Sr L Joemath – January 2022

Invitations: posted, telephonically or verbally, they always create joy with expectation. A birthday, a wedding, etc. makes you feel special. The sender always makes a point of telling the visitors they were invited because they are special. A great deal of preparation goes into the occasion and great expectation of how and what to expect. Dress code, venue, food and a gift list is the in-thing. Never in our wildest of dreams we imagined to be invited to a funeral with no reception and a take-away by the door. The corona virus turned our physical world into a new normal. Many could not believe it is happening. No bedside goodbye; limited numbers at the service; sanitize; social distance and masks. Is 2022 going to be different?

Our scripture from John 1:39 gives us a spiritual invitation – Jesus said, come and see…

John tells us how Jesus is on a mission to invite people to be His disciples. He is on the street and tells his followers to come and see. He takes time to ask them, his followers, what they were looking for. They were curious to know where He resides. They heard John telling them: there is the Lamb of GOD. Did they follow out of curiosity or were they surprised. Jesus responded in a very simple way. He needed no interview but just said: Come and you will see! They knew what was prophesied but could it be Him? I wonder what went through their minds. And He simply just asks them to come and see. His humility stunned them. They did not question Him – but, He knew them. They followed Him. Jesus shows us that he does not need our modern day approach of a CV or any reference. He will do what is necessary if they follow Him. They followed without hesitation. He was prepared to spend time with them. Even though it was late in the afternoon, they left to get to speak with Him, get to know this Lamb of God.

My second question is: how would you dear sister, dear brother respond to this invitation? Would you also get excited and accept an invitation to go and see. Is your quiet time with the Lord limited to a few minutes? Very often we hear congregants commenting on the service being too long. Is your faith a life style? We as followers of Christ should not delay meeting with God. A Sunday is not enough. Seeking Him daily, sharing His love, studying His Word should be a life style of come and see. His invitation is filled with many options how to become His disciple. Jesus wants to hear from us what and how we can learn when we meet with Him. Come and see takes more than just a once off meeting with Him. What is your desire? What do we expect from Him? When we come to Him to see, we must have an open minded approach but with boldness in following Him, solid and steadfast. Jesus wants us to come with our sinful lives. He is able to change our hearts, to revive us and become healed. We must become humble and truthful like Him. We must believe in Him and He will heal our unbelief. It is by His invitation of grace only that we can follow Him. It should be the start of a new normal for 2022 when traditionally many New Year’s resolutions are made. For many it lasts only for the first day of the New Year. Is following Jesus one of your New Year’s resolutions or top on your list of New Year’s resolutions to also go and see? What is He doing? Where is He busy around your neighbourhood?

Jesus teaches us a very simple way of how to reach out. He goes out and invites people to follow Him. He asks them what they want. His approach gives them permission to say why. They were curious to know where this Lamb of God lives. One could almost say that they were looking for confirmation of what they heard from John. He appears like a very ordinary person. Jesus expects us to come to Him and voice our spiritual needs – to go or come and see and hear what is good or best for us.

Jesus knows our spiritual needs; He knows how we struggled for the last two years with the impact of the Corona pandemic. He knows how scared we are. He knows that the fear of leaving our homes is pulling us into a depression. He sees the devastation in our homes in our country, in our world. He carried us. He cried with us. He is the great I am, yesterday, today and in the days to come. He says: come and see I have new plans for you. Come and listen, I give hope and can start a new thing. Will you respond to His invitation? Will you break free from the power within you holding you back and bring along a friend in need of his love. Jesus knows the plans He has for us and thus the invite. He wants us to sit down with Him, walk with Him, be excited with Him, explore with Him and be His disciples. He shows how humble His approach is. Are we willing or are we counting the cost? “Come and see!”

Prayer: Lord Jesus at the start of a new year 2022 we give you all the honor and praise. The future is unknown to us but You are known to us. We are coming to you on your invitation ‘’come and see’ In your mercy hear our pray. Amen

Sr L. Joemath