We Would See Jesus September 2 2018 John 12:20-26 Behind the pulpit in the chapel at Columbia Theological Seminary in Atlanta, GA, there is a small sign. It s a brass plate with an inscription, quoting the text for today. Sir, we would see Jesus. The reason someone put that sign behind the pulpit in the first place is to encourage new preachers being trained at the seminary not to proclaim themselves, but to proclaim Jesus Christ. Our text in John 12 sees a great crowd making its way down toward the Temple. If one had not known the particular significance of that day, or why so many people were there, they might have said to some passerby, Why are so many people gathered here, what s going on down at the Temple? The answer! This is the day of the Passover Feast, and people have gathered from far and near to observe this very important memorial in the Jewish calendar? But on that particular day there was One there who understood the real meaning of the Passover. Jesus was there. He knew He was the One whom John the Baptist said was the Lamb of God who would take away the sin of the world. But there were others present that Passover day. Certain Greeks were there who had come not to worship, but to see the One whose fame had spread everywhere. They had one thing on their mind. They came to see Jesus. So they approached Philip and said to him, Sir, we want to see Jesus. So far as we can determine the Greeks were successful in seeing Him. We can commend these Greeks for wanting to see Jesus. The Jews would say, We would see a sign! (Matt. 12:38; 1 Cor. 1:22) but these men said, We would see Jesus. 1
Did they want to discuss faith with Him? Were they looking for spiritual counsel? Did they just want to be introduced to Him? Jesus was a rising star on the political front and they may have wanted to be able to tell people that they had met Him. It s no different today! Jesus knew that they did not understand what His "mission" was. Jesus wants them to know that this is not the time for Him to be a celebrity...it s time for Him to die. Jesus understood the cost... no salvation without the sacrifice of His life. We want to see Jesus. That is the age long cry of all humanity. The cry of men and women today is just the same as it was in that faraway era. It begs the question; under what circumstances do we want to see Jesus today? We Want To See Jesus When We Are Engaged In Worship. We want to see Jesus in the songs we sing. There ought to be a real Christian message in every song used in our churches. And may the Lord deliver us from those songs where we hear only the voices of the singers, but can t understand one word of the song. The really great songs, the ones that move and bless our hearts, are those written out of the deep heart experiences of men and women. We want to see Jesus in the sermons that are preached. Every sermon ought to enable people to see Jesus more clearly. We fail miserably in our preaching if we don t present Jesus to the people as the Saviour of sinners. The Apostle Paul preached Christ and 2
His Resurrection as did all the Biblical preachers. They unashamedly ran their distinctives up the flagpole, clearly displaying them for all to see. This is what we are. This is what we believe. Here is where we stand. They were not afraid to stand up before a hostile world and boldly declare this is what the Lord says. People want to hear from their preachers a confident comforting word that touches their lives today, not a watered down, fluffy, do the best you can, adulterated message. They want to hear that "being a Christian" is not just about walking an aisle or saying a prayer. It s about a life committment, a change of heart, and a whole new orientation for living. It s about trusting the commands of Christ even when they are unpopular in an ungodly society. It s about trusting His values when the society is "values neutral". It s about standing for something, and willing to teach and defend those things we regard as precious. It s heart breaking to witness in our day, from pulpits across our land, the careless questioning of explicit Biblical statements regarding the need of being born again, or the divine inspiration of Scripture. Such preaching cannot build a stronger, more Christhonouring church no matter how sincere the messenger. The church does people no favours when the message it presents is only understood by academics or clerics. Scripture says the common people flocked to see Jesus, and heard Him gladly because His messages touched them where they were. People want to see Jesus for many different reasons. Some have no desire to see Him at all until life hits them with tragedy or 3
serious illness, then they desire a miracle. Others are looking for Jesus out of curiosity. Still others are seeking spiritual things and are not looking in the right place. We Want To See Jesus for Forgiveness of Sin. As I look back over my pilgrimage as a believer, I thank God for the many ways He has moved in my life. A lot has changed from those early days growing up in Northern Ireland. But the greatest thing I can recall by far was on a cold December night hearing of my need to be saved, and God in mercy drawing me to Himself. Often I have wondered where I would be, and what I would be, if not for that glorious life changing experience that if anyone is in Christ they are a new creation, old things have passed away and all things became new. I have come to see it doesn t matter whether you searched for the Lord or whether you just bumped into Him one day. It doesn t matter if you grew up in the Sunday School or spent your life on the streets. It doesn t matter if you had a dramatic conversion experience or whether you came gradually to faith. What matters is realizing that living in God s Kingdom, possessing eternal life, and walking with Jesus, is the greatest thing you will ever find. We Want To See Jesus In The Details Of Daily Life. When we need guidance- We Would See Jesus When We Need Peace- We Would See Jesus When We Need Comfort- We Would See Jesus When We Need Assurance- We Would See Jesus 4
When We Need To Get Back On Track- We Would See Jesus When We Need To Know His Will- We Would See Jesus When We Need Victory- We Would See Jesus We Want To See Jesus In Our Sorrows And Shadows. Those who preach today only a prosperity Gospel, and a life forever removed from anxiety and difficulties in life, do the church a great harm, for God s people are most certainly not immune from trials. If ever there was a time we want to see Jesus it s in our most trying times. We want to see Jesus even when God appears to be silent and oblivious to our problems, and we start to think He doesn t seem to care. There isn t any suffering greater than the silence of God. It s in such a time- We would see Jesus. In the midnight hours we want to see the Light of the World. When the sisters in Bethany lost their brother Lazarus, they immediately sent for Jesus. He s the One we want to see when sorrow comes. He s the only One who understands and can comfort us. Some people are beaten into the dust when trials come. They don t know which way to turn. Other s have the peace of God written upon their faces, for they have looked through their tears and have seen the Great Comforter. We Want To See Jesus In The Hour Of Death There are going to be valleys in life for all of us. Some of us have many valleys, some few. Some of us have deep valleys, some not so deep. But, somewhere in our journey, we must all cross the valley of the shadow of death, for "It s appointed to men once to 5
die, but after this the judgment." (Hebrews 9:27). Its time may be unknown, but it s certain to come. And we must walk it one by one, unless we walk it with Christ. We can t walk this valley with our husband or wife. We can t walk it with our business partner. We can t take our friends or relatives. As we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, we walk with Christ or we walk alone. When death roars its worst at us, we needn t fear, for our Saviour is with us. Whether we brush the edge of the valley of death or actually walk through it, He promises, "I ll be there with you." When we go down into the dark valley, we want to find Him there. Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. The early Christians weren t looking for a cleft in the ground called a grave, but for a cleavage in the sky called Glory. They were watching not for the undertaker but for the upper taker. We Want To See Jesus In Glory What a day it will be for Sick Saints, Suffering Saints, and for Sorrowing Saints! What a day it will be for all the redeemed Church of God when the Saints go marching in. The Bible is clear in it s affirmation of life beyond the grave. We are told that for the one who trusts in Christ for salvation, this new life will be Heaven. It will be an existence free from pain, tears, disappointment, and sorrow. The winter of life s troubles and sorrow will be past. The rains of difficulty and disappointment will have ceased. The storms of adversity will rage no more. 6
When the Apostle Paul was facing his own death he said, For me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. Paul understood that those who die in Christ go to be with the Lord. They get to see clearly, enjoy fully, and are reunited with those who have gone before. But the second thing I must say is this, not everyone goes to Heaven. We live in a society that seems to imply that the only thing you need to do to get to Heaven, is die. But that s not what the Bible teaches. We re taught quite clearly that Heaven is offered to us as a gift through Christ. We get to Heaven not by our efforts but by His. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved is the record of Scripture. We must believe that He was uniquely God, that He surrendered His life as payment for our sin, and that He extends salvation to everyone who will trust Him. The heart of every true believer beats with an enthrallment for heaven. Col.3:1-3 says, "If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth." The born again believer lives and ministers with an eternal perspective. Believers realize that there is much more to this life than nice houses, cars, money and careers. When I was younger heaven seemed so distant and far away. The older I get, the more and more friends and loved ones who precede me to that glorious place, the closer it seems to be. O the soul thrilling rapture when I see His blessed face, 7
And the luster of His kindly beaming eye. How my full heart will praise Him, For His mercy love and grace that prepare for me a mansion in the sky. I shall know Him etc. There will be three things, which will surprise us when we get to heaven. 1) To find many there that we did not expect to find there. 2) To find that there are some missing whom we had expected to be there. 3) The greatest wonder of all will be to find ourselves there. We never deserved such a privilege, but the grace of God, which has been extended to us in Christ, assures us of a home in heaven. Sir, they said, we want to see Jesus. They didn t want to learn ABOUT Jesus. They wanted to see him. They wanted to believe in him. They wanted to know him. The world is full of people who claim to know all about Jesus, and yet, they don t know him. How about you? I encourage you this morning to let Jesus know that you are willing to let Him build a new life in you... the life you were created to live. May you take that step today. 8