Would We Cross the Street to See Him?
Meditation for the week of June 2, 2013
John 12:20-21 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."
Why did these Greeks want to see Jesus? They were likely non-Jewish converts to the worship of Jehovah. Did they think He was a one-man side-show that would entertain them with miracles? Were they curious because of the commotion He seemed to be causing? Did they have some ailments for which they wanted healing? Or did they want to see the Messiah in Whom they had believed?
I believe that these Greek worshipers had a better grasp of the truth than most of the Jews did. I think they understood that Jesus was the Messiah, and because of that they wanted to see Him. I wonder if we would have made an effort to see Him if we had lived in that day. Herod wanted to see Him so that he could see Him do a miracle (Luke 23:8). But it doesn’t appear that He wanted to see Him because he was convinced He was the Jewish Messiah. Nicodemus wanted to see Him in John 3 to find out if He really was a teacher come from God. Zacchaeus wanted to see Jesus in Luke 19 because he wanted to know who He was.
Herod didn’t get any benefit from seeing the Lord because he didn’t believe in Him. Nicodemus was searching for the truth and He got the truth that day. He was “born again.” Zacchaeus made a real effort to see the Lord when he heard that the Lord was coming his way. Because of that effort salvation came to his family that day.
Seeing the Lord is an experience we should all want. If we come to the Lord with an open mind, we will go away blessed. Herod only wanted to see miracles, He didn’t want to know who the Lord really was. He apparently did not want the greater question answered, “Is this really the Messiah, the King of the Jews, or is He an imposter?” He saw the Lord but he didn’t really see Him. But I suspect the Greeks who wanted to see Him, saw a person in whom they believed. Nicodemus came in darkness and left in light even though it was still dark. Zacchaeus came lost and found salvation.
If we had lived in the days of the Lord’s earthly ministry, would we have wanted to see the Lord? Better yet, do we want to see Him now? We can’t see Him physically, but we can see Him though the eyes of faith. Hebrews 2:9 says, “But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone.”
John the Baptist wanted us to see Him. He said in John 1:29, "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!
There is a great blessing to be had in seeing the Lord Jesus. He can answer our questions like He did Nicodemus. He can save us like he did Zacchaeus. He can ignore us like He did unbelieving Herod.
Would we make an effort to go see Him, if we heard He was in town today?
Bruce Collins