Outer Banks Community Church

Text: John 12:20-21 (NKJV)

"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."

"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven." Matthew 5:16

Intro: ”We wish to see Jesus”

Imagine being a new preacher and finding a note on the pulpit that reads: “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.”

The setting of the this text takes us to just a week before Jesus is to die on the cross, Lazarus had been raised from the dead, Mary had taken a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair. The shouts of Hosanna still filled the minds of the multitude and the remembrance of His triumphal entry. Thousands of Jews gathered for Passover. In all of the business of this historical event there ushers in the Greeks and their desire to see Jesus. If you’re not a Jew you’re a Greek, there were basically two kinds of people Jews and not Jews (Gentiles) the scriptures should be speaking to us, DO YOU HAVE A DESIRE TO SEE JESUS?

A. The Heart Cry of All Races: vs. 20

“nd there were certain Greeks among them.” There were a few Gentiles at the Passover who longed to know God. Grecian philosophy had failed them, now they sought God through Judaism. They were Gentiles who had abandoned their pagan religion and turned to worship the true God, They heard about Jesus, what was it about Him? perhaps intrigued by word of His miracles or curious about how He could speak with authority and perform all the miracles He did. It was something? They wanted to see Him, thinking He might enlighten them.

The Bible makes it clear the world’s philosophy will fail you; all people need Christ because all have sinned! “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” Romans 3:23

And all can be saved by faith in Him: “That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 13 For "whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved." Romans 10:9-10, 13

This world we currently live in has consumed us with business, no time to confess or believe. Yet the heart does cry because many are empty, suicide is rising, the pharmaceutical industry is making millions and thank God we got commercials helping to convince us to try some new miracle drug that can cure all, make you look twenty years younger have hair you never had and looks that were never yours to have.

- But the heart cry is there for all races!

B. The Heart Cry of All Who Seek Relief through Religious Ceremony: vs. 20

“And there were certain Greeks among them that came up to worship at the feast.”

These Greeks came to the Passover, searching for something. Their faith didn’t work, their believe system was missing something. There was something about that Jew His name was Jesus. Things haven’t changed; there are still millions in churches like them:

- People who have been baptized but are lost.
- People who have taken communion but are lost.
- People who have joined churches but are lost.

Eternal life is not given through religious ritual, the scriptures tell us not by the will of the flesh: “who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” John 1:13

Or not by the will of man: “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.” John 1:12

There is no other way! Only Jesus saves to those who believe in His name.

C.  The Heart Cry of All Who Seek Reality in the Lives of Christians: vs. 21

"Then they came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and asked him, saying, "Sir, we wish to see Jesus."

These Greeks came to Philip with their request, it was a reasonable request, it might be asked of every Christian. The world wants to see Jesus through His people, what are they seeing in you? Is there evidence that would proof you’re a Christian? We must face up to this responsibility. We are to be the light of the world: “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:16

Conclusion

The Greeks - They wished to see, have an audience with Jesus. The Gentiles sought to know more about Him. Israel’s willful rejection would be sealed by divine judgment, as God set the nation aside and turned to the rest of the world with the gospel and the commission to be a witnessing people on His behalf.

Do you wish to see Jesus? He is revealed in the Bible. He invites you to trust Him and receive eternal life. Would Souls Seeking Jesus Come to You?