Monday 12th August
Read John 12:20-23
“Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the festival. 21 They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. ‘Sir,’ they said, ‘we would like to see Jesus.’ 22 Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus. 23 Jesus replied, ‘The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.” (NIVUK)
The Pharisees are concerned that the ‘whole world has gone after Him’ (v19), and shortly after ‘the world’, in the form of some Greeks, requests an audience (v21). The Jewish leaders are seeking to eliminate Jesus, the Greeks are seeking Him out.
These few verses though are amongst the most comforting in Scripture. We hear nothing more about these Jesus-seeking Greeks. We never hear if they got their opportunity to meet Him. But their question is the trigger that begins the story of salvation that we are privileged to be part of.
For John’s entire gospel the ‘hour’ has always been yet to come, it has always been approaching. With this simple request to meet Jesus He declares that the ‘hour’ has arrived. It is only when the Gentiles too are seeking Him out, when they want to be a part of whatever Jesus is going to do, that He declares the moment has arrived.
The Saviour and King of the Jews, called to God’s people who have rejected Him, sets in motion the events that will lead to salvation for all, when the Gentiles seek Him out. A more comforting message for those who are ‘not a people’ would be hard to find. Jesus’ desire to save the ‘whole world’ reflected perfectly in His response to their simple request. The most important request in the world. The hour has come indeed.
