John 1:35–2:12
Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Come, follow me” (John 1:43).
Jesus’ way of making disciples was disarmingly simple, yet profoundly relational. He did not begin with a program, a syllabus or a strategy session. He began with the invitation: “Come and see.”
Those who accepted were invited into His life to watch, listen, ask questions and slowly discover who He truly was. As they walked with Him, Jesus interpreted Himself through the Scriptures they already knew—the Law of Moses, the Psalms and the Prophets—showing how Israel’s story found its fulfilment in Him.
What is striking is how quickly this way of disciple-making was caught and reproduced. John the Baptist pointed to Jesus and declared, “Look, the Lamb of God.” Two of his disciples followed their curiosity and asked Jesus where He was staying. His response was not an address, but the invitation: “Come and see.” After spending a single evening with him, Andrew ran to his brother Peter—excitement spilling over—announcing, “We have found the Messiah.”
Philip did the same with Nathanael, grounding his joy in Scripture: “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote.” And again, came the invitation—“Come and see” (John 1:45, 46, NIV). What Jesus did, His disciples instinctively multiplied.
A unique feature of this movement was the immediate participation of new disciples. Those invited soon invited others. New disciples made new disciples!
The next invitation went deeper. Jesus was intentional. He went and found Philip, and said to him, “Follow me.” To follow Jesus meant walking the road of everyday life together—a shared journey. Disciple-making was not confined to formal teaching; it happened in conversations, meals, celebrations and travel. It required time and shared experiences.
When Philip invited Nathanael to join, he encountered scepticism: “Nazareth! . . . Can anything good come from Nazareth?” The idea that God’s promised Messiah could come from such an unremarkable place—and be a local tradie—seemed absurd. Nathaniel was from Cana, less that 10 kilometres (6 miles) away. He knew the reputation of small villages and ordinary families. He knew the people. Yet Philip did not argue or become defensive. He simply echoed Jesus’ own words: “Come and see.”
And it was to a family wedding in Cana that Jesus led His new disciples, not to a synagogue lecture or a political rally. He brought them home! They saw the world that had shaped Him—the rhythms of village life, the laughter and labour, the relationships of family and community. They met His mother, brothers and sisters. They discovered that the Son of God was deeply human, rooted in a real place, among real people—their people!
At that wedding, Jesus also quietly revealed that He was more than human. When the wine ran out, Mary trusted Him to act, even though He protested, “My time has not yet come”—indicating more momentous events! But in response, Jesus generously turned water into wine—abundant and excellent. John tells us that in this first sign, Jesus “revealed his glory. And his disciples believed in him.” Amid celebration and joy, they glimpsed the hidden glory of God, not as spectacle, but as a gift.
Afterward, Jesus did not rush on alone. He walked to Capernaum with his now four or five disciples, as well as His mother and brothers, where they stayed for a few days. Disciple-making continued in shared space and unhurried time. Perhaps families met, stories were exchanged, fishing nets were mended and hearts were prepared for what lay ahead.
All of this unfolded against the backdrop of intense messianic expectation. Israel longed for a liberator like the fierce revolutionary Judas Maccabeus, one who would overthrow Rome and restore national dignity. But Jesus did not fit that mould. He was not the Messiah they expected. Yet His disciples followed Him anyway, drawn not by political power, but by the truth, grace and life they encountered in Him.
Having come and seen, they followed Him. They could not turn back.
