John 12: 20-33
I am struck this week by
the request at the beginning of this passage. Some Greeks approach Philip,
whose name is Greek, not Hebrew or Aramaic. These “Greeks” may be diaspora
Jews, or Gentile Jewish sympathizers, or simply some Greek-speaking tourists
who are curious about Jesus. They say, “Sir, we want to see Jesus.”
Something about the
arrival of these “Greeks” triggers Jesus’ speech describing his impending
death. Up until now, Jesus has declared that his hour has not yet come. But now,
that changes. Now, his hour has come. The end is at hand. Jesus will soon die,
and be raised. He never does see the Greeks who come to see him, it seems. He
is now totally focused on the immediate future – his death and resurrection.
The Greeks want to see
Jesus – so it’s a good time to reflect on the Jesus John has shown us. He was
introduced as the Logos, the Word, present from the very beginning, very God of
very God.
He turned water into
wine.
He challenged Nicodemus
to see a relationship with God as the most important thing in his life.
He offered living water
to a foreign woman of questionable repute. She in turn introduced him to her community,
starting with – “He knows everything there is to know about me!”
He took some bread and
some fish and fed thousands of hungry people, claiming, “I am the Bread of
Life.”
He healed a blind man,
who struggled to prove to others that he was the same old blind man that had
sat begging for years. Those who did not want to believe were the truly blind
people.
He described himself as
the Vine, connected forever to us, the branches.
He described himself as
the Good Shepherd, and the Gate to the sheepfold, and the Voice the sheep
recognize.
He is the channel of
God’s power to raise Lazarus from the dead.
He has drawn the
attention of the powerful folks in Jerusalem, who are very unhappy with the
things he says and does. We don’t like it when other people upset the
status quo, and make changes we don’t approve of.
This is the Jesus the
Greeks came to see. Is this the Jesus we help others to see?
Do we help people see
the Jesus who cares deeply about all kinds of people, even the people we don’t
approve of?
Do we help people see
the Jesus who invites the tough questions, the Jesus who accepts differing
opinions about himself and his purpose on earth?
Do we help people see
the Jesus the shepherd who gathers in the flock of wayward sheep, and leads us
into new mission fields?
Do we really believe and
act as if the tomb is empty, for both Lazarus and Jesus the Son of God?
This week, in Bible
study and at the council meeting, I asked the same question. “How do we help
people see Jesus?”
Pray for them. Invite them.
Clothe them. Feed them. Visit them. These were common answers to my question.
We find them in Matthew 25, when Jesus says that when we do these things to (or
for or with) our neighbors, we do them for Jesus, too.
So, now some stories:
… One day last week,
Mike and I had dinner at a restaurant. Nothing new there! But the waitress
surprised us. We try to learn the names of our servers, and to get to know a
bit about them. This night, the server – let’s call her Mary – said, “Thank you
for using my name. So many people don’t think of us as human.” As she brought our
salads and meal to us, we learned that she has a child, she is attending school
and has just over a year of studies to go until she earns her bachelor’s degree
in criminal justice. While we never talked about Jesus, we showed her Jesus by
treating her as a real person, not just part of the service of the restaurant.
… It is hard to figure
out who deserves benefits, and who is trying to take advantage of us. I was at
lunch a couple of months ago in Ocala. Outside the restaurant doors, a homeless
woman was asking for some cash. It costs $8 a night to stay in a homeless
shelter, and she didn’t have that much. Could we spare any change for her? I
have become jaded by people asking for a handout instead of getting a job, and
I said I didn’t have anything to offer her. I could have spared a dollar and
not missed it. I definitely did not show her Jesus.
… One of our favorite TV
shows is Blue Bloods, a police drama that airs on Friday evening. While the
drama is intense, the Christian values of the family members are always evident.
Their spiritual values sometimes conflict with the demands of their jobs as
police officers, detectives, and attorneys. But in every episode the family is
shown gathered around the Sunday dinner table. They take turns saying the table
prayer, sometimes short and sweet, sometimes thoughtful. It’s amazing to me
that in this time, such a witness to Jesus is made every time.
… Pearl and her young sons
noticed a group of homeless men sitting at a picnic table in the park. The men
had a plastic tarp spread to keep themselves and their possessions dry. In
their affluent neighborhood, homeless people were rare, and the boys had never
seen such people before.
The boys wanted to know
where the men went at night, what they would receive for Christmas. When the
boys learned that they didn’t have houses and they would not get Christmas
presents, they decided to buy some things to give them a party. They purchased
some personal items, some granola bars, some home-made cards, and some Bibles.
They wrapped everything and took the packages to the men, still camped at the
park. This family took Jesus to this group of homeless men.
… What stories do you have to share about helping
people see Jesus? When have you helped someone with the Holy Spirit’s guidance
or prodding? When have you neglected to show them Jesus – what have you learned
from that moment?
Watch this week for
opportunities to help those you encounter see Jesus. Visit the sick. Feed the
hungry. House the homeless. Clothe the naked. Pray for those in need in any
way. Engage in conversation and discuss the challenging issues with open minds
and open hearts.
See, really see, the
people around you and help them see Jesus. Remember that the tomb is empty, and
there is nothing you can’t do with Jesus’ help.
Please pray with me. Jesus,
we want to see you, really see you. And we want to help others see you, too.
Open our hearts, our minds, and our hearts, so we can show others your love,
your forgiveness, and your power. Amen
