Come and See: From Spectators to Participants
Texts: Isaiah 49:1-7 and John 1:29-42
What brings you to this site today?
Is it curiosity, longing, hope, or maybe just a hunger for something real?
Epiphany means “manifestation”—the season where we look for how God is being revealed in the thick of everyday life, not just in old stories or stained glass. Christmas proclaims God with us. Epiphany asks: How is God showing up now, and how will we respond?
A Vision for the World—Isaiah’s Servant
Long ago, the prophet Isaiah spoke of a servant called by God “to be a light to the nations.” This calling is never small or exclusive—God’s dream is for the healing, restoration, and wholeness of all people. Even when we feel our efforts are small, unseen, or discouraged, Isaiah reminds us: it’s our willingness to participate that matters. God meets us in our honest struggles and invites us to be part of something bigger.
John’s Gospel: Witness and Invitation
In John’s Gospel, John the Baptist is a witness—pointing not to himself but to the presence of God at work in Jesus. He describes Jesus as “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” That “sin” is not about individual failures, but the deep, collective brokenness that separates us from each other and from God. Jesus’ mission? To open the door to belonging, connection, and healing.
Abiding and Participating
Two disciples hear John’s witness and begin to follow Jesus. When Jesus turns and asks, “What are you looking for?” they answer with a deeper question: “Where are you staying?”—meaning, “Where can we abide with you?” Jesus’ answer isn’t a lecture or a list of rules. It’s a simple invitation: “Come and see.”
This is the heart of Epiphany:
God’s presence is for living, not spectating.
The invitation is always relational and open-ended: Come and see. Bring your questions, your hopes, your doubts, and your gifts.
Discipleship is about participating—abiding in love, living out justice and compassion, being light-bearers in the ordinary places where we find ourselves.
So—what are you looking for?
Are you willing to move beyond watching and step into the Dream of God that’s unfolding in your life, right now?
The invitation is always open. Come and see.