What It’s All About
Bible Reading:
John 12: 20 - 36
PREPARED BY
KEN GEHRELS
PASTOR
CALVIN CHRISTIAN REFORMED CHURCH
NEPEAN, ONTARIO
What It’s All About p.2
A few weeks ago they gathered, a few thousand of them on Petrie Island beach. They wanted a glimpse of their
heros, coming home to Ottawa.
A chance for a handshake, to hear a word or two, perhaps even have a quick “hello” and a hug for these folks -
Herbert & Diane Stuemer,
who took their children four years ago, bought a boat, and began a voyage around the
world.
Many in Ottawa followed their exploits through Diane’s weekly columns in The Citizen or
on their web site. Everyone’s read and heard so much about the Stuemer’s and Northern
Magic. Now they were home. And it was time to meet them. So it was that thousands
came in the rain to see them home.
They’ve heard so much.
Now they were close.
So it was that a few Greeks came to see Jesus.
It was the holiest week in the Jewish year. Rumors abounded that not too long ago Jesus had actually
raised a dead man back to life. Sunday previous had seen a palm-branch waving crowd usher Jesus into town
on a carpet of coats, singing hymns of salvation. The crowds buzzed. The leaders grumbled.
On Monday Jesus went into the Temple and cleaned house, as it were. He tossed out all the moneygrubbing
traders, who were cluttering up that place of worship, making it look more like the Parkdale Market
rather than a place of prayer.
Now it was Tuesday, and these travelers wanted to see, with their own eyes, the religious celebrity of
the day... speak to Him if they can.
So they head to Philip, the follower of Jesus with a Greek name. Perhaps someone they thought might give
them an “in.”
"We want to see Jesus."
To get the gist of the original phrase: not just see him from a distance, but interview him. Get in a few
words. Find out what makes him tick. What’s He all about? Why’s everyone so excited?
And Philip?
Seems he was caught off guard.
No doubt his mind was still spinning with all the events of recent days and the atmosphere of the moment. He
had plenty on his plate. And then this, out of the blue. Other people, strangers, cutting into his precious time
and space. Not exactly what a fellow needs...... at least, not right now.
“Sir,” say the Greeks, “can we see Jesus?”
True, these Greeks were converts. But still, it was rather unusual for Greeks & Jews to mingle much.
On top of that, Jesus had said a few times that his mission was focused primarily on the lost sheep of Israel.
What to do?
It’s all more than Philip can handle.
Check it out with Andrew.
Make room for these guys, or not? Still not sure.
Together they go to the Lord Himself.
Jesus’ answer is somewhat cryptic. Doesn’t say “yes” or “no.” He talks about glory. Now is the time for glory
of the Son of Man.
Son of Man - the essence of humanity...
that’s Jesus himself. The One around whom the hope of the whole human race revolves.
The kernel of wheat who dies on Golgotha’s cross, and will fall into the ground of Gethsemane, dead.
What It’s All About p.3
Who in His cross death, in the losing of His life, will bring the hope of eternal life to the human race –
millions upon millions of lives.
The Son of Man, willing to count His own life as worth nothing
- hating it, as it were -
Because He loved the lives of humanity so much.
For God so loved the world......
Not an easy thing to do.
It weighs heavy. It costs Jesus much. It troubles his heart. It hurts.
But He won’t shirk it.
Philip needs him.
Andrew needs him.
And those Greeks?..........
.............They need Him, too.
“But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself.” (v.32)
The bringing in of humanity,
men and women, boys and girls,
Jews and Greeks,
close to home and come from away,
familiar and stranger
church founder and new convert
traditionalist and cultural rebel
bringing them to the throne of the Father, as claimed, paid for and covered by the sacrifice of
Jesus on the cross
THAT is what brings glory to God.
More than ANYTHING else.
ANYTHING.
Luke 15 gives a side door view in on this truth when it presents this question to the listener:
What do you think causes a larger party in heaven - 99 folk whose lives are squeaky clean and in order
hunkered down and safe, or one who manages to crawl out of the ditch and find rescue from death at the
feet of the Saviour?
Answer -
There is nothing more exciting to heaven, more pleasing to the Father, more God-glorifying, than
someone who’s been caught in dead-end sinfulness coming to see and follow Jesus....... Nothing.
It’s the essence of Philippians 2:8-11 –
8 And being found in appearance as a man, Jesus humbled himself and became obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the........
remember the next word????
............glory of God the Father.
And Hebrews 2:9:
But we..... see..... Jesus,
What It’s All About p.4
who was made a little lower than the angels
for the suffering of death,
crowned with glory and honour;
that he by the grace of God should taste death for.....
.......every man.
Bring on the Greeks, Philip and Andrew.
Bring ‘em all on.
It may mean moving out of your comfort zone.
It may mean uneasy action, unfamiliar risks, uncertain future.
It may mean letting go of what you know and love.
It may mean having less for yourself.
But - hey - if the Master is as a kernel of wheat,
deliberate and painful sacrifice,
why should it be any less so for the followers?
Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant will also be. My Father will honour the one who
serves me. (v.26)
With me on the cross.
With me on heavenly thrones.
With me in the New Creation.
With me........
........ whoever serves and sacrifices for me.
Mark 10:43-44:
Whoever wants to be great among you shall be your servant, whoever wants to be first, shall be slave of
all.
As members of a community that wants to glorify God, we are called to bring the life changing message of
Christ to our neighbors as well as to each other.
Heard those words before?
Of course you have. Many of you have said them.
They are mission of this congregation.
How well we’re actually doing, that’s another matter.
But this is what we’re shooting for.
This is what it’s all about for us.
We want people to see Jesus -
With us - as we worship, and study, and pray, and play.
In us - as we serve and live, share fellowship and family.
Jesus suffered, went to lowest places, and then was raised to the highest so that we, too, may one day be
raised.
That our lives would be raised, right now, from worthless to being of infinite value, from castoff to adopted
children of the Heavenly Father, from alone to the indwelling of the Holy Spirit - bringing Jesus right into us.
Together we all look forward to the day when we will see Jesus, experience Him, face to face.
Maranatha!
What It’s All About p.5
He did this for us.
But not just us.
We don’t want to be left standing,
tongue-tied beside Philip and Andrew, not sure what to do.
I still vividly remember the first time I ever preached...... and hope that those poor people who were subjected to
it have long forgotten the debaucle. One image that sticks is a sign taped to the back of the pulpit - visible only
to the preacher. It’s one I’ve seen several times in the years since - a simple phrase:
“Sir, we would like to see Jesus.”
“Pastor, whatever else you do while standing there, please bring Jesus to us.”
Right on!
If Jesus doesn’t come front and centre in the worship and the preaching life of a congregation, there’s
something desperately misguided.
But that sign isn’t only for the pastors of Christ’s church.
One colleague told about the custodian in his parish who dutifully wiped a “sir, we would like to see Jesus” sign
every week, and every week would shake her head.
"It’s all wrong! It shouldn’t be there! It seems to be saying that the congregation expects to see Jesus in
the pulpit every week! If we need a sign, it should be a big one on the front of the pulpit for all the people to see,
asking of them, “We would like to see Jesus."
What a huge observation. How right she was. It’s a sign for everybody!
The people can expect to have the preacher show them Jesus.
And then the preacher can expect to see Jesus - his life and character - increasingly visible in the lives
of the members of the congregation.
Visible - not just in some quiet, secret way for each other.
But clearly, in an attractive way for everyone - Greek and resident of Ottawa.
May God shut me down if the preaching doesn’t draw people to the Lord.
May God close this church family down if we focus in on ourselves and don’t bring Jesus to Ottawa..
So tell me -
What will this season show of Jesus to the city?
Think about it folks -
What could we be here for?
friendship
lending a helping hand to each other now and then
a comfortable place to express our faith
a community to keep traditions and heritage alive
Would that be enough?
Would that be right?
As members of a community that wants to glorify God, we are called to bring the life changing message of
Christ to our neighbors as well as to each other.
As people watch what makes us tick - do they see Jesus?
That what He’s about -
- giving hope to dead-end lives; a chance to those who have lost all theirs; acceptance to those that
others would reject; resurrection instead of death; eternity instead of hell; new Creation
do people see that colour and give shape to our actions and values?
What It’s All About p.6
Can people see an excitement, a passion, commitment and love for Him resonate within us?
The Bible records in a later place that Philip became one of the first missionaries in the Church. He helps an
Ethiopian civil servant come to see Jesus. Baptizes him into the new life of Christ, the family of Christ. (Acts 8)
Philip got it.
Saw it.
Shared it.
We’ve been given Jesus, too.
Do we really see it?
And -
in this 2001/2002 season........ will we at Calvin share it?
With each other?
And beyond?
The crowds around Jesus didn’t really get it.
They’re not sure about Him.
They’re not sure about the voice from heaven.
They’re not sure about the message.
“Well...... maybe.....” they say.
“‘Maybe’ is not good enough” says Jesus.
The light is here today.
You never know about tomorrow.
And we don’t, do we fellow believers at Calvin?
We don’t know about tomorrow, do we?
We don’t know about the day when Jesus will come back and we, as a church community, will have to stand
and give answer for how it was that we dealt with all those around us that need to see and experience
Jesus.
Whether we ignored them because we were too busy with our own thing.
Or didn’t want to disturb a comfortable thing.
Or waffled on getting ready to do God’s thing.
Or were obedient to His glory.
Friends,
Now is the time.
Time for the glory of the Son of Man.
Glory in bringing all people to the cross.
Now is the time.
No time for confusion or hesitation.
We may only have a short time left.
So come, Philip.
Come, Andrew.
Come, Calvin.
And let’s get to work.
