Seeing Jesus

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TODAY'S SPECIAL: John 12:12-26

TO CHEW ON: "Now there were certain Greeks among those who came up to worship at the feast. Then they came to Philip who was from Bethsaida of Galilee and asked him saying, 'Sir, we wish to see Jesus.' " John 12:20,21


The scene was a Messiah-seeker's dream. Jesus' good reputation from raising Lazarus had spread so that when He rode into Jerusalem on a donkey (fulfilling the prophecy of Zechariah 9:9), He was accompanied by an adoring crowd. The significance of this act would not be lost on any Jew in the crowd familiar with Old Testament prophecy. They saw Him as their expected Messiah—a savior from Roman rule.

But now Greeks, proselytes who worshiped with the Jews to the extent they were allowed, came to Philip asking permission to see Jesus too. Jesus' answer to Philip and Andrew is puzzling: "'The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified.'" What does that have to do with their request to see Him?

The invitation to see Jesus weaves through John. Jesus first issued it when two disciples met Him for the first time and asked, "'Where do you stay?'"  His answer: "'Come and see'" - John 1:39. Later the same Philip from our story answered Nathanael's question about Jesus: "'Can any good come out of Galilee?'" with "'Come and see'" - John 1:46. Then the Samaritan woman invited her neighbours to check out Jesus with, "'Come, see a Man who told me all things I ever did'" - John 4:29.

The people of Jesus' day saw Him as a human marvel of miracle-working and mind-reading wisdom. As He rode into Jerusalem, they saw Him as their Messiah. However, in our passage today we are ushered into a whole new stage of "seeing' Jesus. The IVP Commentary explains it well:

"When Andrew and Philip announce the coming of the Greeks something wondrous happens. It triggers the moment the reader has been anticipating since the story began: Jesus replied, "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified" (v. 23). As with all his cryptic sayings, this response addresses the issue, but it does so in ways incomprehensible at the time. He does not speak directly to the Greeks, but he speaks of their place in his community in the future. For he reveals that it is time for his death to take place, through which a great crop will be produced (v. 24) as he draws all men to himself (v. 32)" - The IVP New Testament Commentary Series  accessed through Biblegateway.com.

Jesus calls his death "'glorification.'" How can death on a cross be considered this?

"It may seem strange to refer to Jesus' death as a glorification. But the death is at the heart of the Son's revelation of the Father, for God is love and love is the laying down of one's life (cf. 1 Jn 4:8; 3:16). So in the cross the heart of God is revealed most clearly" - Ibid.

In this time of our preparation to celebrate Jesus' passion, let's review the significance of these scenes and teachings from Jesus' life and "see" in Him God's love, willing to be sacrificed as a seed so we could have eternal life.

PRAYER: Dear Jesus, thank You for this image of You as the seed of a God of love, willing to sacrifice Yourself so we could have life. Amen. 

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Unless otherwise noted all Scripture quotations are taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

The best is yet to come!

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TODAY'S SPECIAL: Romans 8:18-30

TO CHEW ON: "Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified." Romans 8:30

A few weeks ago our pastor preached a series of sermons on the Holy Spirit. He listed four works of the Spirit in our lives: 1)Salvation; 2) Sanctification; 3) Power for Ministry and 4) Glorification.

Until he pointed it out, I had never thought of glorification as a work of the Spirit in my life. But our focus verse today bears that out as well, when it talks about Christians—the predestined, called and justified—also being glorified.

We've done a little study on Jesus' glory in the past little while so today I'm going to dig into the hope of glory for Christians.

[Glory - doxa was originally an opinion or estimation in which one was held. Then it came to mean reputation, good standing and esteem given to a person. It morphed then to mean honor or glory given to people nations and individuals. In the New Testament it means splendor, radiance and majesty centered in Jesus - from Word Wealth by Dick Mills, New Spirit-Filled Life Bible p. 1446.]

What's fascinating about the concept of glory is its interplay between the now and the not-yet.

• For the disciples and people who saw Jesus in the flesh, glory was now. His glory was manifested in Jesus' miracles and His life generally - John 2:11.

• For Jesus, His glory was also past—eternity past. He laid it aside to come to earth - John 17:5; Philippians 2:5-7.

• In Jesus' John 17 prayer, He mentions glory several times both as a present reality and future hope. He prays that He will be glorified in His disciples (then and those who would believe in the future through their unity) - John 17:10,23. But He also prays that they will join Him in the future: "…be with Me where I am" to "… behold My glory" - John 17:24.

• Paul talks about life on earth as a prequel to glorification—but not unrelated to it. He reminds the Romans in our passage that life's hardships are a contrast to the glory that's ahead - Romans 8:18.

• He reminds the believers in Corinth that their hardships and sufferings also prepare or change them for that anticipated state, are "working for us a far more exceeding weight of glory" - 2 Corinthians 4:17.

• And he tells Timothy that the way we endure hardships can help to encourage our fellow Christians as we journey together toward this glorified state (2 Timothy 2:10).

• But these are just glimmerings of a hope that is future—a hope that is as old as Asaph and the Sons of Korah. "You will guide me with Your counsel, And afterward receive me to glory" Psalm 73:24, see also Psalm 84:11.

What does this have to do with you and me today?
- We live in a way that reflects Jesus' glory.
- We understand that our hardships are part of our ripening for future glory.
- We face death—the death of believing loved ones and our own deaths—with hope, even anticipation of future glory.

Cheer up. The best is yet to come!

PRAYER: Dear Holy Spirit, have Your way in me to help me live to the glory of Jesus in my life now. And may I cooperate with you as You prepare me for glorious heaven that is still to come. Amen.

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Unless otherwise noted all Scripture quotations are taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.