“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.’ Philip went and told Andrew; Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. And Jesus answered them, ’The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him’" (John 12:20-26, ESV.)
We are aware of some famous military leaders in history. We know also some sayings attributed to them.
We heard the name of Alexander the Great, who was known for creating one of the largest empires through his military conquests. He said, “I am indebted to my father for living, but to my teacher for living well.” He acknowledged the influence of his father, King Philip II, and his teacher, Aristotle
Also, Genghis Khan, who unified Mongol tribes to establish a vast empire and conquered parts of Asia and Europe. He said, “A leader can never be happy until his people are happy.”
Another one is Napoleon Bonaparte, who was known for his military power and strategic brilliance. According to him, “A true man hates no one.”
We know George Washington, the first President of US and served as the Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. He said, “It is impossible to rightly govern a nation without God and the Bible.”
And, of course, Gen. Douglas MacArthur, who was an American General during WW II. Famous for his words, “Old soldiers never die, they just fade away.” But he is best known for his promise to the Filipino people, “I shall return.” Also, he believed in the strength and guidance that the Bible provided, and encouraged others to do the same, when he said, “Believe me, sir, never a night goes by, be I ever so tired, but I read the Word of God before I go to bed.”
Who is the famous person you have in your mind right now?
All the achievements, however, of those famous men we know cannot equal what the Most Famous One did, not only for one nation but for all the nations of the world. He said, “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also” (John 14:3, ESV). No famous man in history was able to make such kind of promise! Only the Most Famous of them all.
At this time, let’s focus on the topic, MOST FAMOUS OF THEM ALL while we study our text (John 12:20-26).
As we acknowledge that Christ is the most famous of them all, what should be our heart’s desire? What should we be doing?
Remember again that the Gospel of John was written by the Apostle John, who addressed himself repeatedly in the book as, “the disciple whom Jesus loved.” He pointed out that Jesus is God. And he emphasized the need of not only believing, but also loving Jesus.
In chapter 11, we realized that when Jesus “unleashed” His word, there were at least two glorious effects. It is accepted. And it is acted upon. It was demonstrated in the case when He raised Lazarus from the dead.
Also, when we considered God’s Sovereign Work, we came to understand that it creates appreciation in the heart, and it “overrules” or rules over even the evil intention of man.
And in the early part of chapter 12, as we became aware of the worth of Christ, we would be moved to display our great love for Him.
Now, in our text, it was pointed out that Jesus became well known not only among the Jews. He was becoming famous even among the non-Jewish. It could be noted also the significant reaction of those who admired or became interested in Him. So, what shall be our desire knowing that Jesus is the “Mega-Famous” Being?
DESIRE TO SEE CHRIST (verses 20-22).
We read verses 20-22, “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.’ Philip went and told Andrew; Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus."
Some Greeks, who were evidently converts to Judaism, came to join the Jews in the Temple worship during the Passover Festival. They came to show their seriousness in their purpose to worship, yet they desired to see Jesus.
The fame of Jesus reached their attention. And they could have heard the recent news that Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead. Also, they witnessed the crowd that met Jesus in Jerusalem.
No one will doubt today how famous Jesus is. But during that time, He was just beginning to be known by many. When the Pharisees saw the great crowd that met Jesus, they said to one another, “… Look, the world has gone after him” (John 12:19B). (The “world” -- great number of people, not everyone in the world.)
And some of the Greeks realized that Jesus was not just an ordinary Jew. They became interested in Him. They desired, wanted, or intended to see Him. So they approached one of the Apostles, Philip, and requested, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.”
When they expressed their intention to “see” Jesus, they did not mean just to have a glimpse or have a visual sight of Jesus. They desired or wanted to have an audience or an interview to understand, learn from Him. To know Him deeply.
The Greek word from which the English word “see” comes does not suggest that the Greeks would just like to meet Jesus physically. The original word indicates “a deeper longing for spiritual insight and connection.” So, those who wanted to see Jesus would like to experience to be in His Presence.
As Philip and Andrew told Jesus about the desire of the Greeks, He started to respond in verse 23, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.” As if Jesus was saying, “They have heard of glorious things I did, but they would see or realize greater glory about Me, when I go to the cross, to die, rise from the dead and ultimately be glorified.”
Then, Jesus proceeded to explain in verses 24-26 that His death would cause “much fruit” -- produce many God’s children, who will see the glory of God. They are those who do not prefer to live in this world and who follow the life of service of Jesus. And finally, those who really see Him would be, according to Jesus, “where I am, there will my servant be also.” As He also said in John 14:3, “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.”
Those who desire to see Christ now will one day witness the greater Glory of Christ in the future.
While still on earth, Jesus prayed to His Father:
“Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world” (John 17:24).
There are people whom the Father has given to Jesus. In the words of Jesus in John 6:44, the Father draws them to the Son. The desire to be interested, to see, to really know, to experience to be in the Presence of Jesus blossoms in their heart. They want to see or have “a deeper longing for spiritual insight and connection” to Jesus.
And that was the kind of feeling that the Greeks have in their heart. Taking the account by itself, it seemed it was just an ordinary thing to have a desire for Jesus. But the tendency of man is to be ashamed of Jesus, even to betray or kill Him. During this time, people may not kill Him literally, but they kill Him figuratively. They “put to death” or set aside the Biblical Jesus and teach, promote, believe and follow the kind of Jesus not taught by the Apostles.
But the Greeks went to the Apostles, when they wanted to see Jesus. And those who have that desire to see Him -- the real Jesus -- He promised that He will take them to Himself, that where He is they may be also. And He prayed for them that they may be with Him where He is, to see His glory that the Father has given Him.
Again, those who desire to see Christ now will one day behold the greater Glory of Christ at His second coming and throughout eternity.
Believers or lovers of Christ, do you also desire to see Jesus now?
There are two American theologians I loved to see personally. One of them I do not hope anymore to see during this lifetime. He already died some years ago in his late 80’s. The second one is not only seen, but even became a professor of our senior pastor. Am sure that our Pastor was able to shake his hands, so I just imagine or “deceive” myself that every time I shake the hand of our pastor, I am shaking the hand of the American theologian I like to see.
Realize that the Greeks did not just content themselves to have a visual sight of Jesus. They were not satisfied just to know that Jesus was a miracle worker and He was also in the temple. Actually, they came to Jerusalem for a Jewish Festival. But knowing that Jesus was there, they did not settle just for a religious experience. They wanted to see and experience to be with Jesus.
Is that the kind of seeing you desire for Him? Seeing in the sense that you want to experience “a deeper longing for spiritual insight and connection” to Jesus? That you want to know Him deeply? Learn from Him and understand Him better?
Like the Greeks, let us not be content with just a religious experience. Let us not be content with a general knowledge about Jesus. And let us never be content of believing and seeing just any kind of Jesus.
Desire to see Jesus -- the Real One. Desire to know Him more than what we already know about Him.
And let us prioritize seeing or experiencing Him than seeing or accomplishing our earthly desires in this world. Seek first to see or to have an audience with the King. Or, in the words of Matthew, “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness…” (Matt. 6:33A,)
Also note that when the Greeks wanted to see Jesus, they approached one of the Apostles to introduce them to Him. In our time, who should we ask to help us see Jesus?
Like the Greeks, we can ask the Apostles. We can ask the Apostle Paul. We can ask the Apostle John, or Peter. Through the Bible, we can ask the other Apostles and other writers to introduce us to Christ. Through this Book, we can have spiritual insight and connection to Jesus.
Am not able to see and meet the two Theologians I mentioned earlier. But I am able to have spiritual insight and connection to them. How? I read many of their books. And I was able also to read other books about them, written by other Christian writers.
So, at present, we cannot see visually Jesus. But we can see Him through His words. We can see Him and enjoy His Presence through the writings of others in the Bible.
If we want, then, to see Jesus, let us approach the writers of the Bible and say, “I wish to see Jesus.”
Now, if we are one of those who have a glimpse of the Divine Goodness of Jesus, if we are among those who who have seen, tasted and felt the Greatness of the Most Famous of them all, let us not also hesitate to bring others to Him. God the Father may bring people to us, as He brought the Greeks to Philip. Let us also help them to see our Glorious Savior.
When my wife was blessed by God to reach Europe, she was able see and experience the beauty of at least two European countries. She hoped that I could also join her and see and experience what she enjoyed. Because it was not possible, what she did was just to use her cellphone.
While she was walking in one area of Hungary, she called me, turned on the camera of her cellphone and allowed me to see what she was seeing while on her way.
Any good thing, any good place, any good opportunity, any good or famous person cannot equal the Goodness and Prominence of the Most Famous of them all. So, let us be more eager and determined to help others see and experience the saving power of Jesus Christ.
CONCLUSION:
Last month, we commemorated the human birth of Jesus Christ. In Luke 2, it was also related when the child Jesus was presented to the temple. A godly Israelite by the name of Simeon, who received a revelation that he would not see death before he had seen the
coming of the Messiah, came also in the temple. He took the child in his arms and prayed:
"Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel" (verses 29-32).
What joy that Simeon felt!
God granted him the special favor that before his death, He was to see the birth of the Savior. Should we not be joyful and celebrate that before our death, we are able to "see" Jesus and experience the salvation He extends to the elect?
Let’s desire, then, to see Him more. Prioritize to see Him. Every time we read the Bible, let’s pray and ask for help from the Author, the Holy Spirit: “I wish to see Jesus.” And let’s become channel for others to have a spiritual insight and connection to the Most Famous of them all.
