Early in His ministry, Jesus had only a handful of followers, most of them members of a small fishing community near the Sea of Galilee. But they were eager to spread His transcendent message to others. Among these early followers was Philip, who, soon after meeting Jesus, went to his friend Nathanael and excitedly declared, “We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth.”
At first, Nathanael was skeptical: “Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth?” But Philip encouraged him with a simple invitation: “Come and see” (John 1:45–46).
Both Philip and Nathanael, along with many others, had been waiting and watching for the Messiah. And yet Nathanael was ready to dismiss Him—without even meeting Him—because He was from the obscure, insignificant village of Nazareth. But to his credit, Nathanael humbled himself, set aside his doubts and prejudices, and decided to “come and see.” His act of faith was rewarded, and the Savior told him, “Thou shalt see greater things” (John 1:50). Ultimately, Nathanael became one of Jesus’s original Twelve Apostles, spending the rest of his life in devotion to the Lord.
A few years later, two other disciples, both named Mary, also came to see. Early on a Sunday morning, they came to a tomb to see the body of Jesus, who had been crucified. But like Nathanael, what they saw was not what they expected. An angel descended from heaven, opened the tomb, and pronounced the most significant words ever spoken: “Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay” (Matthew 28:5–6).
It might seem like a small thing to “come and see.” But God honors even small acts of faith. He has marvelous things to show us. He simply wants us to set aside our biases, open our heart, demonstrate some trust, and take a step of faith in His direction—even when we don’t yet see clearly. Because as these faithful followers of the Master teach us, first you come, and then you see.
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April 17, 2022
Broadcast Number 4,831
The Tabernacle Choir
Orchestra at Temple Square
Conductor
Mack Wilberg
Ryan Murphy
Organist
Richard Elliott
Host
Lloyd Newell
Sign-On “Gently Raise The Sacred Strain”
Thomas C. Griggs; Arr. Mack Wilberg
Hail the Day That Sees Him Rise
Robert Williams; Arr. Mack Wilberg
Consider the Lilies
Roger Hoffman; Arr. A. Laurence Lyon
Easter Hymn
Richard Elliott
Jesus Has Risen
Thelma Johnson Ryser; Arr. Ryan Murphy
I Know That My Redeemer Lives
Lewis D. Edwards; Arr. Mack Wilberg
Hallelujah, from “Messiah”
George Frideric Handel