Some Greeks who had come to Jerusalem for the Passover celebration paid a visit to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee. They said, “Sir, we want to meet Jesus.” Philip told Andrew about it, and they went together to ask Jesus. [John 12.20-22]
I find this passage intriguing today. Perhaps for the first time ever, I have actually "seen" this passage for how it fits into its context. However, at first glance, it doesn't seem at all like Jesus responded to their request as much as He randomly changed the subject!
Jesus replied, “Now the time has come for the Son of Man to enter into his glory. I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone. But its death will produce many new kernels—a plentiful harvest of new lives. Those who love their life in this world will lose it. Those who care nothing for their life in this world will keep it for eternity. Anyone who wants to serve me must follow me, because my servants must be where I am. And the Father will honor anyone who serves me. [John 12.23-26]
What in the world did Jesus' answer have to do with the request by the two Greeks wanting to see Him? And here's another question: Why were Greeks coming to Jerusalem for the Passover, a distinctly Jewish celebration?
The answers to both questions are both found in the passages already noted.
The Greeks' request of Philip was this: “Sir, we want to meet Jesus.” We must see this request for the spiritual value it depicts. They wanted to see Jesus! We saw a similar pursuit of Jesus in yesterday's OYCB reading:
As Jesus approached Jericho, a blind beggar was sitting beside the road. When he heard the noise of a crowd going past, he asked what was happening. They told him that Jesus the Nazarene was going by. So he began shouting, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” “Be quiet!” the people in front yelled at him. But he only shouted louder, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” [Luke 18.35-39]
What begs to be asked today is, do we really want Jesus? For the Greeks, it meant getting completely outside their comfort zone. For the blind beggar, it meant going against what everyone else said.
Then, Jesus reply, as out of context as it seemed at first, now begins to make a little sense... As He was "putting Himself out there" by going to Jerusalem, so the Greeks also were "putting themselves out there" by coming to Jerusalem. The blind beggar did no less in persisting to cry out to Jesus when everyone else told him to shut up. Like Jesus' example before them, both the Greeks and the blind beggar put everything else aside, dying to themselves, in order to connect with Jesus - it was simply that important.
And then, the two sentences of John 12.26 reveal much.
Anyone who wants to serve me must follow me, because my servants must be where I am. And the Father will honor anyone who serves me. [John 12.26]
Even Greeks (who are certainly not Jews) must follow Jesus if they genuinely wish to serve Him (thus, they came to Jerusalem). Anyone who forsakes all to seek out and follow Jesus will be honored by God (even when the crowds may be "shouting you down").
But again, the real question for us is this: Do we really want Jesus? Even though Jesus' appeal is to all (anyone), are we willing to forsake everything that is comfortable to us and, ignore the shouts of the crowd telling us to be silent in order to seek out and follow Jesus?
In Jesus' response, it is clear the extent to which Jesus said we should follow Him: Those who care nothing for their life in this world will keep it for eternity.
Father, thank You for showing me today what before I had only passed over in reading. May I be found having forsaken all to follow Jesus. So be it.
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