You are invited - Jesus
“Come and see,” he said. It was about four o’clock in the afternoon when they went with him to the place where he was staying, and they remained with him the rest of the day” (John1:39)
This is the first of the gracious invitations of the Lord Jesus to “come” to Him. On this occasion, right after His baptism by John, He invited two potential disciples to come with Him to His dwelling place. Very likely, this was an outdoor mat somewhere, for He soon afterward acknowledged that “the Son of man has nowhere to lay his head” (Matthew 8:20).
Nevertheless, one night of abiding with Jesus changed their lives. Soon afterward, He issued another invitation to them. Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!” (Mark 1:17), and they never went home again. First He invites us to come to see and know Him, then to come with Him to win others.
There is also the wonderful invitation to come to Him for relief from our burdens and cares. Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28). And note His promise to those who do accept His invitation: “However, those the Father has given me will come to me, and I will never reject them” (John 6:37).
There were also personal invitations. To Zacchaeus, the seeking sinner glimpsing Jesus from a sycamore tree - "when Jesus came by, he looked up at Zacchaeus and called him by name. “Zacchaeus!” he said. “Quick, come down! I must be a guest in your home today.”” (Luke 19:5). To His friend Lazarus, dead and bound in a tomb - Jesus shouted, “Lazarus, come out!” (John 11:43), and not even the grave could prevent his accepting such a call.
There are other invitations from the Lord with gracious promises to those who come, but note especially the final invitation of the Bible: The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” Let anyone who hears this say, “Come.” Let anyone who is thirsty come. Let anyone who desires drink freely from the water of life. (Revelation 22:17).
There is also the wonderful invitation to come to Him for relief from our burdens and cares. Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28). And note His promise to those who do accept His invitation: “However, those the Father has given me will come to me, and I will never reject them” (John 6:37).
There were also personal invitations. To Zacchaeus, the seeking sinner glimpsing Jesus from a sycamore tree - "when Jesus came by, he looked up at Zacchaeus and called him by name. “Zacchaeus!” he said. “Quick, come down! I must be a guest in your home today.”” (Luke 19:5). To His friend Lazarus, dead and bound in a tomb - Jesus shouted, “Lazarus, come out!” (John 11:43), and not even the grave could prevent his accepting such a call.
There are other invitations from the Lord with gracious promises to those who come, but note especially the final invitation of the Bible: The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” Let anyone who hears this say, “Come.” Let anyone who is thirsty come. Let anyone who desires drink freely from the water of life. (Revelation 22:17).
