There's something so relatable about the text we're going to be looking at in this Sunday's text. Something that I wonder if many of us, even all of us have felt. There's a group of people that want to see Jesus. That's all they want. Just to see him.
Give it a read, if you have a moment. It's John 12:20-36. Jesus responds to the request for the people to see him almost with frustration. He says: "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified." And then his Father replies.
Did you know that God spoke from heaven in this moment? There was a booming voice that everyone around could hear. It said: "I have glorified my name, and I will glorify it again." The people had heard the voice of God. But they didn't hear it. Not really. John records that the people there "said it was like thunder" or that an angel had spoken to Jesus. The people heard the voice of God, but Jesus never came out to see them. In fact, John says that Jesus hid himself away from them.
See, this is what I think is so relatable. We want to see Jesus, right? I think most any person, if they knew that they could see Jesus and his glory, would take the opportunity to see him. We want to see Jesus, and we even look for him in our hardest moments, but it seems like he is hidden away from us.
Where can you look to see Jesus? Look at the cross. Jesus himself said it. "The Son of Man will be lifted up. (He's talking about the cross.) And when I am lifted up, I will draw all people to myself." Look to the cross. He's not hidden there. He's there for all to see. He's there, paying for our sins.
Come and see him.
