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Come and See

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John 1:36-39 And he looked at Jesus as He walked along, and said, Look! There is the Lamb of God! 37 The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Him. 38 But Jesus turned, and as He saw them following Him, He said to them, What are you looking for? [And what is it you wish?] And they answered Him, Rabbi—which translated is Teacher—where are You staying? 39 He said to them, Come and see. So they went and saw where He was staying, and they remained with Him that day. It was then about the tenth hour (about four o’clock in the afternoon).

Two questions, and one response: What are you looking for? Where are you staying? The answer: Come and see! Neither of the two disciples, Andrew and John, had any idea what they were going to “see”. Consider, John, who was taken up in the Spirit in the Book of Revelation. In Revelation 1 he is in the Spirit and turns to hear the Voice of Many Waters standing behind him. In Revelation 4 John responds to the invitation to “Come Up Here!” If all of that were not enough John is escorted by the Spirit up a high mountain in Revelation 21. Come and See?!

In Revelation 3:20 the Laodicean Church is invited to open the door and see. But the Door only opens to those who hear His Voice, and the steady knocking of the Spirit. It’s interesting to note the rest of John’s account in John 1:39 So they went and saw where He was staying, and they remained with Him that day. It was then about the tenth hour (about four o’clock in the afternoon). Oswald Chambers references this passage stating: That is about all some of us ever do. We stay with Him a short time, only to wake up to our own realities of life. Our self-interest rises up and our abiding with Him is past.

In John 10 Jesus refers to Himself as the Gate (or Door) for His Sheep, and the Watchman (the Holy Spirit) opens up Who, the Door is for Jesus’ sheep. Sheep, Jesus’ sheep, go in and out of this DOOR. They find pasture in Him. Sadly, most who read these words will not take the time to even go to the DOOR with the expectation of it opening. But the Book of Revelation states that it is, and has been, a long standing invitation for anyone who will take the time and open the DOOR; who will take the time to make Him room. As I write this I recall the child-like wonder I experienced as I read the Chronicles of Narnia as a teenager, followed by a re-reading with our children. You may recall that the Pevensie children, Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy are the ones who stumble upon the enchanted wardrobe. Lucy, known for her bravery and kindness, was the first to walk through its door into the other worldly land of Narnia. It was her child-like heart that led her siblings to enter through the wardrobe, and to encounter Aslan. But her siblings took time to convince. Hebrews 2:11 refers to Jesus being our Brother. That’s is pretty awesome. (growing up I always wanted a brother) Yet there is one thing about our Brother that I believe He wants us to know: like Lucy, Jesus also has a child-like heart. He’s been trying to convince us that there’s another world waiting for those who will take the time to open His DOOR. A day with Jesus is not enough. He wants up to spend a lifetime with Him. The good news is His DOOR is open on this side of Eternity – for those who will allow the Spirit to activate their sanctified imaginations. Remember: What are you looking for? Where is He staying?

The Beloved Door and Shepherd

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Song of Solomon 1:7 Tell me, O you whom I love, Where you feed your flock, Where you make it rest at noon. For why should I be as one who veils herself by the flocks of your companions? NKJV

GNT Tell me, my love, Where will you lead your flock to graze? Where will they rest from the noonday sun? Why should I need to look for you among the flocks of the other shepherds?

Several things emerge from this passage that are enhanced by the different translations. This woman loves her Shepherd, her Beloved. She is searching for Him and will not settle for any other shepherd. She knows that in His Presence there is food and rest. She wants her veil removed so she can see Him fully. Nothing else matters! 2 Corinthians 3:13-17 states: …unlike Moses, who put a veil over his face so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the end of what was passing away. But their minds were blinded. For until this day the same veil remains unlifted in the reading of the Old Testament, because the veil is taken away in Christ. 15 But even to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart. 16 Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 

It’s no coincidence that Moses was a shepherd before he began shepherding Israel out of Egypt through the wilderness. Moses, His instruction, and revelation from the Law, remain veiled. Only in Jesus, our True Shepherd, is the veil removed to clearly see our Beloved. (Contrary to a lot of modern preachers foolishness Jesus can be clearly seen in the Law). For Jesus provides us with the Holy Spirit Who provides us with the desire and freedom to see.

As a pastor, or under-shepherd, I have always been captivated and amazed at spiritual blindness; the blindness in myself and others. There are revelations the Shepherd has provided in Scripture which can only be seen by the Spirit. Many have returned to “graze” upon its “manna” only to discover the veil had returned. Only through persistent prayer, and trust in the Spirit, is anyone enabled to see, to feed once again. John 10:7,11 and Revelation 3:20 remind us that Jesus is the Shepherd, and the DOOR. John 10:3 reveals that the Holy Spirit is the One Who opens Jesus the DOOR – for the sheep that are listening for Him. No matter how hard you try to pry open the DOOR in your own strength or intellect – the DOOR, the Revelation, and Understanding will never open. You must be willing to submit to the Spirit, and have a hunger to see. The whole message to the Laodiceans was, Are you willing to make room to commune with Jesus? Are you willing to listen for His knocking? Are you hungry, truly hungry, to see and know Jesus? Have you settled for other shepherds rather than going to the True and Only Shepherd?