We Would See Jesus

I came to school on Monday to work on the program and I found a sermon laying around on the table in the lobby. I got a copy made and have read it several times. Dr. Hubler gave me permission to blog excerpts from it.

The text was taken from John 12:20-33. There were Greeks who came up to worship and they came to Philip and said, "Sir, we would see Jesus." The Greeks were strangers to the promises made to the children of Israel. "Yet, these strangers were compelled to seek out Jesus, and getting the ear of Philip, they say, "Sir, we would see Jesus.""

"There is a story told among ministers of one minister who found the words of a simple admonition on his pulpit one Sunday, these words, "Sir, we would see Jesus." What a corrective. It is one that often comes to mind for me. We who preach must remember that the people are not here to see us. They are not here to hear our eloquence, or admire our learning. They are here to see Jesus. But that admonition is a knife that cuts both ways. Far too few people go to church and listen to the sermon in order that they might see Jesus."

....."I hope we can all aspire to be more like the Andrew that we meet in
the Bible. Let us be people who walk like Andrew. What I mean by that is that in the Gospel we find Andrew walking toward Jesus, and that's not all, we find him walking to Jesus with someone. He is one of the two who is a disciple of John the Baptist and yet he follows after Jesus when John points to Jesus as the Lamb of God. Later that day, it is Andrew who is walking to Jesus with his brother Peter. Here, when Philip comes to him with the request of the Greek to see Jesus, he takes Philip to Jesus."...

"It should be our ambition in life to take people to Jesus. I remember the words of an old friend, Roy Chew, on his death bed encouraging me in that way. "It is good," he said,"to take people to God." ...Can you imagine hearing someone say of you,"He took people to Jesus"? Maybe a good prayer for us each time we leave church, and each morning as we begin a new day, would be,"Lord, help me to point someone or take someone to Jesus."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I saw and heard a number of things today that were heart-breaking. I am reminded that the real reason I live and the real reason I am in this particular position of influence, is to create a longing in the hearts of these children to see Jesus. Life is hard. Some little children have rough lives. They won't make it if they don't see Jesus. They won't make it if He's not in their lives. I want my life to make them desire to know Him. I want to lead them to Him so He can place His hand of blessing on their lives. Once they experience the touch of His hand, they will not easily forget Him.

If they would only experience the love and mercy of God through me,
what will they think of the love and mercy of God?

I am thinking about these things.