JOHN 12:20–21 – Now among those who went up to worship at the feast were some Greeks. So these came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and asked him, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.”
THEME OF THE DAY: WE WOULD SEE JESUS. In today’s scripture, the desire of the Greeks simplifies Christianity – “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” This is to be the passion, pursuit, and practice of every Christian. In this life, we would see Jesus in the scripture by faith illuminated by the Holy Spirit. In the next life, we will see Jesus literally as faith gives way to sight and we will forever bask in His Holy Person and love. We find this may simplify what Christianity is, it in no wise states or implies it is easy. It is not. There is a reason why the Christian life is called an intense battle and grueling race (2 Timothy 4:7). Despite the difficulties and distractions, it still remains the goal – to see Jesus, not just to gaze upon His Person but to learn from Him, conform to Him, adore Him, worship Him, and proclaim Him. But let me be redundant. This is not for the faint of heart. It is hard. Very hard, and what I am about to share should encourage us. It comes from the pen of the man who wrote what might be the most famous of all hymns, Amazing Grace, John Newton. And now I want to put a free advertisement for Newton’s books, especially his letters. They are chock-full of encouragement and sound biblical instruction. Here is one . . .
Methinks my heart joins with the desire of those who said, ‘We would see Jesus.’ When we come to heaven, without doubt we shall find great pleasure in communion with the ‘general assembly of the church of the first-born;’ but the very heaven of all will be to behold him who, for our sakes, was crowned with thorns, and nailed to the cross. All the rest would be but poor company if he were absent. And thus proportionably I find it to be on earth. I delight in his people; but they can only profit me so far as I am enabled to see him in them, and to feel his presence in my own soul. My whole study and desire is comprised in this short sentence,–‘To walk with God,’—to set the Lord always before me; to hear his voice in every creature, in every dispensation, ordinance, and providence; to keep him in view as my Portion, Sun, and Shield; my Strength, Advocate, and Savior. And all my complaints may be summed up in this one, — a proneness to wander from him. This is too frequently the case with me, I hardly know how or why. Through mercy, I am in a measure delivered from the love of this present evil world; the desire of my heart is towards God; I account his loving-kindness to be better than life, and esteem all his precepts concerning all things to be right, and just, and good. I do not even wish for a dispensation to admit any rival into my heart; he richly deserves it all, and I am willing and desirous to be his alone, and to be wholly conformed to him. Yet still I find the effects of a depraved nature; and, notwithstanding all my struggles against inward and outward evil, I am too often carried away from the point of simple faith and dependence. The lively experience of a Christian is not hard to be described; neither is it hard to say much about it. But, to feel what we say, to sit down under the shadow of the tree of life, to abide in Christ, to feed on him in my heart by faith with thanksgiving, this I find a rare attainment, easily lost, and not so soon regained (Taken from the Works of John Newton, volume 4, page 295 – Sequel to Cardiphonia, Letters to Several Ladies, Banner of Truth).
Yes, we would see Jesus. And God provides the means to do so in this life; a diligence in the scriptures, earnest prayer for Him, and fellowship with other Christ-desiring believers. It isn’t easy but when we truly known Him, the efforts will have been worth it.
PRAYER: “Father, create in me a deep desire to know You, Your Son, and turn that desire to discipline to seek You.”
QUOTE: “To know Christ is what defines Christianity and points us to one of the chief purposes for our existence.”
In the affection of Christ Jesus,
Pastor Jim