Sir, We Would See Jesus

by Bert Ghilardi

John 12:20-32

n this account, a few Greeks came respectfully up to worship and speak to Jesus at the Feast. They opened the discussion with, “Sirs, we would see Jesus.” However, what they really wanted was to see Him with their mind through reasoning. They wanted an intellectual understanding of Jesus. In the past, Phillip and Andrew had introduced Simon Peter and a small lad to our Lord. He gladly received them both. On this occasion our Lord does not even acknowledge these visitors’ request. Instead He declared, “The hour is come that the son of man should be glorified.”

Maybe they had questions about His ride into Jerusalem. How could this King ride a donkey instead of a white stallion and not be wearing a crown and kingly robe? The Greeks were known for open dialogue and were great reasoners about important matters. Christ was past the point of merely talking about who He was. What He really wanted was for seekers to see with their heart who He was.

There was something higher than seeing Him a healer and a teacher. He wanted now to be seen as the glorified son of man. His death would bring a two-fold harvest. Many souls would be saved and many would then follow Him on the path of suffering and death. What Jesus really wanted was for believers to move past the intellectual into a personal identification with Him. He revealed to the Greeks and to the disciples the work of the cross. That work would bring judgment upon the prince of this world. If He would be lifted up from the earth He would draw all men unto Him.

He also showed the way of the cross as the path of suffering and reproach that would lead to His glorification. Also, all who followed Him in this path would also suffer and experience glorification.

Dear saints of the Most High God, maybe we wish to have dialogue and reasoning with the Lord about many things like these Greeks. In this hour the Lord wants more than just hearing about Him but seeing Him in all of His glory and entering into His glory! Lord, I pray that you will help us all to embrace the path and process you have chosen for us that we would behold Thee in the fullness of Thy glory.