Talking Points with President Woodford: We Wish to See Jesus

Now among those who went up to worship at the feast were some Greeks. So these came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and asked him, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” (John 12:20-21).

“We wish to see Jesus.” That’s what they said. But why? What had they heard? What did they want? Much had been made of this Jesus. Word had spread. He cast out demons. He healed the sick. He even raised dead people back to life—one named Lazarus. It’s no wonder people wanted to see Him, hear Him, and if they could, touch Him. “Sir, we wish to see Jesus!”

Some of you reading this may have this same desire. Perhaps you have a deep longing in your heart or maybe a little desperation in your soul? You are standing there with the crowd saying, “We wish to see Jesus!”

Maybe you’re frightened about the future, unsure of what’s to come? You want some reassurance. You want some hope. Perhaps your hurt is too heavy or your anxiety too great? Maybe your fear is too much or your loss too devastating? Like the crowds, you want to see Jesus!

You want what He has to offer. You want what He can give. Release from your pain; freedom from your sorrow; forgiveness for your sins; healing for your hurt. You want some pure, unadulterated, 200 proof, life-giving Good News to be spoken into your ears. You want some Holy Spirit, Word driven, faith filled, divine inspiration to be poured into your weary bones. You’re right there with all the people standing in line, talking to Philip, saying, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus!”

Of course, you aren’t the only ones desperate for some hope. You aren’t the only ones who urgently need Jesus. There’s a world full of lost and lonely people, a country filled with unbelievers, a state overflowing with skeptics, a county packed with unrepentant souls, and a community filled with young and old who don’t know Jesus or the hope that He gives.

But there is something beautiful about the hope that comes in Jesus. When you are filled with hope, it not only makes life more bearable and enjoyable, but it makes it all the easier to share that hope with others who desperately need it.

“We wish to see Jesus!” It was more than just Jews who came to see Him. The text tells us that there were also some Greeks. That meant Gentiles—non-Jews—from surrounding cities who had come to celebrate the Passover. To say it another way, Republicans and Democrats were coming to see Him. Or yet another way: black, brown, and white people - people of all ethnicities, including local citizens and immigrants—wanted to see Jesus. 

It’s a good reminder for us today. When we have a gathering to celebrate King Jesus, who do we invite to come? When we worship Jesus, who is welcome? Who do we invite?

“We want to see Jesus!” That’s what they said. There were all kinds of people who wanted to see Jesus on that first Palm Sunday. But by the end of the week there were few who still wanted to “see” Him. Come Friday, His body was so beaten, so bloody, and so gory that few could stand the sight of Him as He hung there naked, exposed, and nailed to the cross. 

It is a reminder that to “see” Jesus as He wants to be seen is different than seeing Him as we want Him to be seen. Like the people who came to Philipp wanting to see Jesus, we often have a certain expectation of how Jesus should be, and that may not match up with what He wants us to see. Do we see him as a good luck charm? A means to earthly success? A get out of jail free card? Or do we see Him as our crucified Lord, who shed His blood for every last man, woman, and child on the face of this planet?

“Sir,” they said, “we wish to see Jesus.” Are your ready to see Him? We can’t let the American dream make Him in our image. We can’t let our desire for glory be that which tells Jesus’ story. There’s no relief for your longing heart there. There’s no comfort for your desperate soul there.

The only remedy for the malady of your heart, the only cure for the sin in our soul, and the only comfort for the brokenness of your lives, is Jesus Christ crucified.

“We wish to see Jesus!” That’s our cry. That’s our song. That’s our desire. “We wish to see Jesus!” We want to see Him in all His bloody glory. We need to see His wounds, to hear His cries, and to see His suffering; because that’s where we see how He is our all loving, all giving, all serving Savior.

To see Jesus on the cross is to see your salvation high and lifted up. So don’t look away. Don’t turn the other way. You want to see Jesus? Look at Him and see His sacrifice for you!

All are welcome to look upon Him. His blood has paid for your sins. By it, He cleanses you - not only your own sins, but from all the pain, all the hurt, and all the defilement of those sins that have been committed against you as well.

“We wish to see Jesus!” When life is tough, you want to see Jesus. When your hurt is intense you want to see Jesus. When your anxiety is great, your fear is heavy, and your loss devastating, you want to see Jesus! For He has the power to make it melt away into His amazing peace and divine consolation.

“We wish to see Jesus!” He is here for you today. His love is present for you now. To see Jesus on the cross is to see His ultimate love for you. His triumph over death gives you hope.

“We wish to see Jesus!” That is our cry. That is our song. It is our desire. Baptized into Jesus, the Holy Spirit makes you a new person. Faith is forged. Guilt is forgotten. Selfishness ceases. Blessings abound. 

“We wish to see Jesus!” And so you do, on His cross pouring out His love, giving you His life. He is present for you; His sacramental body and blood given and shed for you. Open your eyes, open your ears, and open your mouths, Jesus is here for you.

“We wish to see Jesus!” And so we do, where His victory is completed, where the win is final, and where the glory is grand.

Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!

Rev. Dr. Lucas V. Woodford
President
MN South District, LCMS