Rev. Chism's Weekly Message

"20 Now among those who went up to worship at the festival were some Greeks. 21 They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and said to him, 'Sir, we wish to see Jesus.'"

- John 12:20-21 (NRSV)

Leading a prayer service or a graveside is a holy moment. Family and friends honor that love one that has passed on. There are so many stories I could share about amazing people and how their life reflected God. They were an inspiration to all who knew them. These memories will always be with those that grieve.

What would you like to see as we continue to journey through Lent?

Jesus and the Disciples were celebrating Passover. That's when one day, a few Greeks wanted to see Jesus. Who were those that wanted to see Him that day? What was going on?

There are several interpretations of who the Greeks were. Some equate the word "Greeks" to "Gentiles." Gentiles were people that did not practice Judaism. Greeks could have possibly been, in some cases, a person affiliated with Judaism but not Jewish.

John may have been pointing to the future ministry of spreading the good news beyond the Jewish people. However, scholars like David Rensberger point out they could be Jews that lived outside of the Holy Land that traveled to participate in Passover. If so, they would have spoken Greek most likely. Scholar Marilyn Salmon points that this could be true because there are hints of this in John 7:35-36. Verse 35 refers to the Greeks as "scattered."

Regardless, the request was simple, they wanted to see Jesus. Had Jesus and His message spread outside of the Holy Land or had they witnessed what was going on during the Passover festival? Regardless, they wanted to see Him.

Jesus did not respond by saying, "That's great. Go get them and we will hang out." No, He responded with a parable and predictions of His death. My thought is Jesus did have dialogue with them… John just didn’t record it as pivotal to what happened next.

Jesus tells those listening His hour has come. They would not see Him in the same way for much longer. And then He gives them another lesson on discipleship by comparing a life to a piece of grain following to the ground. It has to die before it grows and bear’s fruit. This is the same as a person losing their life to follow Jesus.

Rev. Karoline Lewis points out that John 12:20-33 encompasses the crucifixion, resurrection, and His ascension forty days post the empty tomb. She also points out that Jesus was preparing the Disciples, not the Greeks, for what was about to happen. He was pointing them to something greater than death. Jesus was showing them even though the "grain of wheat" would die, the fruits would follow.

Jesus would die a few days later on the cross. It wasn't the end. The "grain of wheat" would spring forth from the empty tomb and bear much fruit. The fruit would come from the Disciples and those earlier followers that would become grains of wheat as well. They would let go of how they knew themselves and the world and see it through the eyes of Jesus.

Let me say that again... see it through the eyes of Jesus. See people as Jesus saw them. See the world as a place to share the good news. And through them, people would see Jesus.

The old beloved hymn, Amazing Grace, sums up when the light turns on so we can see. We’ve heard the story often. John Newton, a former slave owner, came to see the folly of his ways. The song he wrote is very much the cycle of dying to himself. He mourned, he practiced introspection, and would practice the humility of a redeemed person. Kind of sounds like a resurrection, right?

Amazing grace, a sweet sound, helped him see his life in a new way. He saw slaves as human beings like himself. So moved, he wrote his beloved hymn so others could be inspired to see Jesus and how a life can change. And through his hymn, we see Jesus.

Stay Safe,

Rev. Baxter