We Wish to See Jesus
Notes
Transcript
20 Now there were certain Greeks among those who came up to worship at the feast. 21 Then they came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and asked him, saying, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.”
22 Philip came and told Andrew, and in turn Andrew and Philip told Jesus.
23 But Jesus answered them, saying, “The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified. 24 Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain. 25 He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor.
27 “Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour. 28 Father, glorify Your name.”
Then a voice came from heaven, saying, “I have both glorified it and will glorify it again.”
29 Therefore the people who stood by and heard it said that it had thundered. Others said, “An angel has spoken to Him.”
30 Jesus answered and said, “This voice did not come because of Me, but for your sake. 31 Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. 32 And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.” 33 This He said, signifying by what death He would die.
New Sermon Series: The final week of Jesus’ life on earth. Lenten season. Culminating in Resurrection Sunday.
We want to study the last week of Jesus on the earth because of its significance to all of human history.
Even the Gospel writers placed an obvious emphasis on the final week.
The content and structure of the four Gospels also reveal that why Jesus came was the most significant element of His life. Jesus lived on earth approximately 1700 weeks. In Mark's Gospel, for instance, chapters 1-10 covers Jesus' first 1699 weeks, and chapters 11-16 covers his last week! This proportion shows that Mark wanted to emphasize Jesus' death for our sins.
Matthew’s Gospel has 28 chapters, chapters 21 - 28, over 25% of the book focused on the last week of the Lord.
Luke has 24 chapters and 5 chapters...
John wrote chapters 12 - 21, almost 50 percent of his gospel about the final week of the Lord Jesus Christ.
The interview.... the Greeks
20 Now there were certain Greeks among those who came up to worship at the feast. 21 Then they came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and asked him, saying, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.”
22 Philip came and told Andrew, and in turn Andrew and Philip told Jesus.
“Sir, we wish to see Jesus” - With this request comes our mission, people come to this church to “see Jesus”.
that’s what we are all about --- the pulpit — not anything else,, not some great knowledge,, to give some history lesson, not about some great celebrity.. we are here so people will see Jesus..
how beautiful He is (Names of Jesus)..
They came to see the One Who raised the dead.. the first words Jesus said was about His death..
23 But Jesus answered them, saying, “The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified.
The hour has come… finally..
One way to really see the Lord Jesus is in terms of His last week on earth. Why is that? It is because we can see who people really are when they are under severe pressure.
There is a saying “Character is revealed when pressure is applied.”
Story of people shining and collapsing under pressure. Ashraf Ghani - Afghanistan vs. Volodymyr Zelenskyy
Continue to pray for Ukraine. Courageous and strong a leader as he is, the pressure that Zelenskyy is facing is nothing compared to the weight of pressure that Jesus carried on His final week. He was resolute...
51 Now it came to pass, when the time had come for Him to be received up, that He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem,
The Last week of Jesus is about paradoxes or contradictions:
First Paradox: Glorification in Crucifixion.
The Lord could have said.. the hour has come for the Son of Man to be crucified..
Everything we do is for the glory of the Lord Jesus..
2. Second Paradox: Fruitfulness by dying.
24 Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain.
3. Third Paradox: Keeping your life by hating it.
25 He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.
Wheat falling to the ground and dies.. picture of Jesus’ death.. but this is how you see Jesus..
Picture of a grain of wheat here.
The outer shell has to be broken.. (self image, pride, self-interest, self worth.. personal accolades..)
there’s a dying that happens in darkness..
we have to die to ourselves
26 If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor.
Serving Jesus is the Highest Honor.
We shall see Jesus and the world will see Jesus in us.
The Lord expressed the pressure He was facing at that hour:
27 “Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour. 28 Father, glorify Your name.”
Then a voice came from heaven, saying, “I have both glorified it and will glorify it again.”
When we are facing:
Trials and tribulations...
Severe pressure as a follower of Jesus
Facing persecution for His Name
You have to fight a struggle for the truth of God’s Word..
Do we call out to God in surrender: “Father save me!” or do we cry out
“Father, glorify Your Name!”
29 Therefore the people who stood by and heard it said that it had thundered. Others said, “An angel has spoken to Him.”
30 Jesus answered and said, “This voice did not come because of Me, but for your sake.
conversation between Father and Son..
This voice did not come because of Me, but for your sake..
“For your sake”
In His last week under severe pressure, the Lord Jesus thought of you.
The Lord Jesus cared for you and for me, He cared for others, not Himself through His last week.... UNTIL THE FINAL HOUR.
31 Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. 32 And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.”
Alluded to what He said in John 3:
14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.
under pressure:
The sins of all humanity, of the whole world and all generations fell on Jesus… not like an object falling on our toes.. it means that the Messiah would suffer for our sins it was as if He were guilty of every sin committed by every sinner in the world.
5 But He was wounded for our transgressions,
He was bruised for our iniquities;
The chastisement for our peace was upon Him,
And by His stripes we are healed.
6 All we like sheep have gone astray;
We have turned, every one, to his own way;
And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.