TOPIC:"The Jesus Everyone Must See"
by Rev. Dr. Reg Dunlap
TEXT:John 12:20-26
"Sir, we would see Jesus" (John 12:21)
One of the most remarkable facts one is confronted with in their study of the life of Jesus is the different views that people have about Him. Some view Jesus only as a great ethical Teacher. He was that! Others view Him as the perfect Example to follow. And He was that! But Jesus was more than a great teacher of ethics, He was its great Liver. His sinlessness is unique in the stream of human life. Jesus was the pattern of perfect living. Still others view Him as a great miracle Worker. That He was! Jesus ruled the elements and calmed the raging sea. He healed without medicine and He gave life to those who were dead. Yes, Jesus was all of this and more. But I tell you frankly that is not the way Jesus Himself would have the world perceive Him. He was far more than just being a great Teacher, an ethical Example, and a great miracle Worker.
Let me show you what I mean. Here in the verses before us certain God-fearing Greeks who had come up to Jerusalem for the Passover feast, seek out Philip with this request, "Sir, we would see Jesus." At this time the fame of Jesus had spread throughout the whole area, and especially, in Jerusalem. These non-Jews wanted an interview with Jesus in order to get to know Him more intimately. Whether this request by these eager Gentiles was granted by Jesus the Bible does not tell us. What we do know is that Philip and Andrew together take this request to Jesus who seems to ignore it.
Regarding the request of these Greeks to see Jesus, instead of Him answering, "Bring them here immediately to see me," Jesus changes the mood of the conversation and begins to speak about His coming death on a cruel cross. He declares in verse 23: "The hour is come, that the Son of Man should be glorified." He states in verse 24: "Except a grain of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone; but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit." He proclaims in verse 32: "And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me."
This I say again, was the everlasting vision that Jesus wanted those early disciples of His, and us as well, to remember about Him. Not that of a great Teacher, not that of a miracle Worker, but that of the great blood Donor - the One who shed His blood in order to pay the penalty for man's sin. Let us now from this portion of Scripture, consider the vision that Christ would have everyone see of Himself.
I.
First of all, the Jesus everyone must see is that of a REJECTED Savior whose life ended . . .