Sir, We Would See Jesus

John 12:20-33
P. G. Mathew | Sunday, April 02, 2000
Copyright © 2000, P. G. Mathew
Language [Spanish]

Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the Feast. They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. “Sir,” they said, “we would like to see Jesus.” Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus.

Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. I tell you the truth, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.

“Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say? `Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name!”

Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.” The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him.

Jesus said, “This voice was for your benefit, not mine. Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself.” He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die.

John 12:20-33

Recently I had the privilege of visiting the city of Calcutta in eastern India, where I was invited to preach in William Carey’s church, Circular Road Baptist Chapel. While I waited to speak, I sat on an old, worn-out chair behind the pulpit. This was the chair missionary Carey had used almost two hundred years ago. As I sat there, I noticed a sign which was visible only to the person sitting on that chair. It said, “Sir, we would see Jesus.” It was an exhortation to the preacher that he must only preach Christ in that church.

The Request of the Greeks

In John 12 we read about some Greeks who were in Jerusalem for the Feast of Passover. They came to one of Jesus’ disciples, Philip, with a request: “Kurie, thelomen ton Iêsoun idein,” meaning, “Sir, we have a great desire Jesus to see.”

These Greeks were among the many people, Jews as well as Gentiles, from throughout the Roman empire who had come to Jerusalem during this Passion week to celebrate the Passover festival and worship at the temple. No doubt they had heard many reports about Jesus, including the recent news that he had raised Lazarus of Bethany from the dead. Like the Ethiopian eunuch of Acts 8 and the Gentile centurion Cornelius of Caesarea of Acts 10, these Gentiles were God-fearers. Disgusted with the polytheism and immorality of pagan religions, they were drawn to the monotheism and morality of Israel.

These Greeks probably attended synagogue worship in their home towns and regularly traveled to Jerusalem to celebrate festivals. But when they came to worship at the temple, they could only go up to the court of the Gentiles. There was a wall separating Gentile worshipers from the rest of the temple area and they could not go past it.

Despite this restriction, these God-fearing Greeks wanted to see Jesus. They approached Philip, probably because he was from Bethsaida, which bordered their own Gentile towns, and because Philip was probably bilingual and spoke the Greek language. “Sir,” they said to Philip, “we would like to see Jesus” (John 12:21). When Philip heard the request of the Greeks, he went to another apostle, Andrew, and together they took the inquiry of these Gentiles to Jesus.

The apostle John presents Philip as a person like us–of average intelligence and not much of a problem-solver. It was Philip who said to Jesus, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.” What was Jesus’ response? Jesus mildly rebuked Philip, saying, “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been with you for a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father” (John 14:9). Nonetheless, I am glad that Jesus deliberately chose Philip because it gives hope to you and me. Philip was certainly a Mr. Ordinary, but the Lord Jesus Christ chose him, Mr. Ordinary, as his apostle. Let me assure you, God delights to do great things with ordinary people. He chooses the nobodies of the world and makes them somebodies. We ourselves were nobodies, but God chose us, and in Jesus Christ we are now somebodies.

God’s Plan to Save Gentiles

These Greeks had a strong desire to see Jesus. In Luke 23:8 we read of another man, Herod Antipas, who also strongly desired to see Jesus, but Herod’s motives were different from those of the Greeks. Herod wanted to see Jesus perform some miracles so that he, Herod Antipas, could be entertained. But I believe these Greeks wanted to meet with Jesus so that they could hear his words, put their trust in him, and be saved.

In John 12:19 we learn that the Pharisees, the Jewish leaders, were rejecting Jesus. But in verse 20 we see these Greeks, representing the non-Jewish world, wanting to see Jesus. In coming to Philip, they were, in effect, saying, “Sir, we understand the Jews are rejecting Jesus, but we want to accept him. We want to hear him, trust in him, believe in him, and be saved.”

The salvation of Gentiles was part of God’s plan for Jesus. We know that Jesus came to die so that people could be saved, but God’s plan was not only to save Jews, but also Gentiles. This was an old plan; it was a mystery hidden for years in the heart of God, and now revealed in greater light to the holy apostles and prophets, as we read in Ephesians 3:5-6. It is the plan God had when he spoke to Abraham, promising him, “In thee,” that is, in Abraham’s seed, Jesus Christ, “shall all the families of the earth be blessed” (Gen. 12:3, KJV).

In Isaiah 49 we find mention of this plan to save not only Jews but also Gentiles through Christ. In Isaiah 49:5 we read of God’s plan to send his servant to bring back Jacob, meaning the Jewish people, to himself: “And now the Lord says-he who formed me in the womb to be his servant to bring back to him and gather Israel to himself, for I am honored in the eyes of the Lord and my God has been my strength. . .” But in verse 6 we also read about God’s plan concerning Gentiles: “It is too small a thing for you to be my servant to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back those of Israel I have kept. I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring my salvation to the ends of the earth.”

We find God’s plan to save Gentiles throughout the New Testament. The apostle John presents Jesus Christ as the Savior of both Jews and Gentiles, as we read in John 1:29, “Look, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” In John 3:16 we read, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life,” and in John 4:42 we are told that Jesus Christ was seen by the Samaritans as the Savior of the world. In John 10:16 John quotes Jesus as saying, “I have other sheep not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also.”

Jesus himself understood that his mission was to save people from all nations in the world. In John 12:32 he said, “But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself.” All men! That is why these Greeks came to Philip, saying, “Sir, can you help us? We would like to see Jesus. Would you lead us to him so we can meet him?”

Reasons to See Jesus

What was the request of the Greeks? “We would see Jesus.” Notice, they were not saying, “We would like to see the beautiful temple,” or “We would like to have an audience with the high priest, Caiaphas.” I hope you don’t come to church just to see a beautiful building or hear the choir or look at stained glass windows. There are many beautiful cathedrals, especially in Europe, but many of them, even though they are beautiful, are empty of people. I hope you came here, saying, as the Greeks did, “Sir, we would see Jesus.”

Why should we want to see Jesus? There are so many reasons, but I will list a few here:

Only Jesus can save his people from their sins. Salvation is found in no one but Jesus, the eternal Son of God, the sinless Lamb of God. It is this Jesus who asked his disciples, “Who do you say I am?” The answer came by divine revelation: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” It is this Jesus concerning whom the Father said at his baptism, “This is my Son whom I love; with him I am well pleased” (Matt. 3:17). It is this Jesus about whom God spoke again on the Mount of Transfiguration, saying, “This is my Son whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him.” That is why we must say with the Greeks, “Sir, we would see Jesus.”
Jesus is the Messiah. He made this profound statement to the sinful Samaritan woman in John 4: “I am he,” he told her, meaning, “I am the Messiah.” There is no other messiah, no other savior, no other deliverer. That is why we must say, “Sir, we would see Jesus.”
Jesus is the living bread. In John 6:51 Jesus declared, “I am the living bread which came down from heaven,” meaning, “I am the living bread for your soul, the one who came down from heaven. Others ate manna in the wilderness and died, but I have come down from heaven as the living Bread to make you alive.” So we can say, “Sir, we would see Jesus, because he alone is the living Bread.”
Jesus alone is from above. Jesus came down from heaven, from the bosom of the Father, to die on the cross for our sins. That is why we say, “Sir, I want to see Jesus.”
Jesus is the eternal one. In John 8:58 Jesus said, “Before Abraham was, I am.” That means he is the eternal one, meaning he is God himself.
Jesus is the light of the world. In John 8:12 Jesus says, “I am the light of the world.” The world is darkness. Not only is it in darkness, but it is darkness. And Jesus says, “I am the light of the world.”
Jesus is the Son of God. We find this reference to Jesus throughout the gospel accounts as well as the rest of the New Testament.
Jesus is the resurrection and the life, the beginning and the end. In John 11:25 Jesus told Martha, “I am the resurrection and the life,” meaning eternal life is found in him alone. In Revelation 1 the resurrected Christ tells us, “I am the Alpha and the Omega. I am the First and the Last.”
Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. He is the only way to the Father.

These are but a few reasons why we should want to see Jesus. That is why, when a minister begins to preach, we should say, “Pastor, don’t preach about yourself. Don’t tell us stories. Don’t talk about health or wealth or fame or philosophy or politics. Sir, we would see Jesus!”

What about you? Do you want to see Jesus? I hope you do. And if you really see him, I guarantee you that your life will change. You will be transformed from a sinner to a saint and brought out of death and darkness into life and light. That is why we want to see Jesus.

The Cry of the Gentiles

These Greeks were begging to see Jesus. In the Greek language the verb means to beg continually, not just a one-time action. Have you done that, my friend? Have you begged, “Please show me Jesus”? These Greeks were begging Philip with the same intensity as the Greek woman whose daughter was demonized begged to see Jesus.

Have you heard such a cry from anyone around you? There are people everywhere who want to see Jesus just as these Greeks did. They are here in this city and in every city in the world. They are in our neighborhoods, our offices, our schools, and our households. Have you heard them begging and crying, “We would see Jesus”?

Why do these people want to see Jesus? Because they know that Jesus alone can help them. Money cannot help them. Designer jeans cannot help them. Computers cannot help them. The e-business cannot help them. Only Jesus can save them.

There are Greeks in our time crying out, “We would like to meet with Jesus, the friend of sinners and publicans.” They are crying to us. We are the Philips and Andrews of this world–average, ordinary Christians, disciples of Christ. But though we are ordinary and average, God has given us a profound mission: As the light of the world, we have an obligation to bring these Gentiles to their Savior.

John does not tell us whether Jesus met personally with these Greeks or even spoke directly to them. But the truth is, in this passage Jesus Christ addresses their very need.

The Hour Has Come

What was the need of these Greeks? Salvation. What was the solution? Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross. In John 12:23 Jesus said, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.” Up to this time Jesus had always said, “My hour has not come,” but now, for the first time, he said, “My hour has come,” meaning the hour of his glorification, the hour of his death, the hour of his burial, the hour of his resurrection, the hour of his ascension, and the hour of his session. The time for these great redemptive events which would bring salvation to these Greeks had now come.

“My hour has come,” Jesus said. The coming of these Greeks was seen by Jesus as a sign that the time had come for him to die as the Passover Lamb–not as the Passover Lamb for a family, a tribe, or a nation but as the Passover Lamb who takes away the sin of the whole world and whose death would secure salvation, not only for Jews, but also for these Greeks who were knocking at the door.

The Necessity of the Death of Christ

In verse 24 Jesus continued, saying, “I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.” This very profound, solemn truth, called the law of the grave, is from agriculture. A kernel of wheat must fall to the ground, be buried in the soil, and, in effect, die in order to generate life, which eventually manifests in fruit. Jesus was telling his disciples that without his death–without the death of the Son of God, Jesus of Nazareth, the Messiah–no one can receive the salvation of life.

To Jesus these Greeks represented the elect Gentiles of the world of all ages whom he came to redeem. In fact, they were representing you and me when they came, saying, “Sir, we would see Jesus.” Jesus was declaring, “These people belong to my Father but he has given them to me so that I may redeem them.” This was Jesus’s mission, as he said in Matthew 20:28, “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many,” and as the apostle Paul declared in 2 Corinthians 5:21, “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”

Jesus’ heart was troubled at the thought of becoming a sin offering, as we read in verse 27. Yet he realized that the very purpose of his incarnation was that he would die for the sin of the world. He knew that if he did not die, no human being could have forgiveness of sins and enjoy eternal life with God.

Despite the unrest in his own heart, Jesus knew that God’s will was that he die and bring glory to his Father through redeeming from the world both Jews and Gentiles, whom God loved from all eternity. He prayed about this situation, saying, “Father, glorify your name!” In other words, Jesus was praying, “God, let your will be done.”

The Significance of the Death of Christ

Soon after this, the prince of this world, the devil, gathered all his forces and crucified the Son of God. Yet even while he was rejoicing in his victory, the devil was defeated, judged, and cast out of power by him who was crucified. The dying man on the cross bound the strong man, the devil, and liberated elect sinners from their slavery to him once and forever. By his death on the cross Jesus Christ triumphed over the devil and all his forces, and now he can proclaim liberty to those who all their lives are held captive by Satan.

The death of Christ was a judgment on this world and the dethroning of the ruler of this world. When Jesus said that his hour had come, he knew that soon the elect Jews and Gentiles, including the Greeks who wanted to see him, would be set free from darkness to light, from the power of Satan to the power of God, and raised from death to life.

Death Leads to Growth

If you have any knowledge of agriculture, you know that the death of one seed produces a harvest of millions and millions of seeds. In the same way, the death of Jesus Christ guaranteed authentic church growth. If you are interested in evangelism and church growth, the only question you need to ask is, “Did Jesus Christ die?” because the death of Christ is the absolute necessity for the growth of the church. Did Jesus Christ die? Yes. Caiaphas and company, along with the Gentiles, crucified him.

In John 8:28 Jesus spoke about the necessity of his crucifixion to those who were about to kill him: “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am the one I claim to be and that I do nothing on my own, but speak just what the Father has taught me.” In John 3:14-15 Jesus also spoke about it, saying, “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.” In other words, Jesus was saying that his death on the cross was necessary for church growth. As Jesus suffered and died, he was experiencing the full wrath of God, but he was also giving birth. He was suffering labor pain on the cross in order to bring forth many offspring.

We find reference to this idea of the Messiah bringing forth many seeds through his death also in Isaiah 53. In verse 10 Isaiah writes, “Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the Lord makes his life a guilt offering, he will see his offspring and prolong his days.” Who are the offspring of the Messiah? We are–Gentiles and Jews from throughout the ages who have trusted in Christ.

If you are interested in church growth, you must first ask the question: Did Jesus Christ die on the cross? The answer is yes. Jesus Christ died, was buried, and was raised again according to the Scriptures, was seen of many, and ascended into the heavens, where he is seated at the right hand of God the Father.

If we know these things, we must also understand and believe there will be church growth. Gentiles and Jews will be saved through Christ’s death on the cross. It is the plan and promise of God.

Drawing Men unto Christ

In John 12:32 Jesus said, “But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw all men to myself.” We must give careful thought to this. Was Jesus Christ crucified? Did he die? Was he buried? Was he raised from the dead? Did he ascend to heaven where he is seated at the right hand of God? Is he Lord of all? Oh, then, what is he doing now in heaven? He is drawing all men to himself.

Rejoice, O Gentiles, of the world! The grain of wheat was thrown into the ground, died, and is now producing a rich harvest. The hour came for the Son of Man to be glorified, and Christ was lifted up on a cross and died. But his death was not in vain. Through Christ’s death on the cross, he has produced and is still producing a rich harvest of believers who are made alive by his mighty power, as we read in Ephesians 1 and 2. So the answer for the Gentiles, as well as the Jews, is, “Wait a little while longer. After I have died on the cross, I will draw you to myself.”

What is the problem of every sinner? He suffers from a moral inability to come to God. He hates God and is dead in trespasses and sins. Enslaved to sin, he resists with all his heart God’s truth and claim. Yet our Savior is almighty and all-loving. He draws sinners to himself, enabling them to come freely and willingly. That is the mighty power and irresistible grace of God.

That is what happened to you and that is what happened to me. Drawn by Christ, we came. Saul of Tarsus was drawn by Christ and he came also, saying, “Lord, what do you want me to do?”

I hope that if you have not been drawn to Christ, you will pray to God and say, “O God, draw me to yourself. Draw me near the cross of Christ. Let me say with all my heart, ‘Sir, I want to see Jesus!'”

Not only does the Son draw us, but God the Father draws us as well. Our salvation was the Father’s idea, and in John 6:44 we read, “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him.” And, in fact, not only does God the Father draw and God the Son draw, but God the Holy Spirit draws us as well. Oh, how wonderful it is that the triune God is drawing sinners that they may be saved!

What do you do when God draws you? You come to him–willingly, gladly–saying, “I surrender all. All to thee, my blessed Savior, I surrender all.”

Reconciling Jews and Gentiles to God and Each Other

Jesus said, “But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw all men,” both Jews and Gentiles, “to myself.” Oh, that phrase, “to myself,” is very important. It means that all who come to Christ, both Jews and Gentiles, are Christ’s possessions. They are his inheritance, his portion, his treasure, his flock, his body, his bride, and his sparkling jewels, as we read many places in the Scriptures. To myself! Jesus Christ paid the precious price of his own blood, redeemed us to himself, and now we belong to him. What honor, what dignity, what glory for the church!

Oh, Greeks, you don’t need to fear anymore. The middle wall of partition and hostility between Jew and Greek, and Greek and God, has been broken down and leveled by the death of Jesus your Savior. Yes, you were separated from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel, foreigners to the covenants of promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now, in Christ Jesus you have been brought near through the blood of Christ. You have been brought so close that nearer you cannot be. You are seated with Christ, and not only that, you are in Christ. Not only that, you are in God himself. What communion! What closeness! What intimacy! What fellowship! What love!

What happened to these Greeks? They were made heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus, fellow citizens with God’s people, and members of God’s household. In other words, when we trust in Christ, God throws us on the same footing as the Jews. There is no difference or distinction. We all are one–the new Israel, the children of Abraham. By Christ’s atoning death the veil that separated Jew and Gentile has been torn from top to bottom, and the door to the Father has been opened wide for all. Jesus Christ is the door through which Gentiles can now come with confidence to the throne of grace in Christ.

In Ephesians 2:18 we read what God did for these Greeks. “For through him,” meaning through Jesus Christ, the one who died, “we both,” meaning Jew and Gentile, “have access to the Father by one Spirit.” In Ephesians 3:12 we read, “In him,” that is, Jesus Christ, “and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.” Oh, Christ opened the door to the Gentiles as well as to the Jews! That is why we want to say, “Sir, we would see Jesus!” No one else has done it.

Bringing People to Christ

Brothers and sisters in Christ, would you not hear the crying of the world and point them to Jesus? Jesus is the only Savior for Jew and Gentile alike. “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).

Maybe those at your work are crying out to see Jesus. Maybe those in your own household asking you to point them to Christ. How, then, can we help those people who come saying, “We would see Jesus”?

Let me assure you, because Jesus has died, they are helped already. Through the death of Christ, the middle wall of partition has been broken down, the veil has been torn, the door has been opened, and God the Father is ready to reconcile them to himself through Christ. Because Christ died, there will surely be a great harvest. That is the purpose of his death. The answer to their cry is already there.

We Must Die

But there is another answer given to us in this passage. In order to help people to come to Christ, not only must Christ, our Messiah and Mediator, die as our representative before God, but we also must die. In John 12:25-26 we read, “The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.”

We must die. What does that mean? It means we must die to ourselves and to this world, and devote ourselves completely to doing the will of God rather than seeking our own will and desires. We must pray the same prayer Jesus Christ prayed: “Glorify thy name in and through me.”

The Bible tells us to not lay up treasure in this world, for the fashion of this world is passing away. This is not the new heaven and the new earth; rather, it is about to be destroyed like Sodom and Gomorrah were. But before this world is destroyed, certain people need to be rescued from it. That is why we must die to ourselves and to the world, and concentrate on doing the will of God. We must deny ourselves, take up the cross daily and follow Christ.

Dying means that we serve Christ alone and live for the gospel. Dying means that we practice the gospel life and proclaim the gospel of the cross, which is foolishness to the Greeks and a stumbling block to the Jews, but to those who believe, it is the power of God unto salvation.

You see, Jesus Christ has done the work of making atonement for sin and opening the way to heaven, but we must proclaim this gospel through our lives and speech in order to bring others to Christ. We must declare that Jesus is the eternal God who became sinless man that he may die in our place on the cross. We must describe how justice and mercy kissed each other on the cross, and that everyone who believes in him will be saved.

We must die to ourselves and proclaim the gospel! The apostle Paul said, “I am not ashamed of the gospel,” meaning he was very proud of it, “because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.” In 1 Corinthians 2:1 Paul says, “When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.”

Are you fascinated with the gospel? If so, then you will live it and proclaim it. You will not love this world that is passing away; rather, you will die to yourself and live for God.

In Galatians 3:1 Paul writes, “You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified.” We must live and proclaim this gospel, that Jesus Christ died on the cross for sinners. We must proclaim him as one who was raised from the dead, who is Lord, Savior and Judge of all. We must speak about the unsearchable riches of Christ. We must proclaim the good news when the Greeks cry out, “What must we do to be saved?” telling them, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved.” We must proclaim the gospel in the power of the Holy Spirit, knowing that the Father is drawing, the Son is drawing, and the Holy Spirit is drawing people, so that they can repent and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. This is the way people will see Jesus and be saved.

Cornelius the Roman centurion was drawn by the gospel as preached by Peter. He believed, and was saved, along with all of his household. Lydia was drawn by Christ through Paul’s preaching. Her heart was opened, she believed and she started a church in her home. The hardened jailer in Philippi was drawn to Christ by the witness of Paul and Barnabas and asked the question, “What must I do to be saved?” When Paul told him, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ,” he believed and was baptized.

May We Point Others to Christ!

Do you hear people around you crying, “We will see Jesus”? Let me assure you, God will draw even your children if you hear their cries and point them to the Lord Jesus Christ. Now, if you are loving this world, then they cannot see Christ. They will love what you love. But if you die to yourselves and to the world, he will draw, not only your children, but your spouses, your parents, your neighbors, your friends, your fellow workers, and your classmates through you to Christ. As I said before, it is a given, because Christ has died, and God has promised a rich harvest of seed.

No one will see Christ through us until we die. Oh, may God help us to die to our own will and ambitions! May we live for God alone so that through us God’s wisdom in saving sinners may be seen and others will come to a saving knowledge of Christ.

As we present the gospel to those around us, may we not fear the ruler of this world. He has been defeated and dethroned. His control on his hostages is gone and he has been cast out by Christ. Jesus Christ has disarmed the powers and authorities, making a public spectacle of them, “triumphing over them by the cross,” as we read in Colossians 1:15, and he is now seated “far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but in the age to come” (Ephesians 1:21).

Do you believe that? If so, you need not fear the devil. Christ has defeated him once and for all. That is why the Bible tells us to resist the devil by the cross and he shall flee from you.

Additionally, God has given us some armor so that we may stand firm for him. Put on the whole armor of God: the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, shoes for the feet, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit. Pray in the Spirit, resist the devil, and show the Greeks who are knocking at the door Jesus Christ.

“Sir, we would see Jesus,” was the cry of the Greeks. If this is your cry as well, I pray that you will pray to the triune God to draw you to himself, repent of your sins, and trust in him who died that you may live. Jesus alone saves you from your sins.

May God help us to appreciate the gospel, live the gospel, proclaim the gospel, and show Christ to the world through us! Amen.