"Come and See" (On John 1:37-38)

When Jesus turned and saw them, following, he said to them, “What are you looking for?” They said to him, “Rabbi” (which translated means Teacher), “Where are you staying?” He said to them, “Come and see.” (John 1:37-38)

 

“Rabbi, where are you staying?”

The experts say

the question has

the thrust of asking

“Where do you stand, Jesus?”

“With whom do you side?”

“What positions do you take?”

 

His answer is perfect.

“Come and see.”

No dodging.

No hiding.

No changing of subjects.

With three words,

he invites

and dares

and overturns tables.

 

Whatever they expected about

who is worthy

    to house a respectable rabbi,

what rules

    he ought to follow

what boundaries

     he would not cross,

whatever they assumed,

the crafty Jesus

pries those certainties from their hands

to make them complicit

in his conspiracy.

 

Now they will go where he goes,

share bread with his chosen company,

stand where he stands,

and with whom.

 

Now they will stay,

at table alongside with

Zacchaeus and Simon,

the sell-outs and scandalous,

drinkers and hookers and sinners,

oh—

and the spotless Lamb of God.

 

“Come and see,” he bleats,

and already they are

captivated,

his gravity like the sun’s.