Come and See

Have you ever heard a story that sounded too good to be true?

Some time ago I spoke with a lady who began telling her story, and as she continued to speak I couldn't believe how eerily similar yet wildly unbelievable it sounded.

Just a small town girl in a small town world her Friday nights were filled with cheers from the sidelines of her favorite football team. Weekends with friends. Sundays splashed with church services and family dinners.

But entering adulthood, life had taken her on the ride of her life. Big cities, prestigious universities, and a network of friends that was woven into one of the country's most historically successful football programs.

With diploma in hand, the world was calling her name. Little did she know what lay on the other side of her college experience; entering the hospitality division of a major sports franchise. Meeting successful people labeled among the Who's Who in sports and entertainment.

But the road didn't stop there. Next stop, one of the world's most famously successful retail corporations. And it's here that she partnered with others to help the company make strides in online operations.

In a world prone to arrogance, she carefully crafted her words with a tone of sincere humility. And I was speechless. Then, I finally asked if I could come witness her latest venture. Her response, "Sure, come visit and I'll show you around!"

For a story that sounded so incredible it wasn't untouchable. She invited me into a space of extraordinary otherwise known as her ordinary life. In essence, she was saying "Come and see!"

When Jesus comes on the scene, one of his disciples-to-be actually poses this question, "Can anything good come from Nazareth?" And the only words Philip could seem to muster were, "Come and see!"

When Jesus' disciples return from town to witness His encounter with the woman at the well they pose the question, "Why are you talking to her?" Meanwhile the woman had made her way back to town with this announcement, "Come and see!"

When hearing of His friend Lazarus's sickness Jesus delays His arrival for two more days. Then Lazarus dies. But upon seeing his sister weeping Jesus asked where Lazarus had been buried. "Come and see!"

On the Sunday morning following the crucifixion, Mary approaches the tomb of Jesus. Frantic, I'm sure, by the appearance of an angelic being, he reassured her of Jesus' resurrection with the words, "Come and see!"

The events of Easter weekend may appear unbelievable but the details are certainly undeniable. What appears to be so incredible isn't untouchable. And we've been invited onto the stage to witness the greatest escape the world has ever known. And the resurrection reverberates through all creation, "Come and see!"

Christ accomplishes more than anyone could imagine in the short span of his death and resurrection. Yet, our response is invaluable to this pretense; His life for mine.

To come and see sounds so attractive. But think of the enviable position of Thomas to have his doubts crushed when Jesus bids him to come and touch; to witness more than the attraction of others' experiences. To lay to rest all amounts of skepticism by the first-hand proof of His resurrection.

And yet way too many of us are content to only have a glimpse of the immeasurable greatness of God from a distance. He is calling us to so much more. Bonhoeffer says, "The cross is not the terrible end to an otherwise god-fearing happy life, but it meets us at the beginning of our communion with Christ. When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die."

"Come and die!"

The cross is necessary. Death is necessary. But it does not end with his death. In fact, His death initiated a transaction toward life for us in Him. And now, through His death and resurrection, we can truly live in Christ.

This life leads to death if all we do is strive for all its trinkets and toys. To crucify the passions and lusts of this world and to find the death and resurrection of Christ a joyous occasion will bring life insurmountable.

May our hearts meditate on these words to stir in us a greater affection for God's Son Jesus Christ:

Oh the wonderful Cross, oh the wonderful Cross
Bids me come and die and find that I may truly live
Oh the wonderful Cross, oh the wonderful Cross
All who gather here by grace, draw near and bless Your name 
--The Wonderful Cross by Chris Tomlin