We would like to see Jesus! John 12:20-33

John 12:20-33 Gospel reading for Sunday March 25th 2012

(...rather bizarre that I quoted from John 12 in last week's post, unaware that the verse in question would be part of this week's reading.)

Walking the final road with Jesus, we note that this reading comes immediately after what is often referred to as the triumphal entry into Jerusalem. With Palm Sunday still another week away we are obviously chronologically just a bit ahead of ourselves. Either way this exchange is clearly drawn from the final days of Jesus ministry.

In terms of context, note also that this dialogue occurs immediately after the lament of the Pharisees in verse 19: "See the whole world has gone after him". (Alarm bells ringing loudly for the religious authorities!)
What unfolds in this reading is therefore probably no coincidence. Some GREEKS ask if they can see Jesus! Greeks of all people! Could it really be that these excluded people (at least in the Jews eyes) want to find out more about Jesus?

It is interesting that on the surface Jesus seems to ignore the request but He in fact gives a profound answer. Jesus declares that "it's time" ... (to use a famous Australian political phrase!)  ...it is time to make it finally clear that He must die ... and through Him being raised up on the cross, ALL PEOPLE will be drawn to Him ... Greeks included!

What is this saying to us now? For me as I went back to search for insights for us in Lutheran Schools in 2012, I found that I was being confronted with a barrage of questions arising from the reality that amongst the young people and families who are drawn to our Lutheran Schools, there are surely some who are asking us to show them Jesus.

How do we respond to that request?

How to we answer the challenge of showing people Jesus in these largely secular times of the 21st century?

What implications does this reading have for us with regard to enrolling students and engaging with people from religious backgrounds other than Christianity?

Have we shown Jesus to someone this week?

Nev