Come: Tarry: Go

Come:  Tarry:  Go

Prepared on June 3, 1932 by W.H. Wood

“Come unto me all ye that labor.”  Matthew 11:28

“Tarry ye in the city, until ye be clothed with power from on high.”  Luke 24:49

“Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel.”  Mark 16:15

These familiar passages of scripture contain what I believe to be the three great verbs of the gospel.  The study of the parts of speech is of itself fascinating.  Verbs are the very life blood of language, since they describe action, being, or state of being. 

These are the three great verbs of Christian life.  First of these is “COME”.  Six hundred and forty two times the word, “Come”, occurs in the Holy Scriptures.  But the use of the word which interests us especially is Christ’s “come” and the most precious of all the verses in which Jesus’ “come” is found is that recorded by Matthew:  “Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”  “COME” – that was Jesus’ word to His disciples, calling them away from their former activities to Him and a new life.  “Come” –this was His word to John and James, to Peter and Andrew, calling them away from the boats and nets to become fishers of men.  “Come” – this was His word to Matthew Levi sitting at the seat of customs.  “Come” – this was His word to Zaacheus, the publican, to the rich young ruler, to every one of the twelve disciples, to the seventy and on the great day of Pentecost and ever since His word to all humanity is “Come unto me”.  Some respond to the gospel invitation early in life, others heed the call after maturity, while some are snatched just in time to save the soul after the life has been wasted in sin.  The word “Come” is recorded in the Acts and is indicated in the gospels and alluded to in the epistles. 

The second great word is “TARRY”.  Having called His disciples to Him, Jesus’ next word was to abide with Him, to tarry, to remain, for a season at His side.  First, they were called to Him; secondly, they were bidden to tarry with Him.  And the three years they tarried in the company of Jesus, He prepared them for their work.  They were in training so to speak.  They were going to school to the master Himself.  The tarrying process is that of learning.  The disciples tarried with Christ that they might learn of Him.  One must of necessity be a learner before he can become a teacher.  Before one can give out anything he has to be filled. Communion precedes communication.  When the twelve were called to Jesus that they might learn of Him, they were not remarkable promising teachers; they were empty, but Christ filled them; they were ignorant, but He taught them; they were weak, He made them strong; they were wavering, He made them stable.  After Saul’s conversion on the Damascus way, a period elapsed when he disappeared from public life.  He seems to have spent 3 years in Arabia meditating, reflecting, tarrying with his Lord. 

“GO” To come to Jesus is not enough.  To tarry is not all.  Having called His disciples to Him, they accompanied with Him for a season; then Jesus sent them out.  The twelve were disciples or learners before they were apostles or missionaries.  They were called to Him that they might be trained of Him in order to be sent out by Him.  He sent out the twelve to teach the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick.  They were sent out two and two, teaching what they had learned of Him, blessing and doing good to all who would receive Him.  Jesus sent out the seventy; He sent them out, two and two before His face, into every city and place whether He Himself was about to come.  The calling of His disciples and their tarrying with Him was but preparatory for actual service in His name.  The parting command of Jesus to His disciples and to all who become His disciples is “Go, make disciples of all nations, preach the gospel to every creature.”  Christians are called together in the church service in order that they may make disciples of the community, the state, the nations, the world.  A church service that results in pleasing the attendants, making them feel comfortable and satisfied, is a tragic failure.  If one can sit week after week and listen to high ideals that he has not yet attained to, and which he never attempts to reach, then his sin of inactivity is greater than if he did not hear or listen at all to such admonitions.