Making a Differencewith Pastor Phil Erickson

Nov 11th, 2022 We Would See Jesus

Today’s Passages – John 12 – 13 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – click here to view the text from the Blue Letter Bible website)

(Second Milers also read –Psalms 51 – 55; Proverbs 11)

Listen to this morning’s Scripture Song – Psalm 92:1 – 4

Read the “1111 Evening and Morning“ devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.

Read previous posts from this passage – “Closet Christians,” “Servant Leadership,” and “Mad About the Money.”

“And there were certain Greeks among them that came up to worship at the feast: The same came therefore to Philip, which was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and desired him, saying, Sir, we would see Jesus.” (John 12:20-21)

In our passage today we read about the Triumphal Entry of the Lord Jesus, just a few days prior to His crucifixion. At this point Jesus has many admirers; some of the people were crying out: “Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord” (John 12:13). Of course, we know that the vast majority of these folks will be crying, “Crucify him,” in just a few days (John 19:6; 15). The Pharisees were also there on that day, watching Jesus carefully, and looking for an opportunity to get rid of him.

Among the people that were there in Jerusalem for the Passover were “Greeks” who apparently were converts to Judaism because they were there “to worship.” They were observing the events that were taking place and desired to learn a little bit more about Jesus who was the center of all the attention. They came to Philip and “desired him,” meaning they begged him to let them see Jesus. Philip was perhaps unsure about bringing these Gentiles to Jesus so he checked with Andrew. Together, however, they decide to tell the Master. Though we cannot be sure specifically what happens to these Greeks, it seems that Jesus may have been referring to people like them when he said: “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me” (John 12:32). The “all men” in this verse certainly applies to the Gentiles as well as the Jews. Jesus also previously told his disciples: “And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.” (John 10:16) This, too, is likely a reference to Gentiles. In His Great Commission, He commanded that “all nations” (ἔθνος – ethnos) be taught, baptized, and discipled (Matthew 28:18 – 19). I for one am very glad that Jesus did not exclude us Gentiles.

The point of my thought this morning is that there are people out there in our world that desire to know Jesus. They may not be people who we would expect to be interested, and they may not be the people who we normally would hang around with, but they are the very people who Jesus died for, and who he came “to seek and to save” (Luke 19:10). We need to be like Philip and Andrew who were willing to take a risk to bring  these folks to Christ. By the way, Philip and Andrew both were known for pointing people to Christ. Philip told Nathanael about Jesus (John 1:45 – 48), and Andrew introduced Peter to Jesus (John 1:40 – 42). Who have you introduced to Jesus? Who have I brought to Jesus lately? In these perilous last days, we need to get out of our comfort zones and look for people who are looking for Jesus. 

See the handwritten notes from this passage – John 12 – 20 – 21