There’s a moment early in John’s Gospel that feels wonderfully ordinary—and quietly revolutionary.
Andrew meets Jesus and, almost immediately, goes to find his brother Simon. No long apprenticeship. No theological degree. No carefully crafted argument. Just a simple, heartfelt invitation:
Come and see.
That’s it. And yet this ordinary moment changes the course of history.
Tell Someone You Love
John tells us that as soon as Andrew encounters Jesus, he goes and tells his brother (John 1:40). He doesn’t wait until he feels confident or articulate. He doesn’t polish his testimony. He simply wants someone he loves to meet the person who has just changed everything for him.
When Simon meets Jesus, the encounter is defining. Jesus looks at him and says, “You will be called Cephas (Peter),” meaning rock. What’s striking is that this identity is spoken before Peter has done anything impressive. Jesus doesn’t wait for evidence; he takes the initiative.
It’s a reminder that faith doesn’t begin with our credentials. It begins with Jesus’ call.
“I Don’t Know Enough”… and “I Won’t Represent God Well”
Over years of working with university students, I’ve heard two common hesitations about inviting others to explore Jesus.
The first is intellectual: “I don’t know enough. I can’t answer all the questions.”
The second is moral: “I won’t represent God well. What if I lead someone astray?”
Andrew’s story dismantles both fears.
First, you don’t need to know everything. Andrew acts almost immediately—before he knows much at all. He doesn’t explain the incarnation or outline a doctrine of salvation. He just points his brother to Jesus.
Second, you don’t need to be a perfect example. If Christianity is about forgiveness because of what Jesus has done, then honesty about our failures can actually direct people toward grace rather than away from it.
There’s something deeply disarming about saying, “I don’t have it all figured out—come with me. Come and see with me.” It keeps the spotlight where it belongs: not on us, but on Jesus.
Faith Is a Journey, Not a Sales Pitch
Peter joins Andrew and follows Jesus for years. Along the way, they watch Jesus eat with people, heal people, shock people, offend people, question people, defend people, and love people. They see him betrayed, killed, buried—and then somehow alive again.
And even at the end of the Gospel accounts, they’re still learning.
That’s important. Faith is not a one-off moment where all doubts vanish. It’s a journey of discovery. That’s why the church exists: to be a community where people who don’t yet know Jesus can receive an invitation—come and see—and walk the journey together.
You don’t need to have all the answers. You don’t need to be the finished product. You just need to know who to point to.
A Simple, Courageous Invitation
In a world that prizes certainty and expertise, the invitation of John 1 is wonderfully non-threatening. Not “come and pretend.” Not “come and have it all sorted.” Just come and see.
And sometimes, that’s exactly what someone needs.
