and see.”

God considered you long before you considered Him - km

2. The invitation is for the least and longing

Shepherds – ordinary, overlooked, on the fringe of society.

If they get an invitation, anyone can.

Wise Men – educated, wealthy, culturally distant.

They represent the spiritually searching and curious.

Together they show that the first Christmas congregation covered both ends of the spectrum: the least and the elite.

3. The Invitation requires a personal response

The shepherds say, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened” (Luke 2:15).

The wise men “rejoiced exceedingly” and “fell down and worshiped Him” (Matt. 2:10–11).

In John 1, Philip doesn’t argue with Nathanael; he simply says, “Come and see.”

“Come and see” means more than a seasonal visit. It means:

Come and see your sin honestly.

Come and see His grace fully.

Come and see that this Child is Savior, Christ, and Lord.

4. The invitation changes those who accept

Nobody leaves the manger the same.

Shepherds return “glorifying and praising God.”

Wise men go home “by another route,” symbolizing a changed direction.

Real encounters with Jesus always change our direction, our worship, and our priorities.

When you meet Jesus, you cannot remain the same -km

Conclusion