Tuesday, March 25, 2003
Tuesday, March 25, 2003
They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and said to him, "Sir, we
wish to see Jesus."
Some Greeks were attending the festival of the Passover. They came to Philip and said to him,
"Sir, we would see Jesus." That's the universal need of humanity, isn't it? "We would see
Jesus." Somebody show us what Jesus is like! It is the hunger that gnaws at the heart of every
person who has ever walked this earth, even though they may not be able to give name to it, and
even though, because of the baggage the name Jesus carries in the world, some may violently
disavow such a need. The beggar in the slum of Calcutta and the banker in Beverly Hills both
have this same basic craving, "Sir, we would see Jesus."
We need Jesus for life. We need Jesus to give meaning to our existence. We need Jesus to
forgive us our sins. And so we ask with those Greeks, "Sir, WE would see Jesus.
(John 12.21
NRSV)
A pastor was showing a painting of Jesus to a group of children. He explained, "Now, young
people, you understand this painting came from the artist's imagination. He didn't really know
how Jesus looked." Whereupon one youngster said, "Well, pastor, it sure looks like Him to me."
And that brings us to the question of the day: What does Jesus look like?
God, make me more like Jesus as I get rid of my baggage, so that I can see him more clearly.
Amen.
