Explores seeking Jesus, experiencing divine encounters, and embracing transformation through understanding and applying the teachings of John 12:20-36.
Good morning, beloved family of God. It's a joy to be with you again, here in the house of our Lord, where we gather to share in the warmth of fellowship, the comfort of His Word, and the nourishment of His Spirit. We are not merely here today; we are here together, unified in purpose and love for our Savior, Jesus Christ.
Today, we turn our hearts and minds to the twelfth chapter of John, verses 20-36. This passage is a profound moment in the narrative of our Savior's life. It is a moment of divine encounter, a moment of transformation, and above all, a moment of seeking and finding the Savior.
Allow me to read the passage for us:
[Read passage]
In the words of the great Christian thinker, J.I. Packer, "Once you become aware that the main business that you are here for is to know Christ, most of life's problems fall into place of their own accord." Isn't this the very heart of our passage today? The Greeks came seeking Jesus, and in doing so, they set into motion a chain of events that led to a divine encounter, a moment of transformation, and ultimately, to the revelation of Jesus' purpose.
Let us pray.
Dear Heavenly Father, we thank You for this day, for the blessing of life, and for the privilege of gathering in Your name. As we seek to understand Your Word today, we ask that you open our hearts and minds. Help us to see Jesus as the Greeks did, to savor the divine encounter as they might have, and to embrace the transformation that comes from knowing Him. May Your Word guide us, inspire us, and draw us closer to You. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
Let’s get started!
In the passage we just read, we find a group of Greeks who have traveled a great distance to attend a religious festival. But their purpose goes beyond mere attendance. They have a specific request. They want to see Jesus. This desire, this yearning to see Jesus, is something that resonates with us today. It's a longing that goes beyond mere curiosity. It's a deep, spiritual hunger to encounter the divine, to come face to face with the Savior of the world.
This longing is about spiritual insight: It's about understanding who Jesus is and what He represents. It's about recognizing His divinity, His authority, His love, and His sacrifice. It's about acknowledging Him as the Messiah, the Savior, the Son of God. It's about seeing Him not just with our eyes, but with our hearts and souls.
The Greeks in our passage understood this: They didn't just want to see Jesus; they wanted to know Him. They wanted to understand His teachings, His miracles, His purpose. They wanted to be part of His mission, His ministry, His movement. They wanted to be His disciples, His followers, His friends. They wanted to be transformed by His love, His grace, His truth. They wanted to be part of His kingdom, His family, His body. They wanted to see Jesus, and in seeing Him, they wanted to be seen by Him.
This desire to see and be seen by Jesus is something that we all share: It's a universal longing, a common yearning, a shared aspiration. It's a desire that transcends culture, language, geography, and time. It's a desire that unites us as believers, as disciples, as children of God. It's a desire that defines us, shapes us, and drives us. It's a desire that leads us to seek Jesus, to follow Jesus, to serve Jesus, to love Jesus.
Who or what are we seeking?: In seeking Jesus, we are not just seeking a person, a prophet, a teacher. We are seeking a relationship, a connection, a communion. We are seeking a way of life, a way of love, a way of truth. We are seeking a vision, a mission, a purpose. We are seeking a hope, a peace, a joy. We are seeking a Savior, a Redeemer, a Friend. We are seeking Jesus, and in seeking Him, we are seeking ourselves, our true selves, our best selves, our God-given selves.
As we immerse ourselves in the narrative, we find ourselves standing shoulder to shoulder with the Greeks, their hearts echoing a simple yet profound desire: "We would like to see Jesus ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO
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