Tuesday of Holy Week: We want to see Jesus

Now among those who went up to worship at the festival were some Greeks. They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and said to him, ‘Sir, we wish to see Jesus.’ Philip went and told Andrew; then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. Jesus answered them, ‘The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will my servant be also. Whoever serves me, the Father will honour. 

‘Now my soul is troubled. And what should I say—“Father, save me from this hour”? No, it is for this reason that I have come to this hour. Father, glorify your name.’ Then a voice came from heaven, ‘I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.’ The crowd standing there heard it and said that it was thunder. Others said, ‘An angel has spoken to him.’ Jesus answered, ‘This voice has come for your sake, not for mine. Now is the judgement of this world; now the ruler of this world will be driven out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.’ He said this to indicate the kind of death he was to die. The crowd answered him, ‘We have heard from the law that the Messiah remains for ever. How can you say that the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man?’ Jesus said to them, ‘The light is with you for a little longer. Walk while you have the light, so that the darkness may not overtake you. If you walk in the darkness, you do not know where you are going. While you have the light, believe in the light, so that you may become children of light.’

After Jesus had said this, he departed and hid from them. 
[John 12. 20-36]

Tuesday of Holy Week: We want to see Jesus
Those poor Greeks, converts to the Jewish faith, and now pilgrims come to Jerusalem for the Passover celebrations. They have approached Philip (whose name is Greek) and have asked to see Jesus. Philip has gone to see Andrew, and together they have gone to see Jesus, who rather than welcoming the Greeks, has begun a long oration about his forthcoming death and its meaning. But there’s a twist in verse 32 where Jesus says, ‘I will draw all people to myself’. The Greeks will indeed meet Jesus, just not in the way they expect.

I have chosen this image Menorah by Richard Wagner as it places the crucifixion in our own time, with Didcot Power Station in the background. (Many of Wagner's paintings take Biblical themes and transpose them into our own time.) It’s a reminder that in the Crucifixion Christ draws all people to himself, across time and space. It is also a reminder that the Crucifixion does not happen as a far-off historical event, but one which takes place (spiritually) in our time.

As an image it reminds me of this view of Rainham Marshes from the RSPB centre (taken on Saturday whilst walking the dog), with its marsh and open water. Remove Didcot power station and replace it with the A13 viaduct and you get a similar image. Another reminder that the Crucifixion takes place in the midst of us, and that our own voices are mingled with those of the scoffers. A reminder also that when Christ is lifted up, we too  will see him.

Response: How can we live lives that draw other people to Christ? Take a moment to pray that we may be better able to do so, and for missionaries and those working in difficult circumstances, that the light of Christ may shine through them, and through you.