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Saturday, March 15, 2025

Reflection - Making Disciples - We Want To See Jesus

Source (book): "Making All Things New", 52 Reflections to Challenge the Way You Live, Chapter 52, "We Want To See Jesus", Page 268.
By Robert M. Solomon, Bishop of the Methodist Church in Singapore from 2000 - 2012


 Did you know that there are people who wish they could see Jesus?
PHOTO: Did you know that there are people who wish they could see Jesus?

A group of Greeks came to Philip, one of Jesus' disciples, with this request: "Sir . . . we would like to see Jesus" (John 12:21). When Jesus was informed, He gave a very unusual reply. He talked about His impending suffering and death on the cross (John 12:23-33). It is clear that Jesus wanted Jews and all other peoples in the world to see Him as the crucified one - the one who would die on the cross in our place so that each of us could be saved. Such is the Jesus God wants us to see, in order that we might understand and taste salvation.

It is unsurprising, therefore, that when Paul took the Galatians to task for their distorted faith, he wrote with apostolic fire: "You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified" (Galatians 3:1). As a missionary who made it his goal to "preach Christ crucified" (1 Corinthians 1:23), Paul wanted to ensure that people saw Christ clearly, the way Christ himself wanted to be seen.

Today, that need has not changed. People must be able to see Jesus in what is preached in our churches. As importantly, they must be able to see Jesus in what Christians do, and how we live. For that to happen, we must exhibit the same kind of servanthood that Jesus demonstrated in His life, ministry, and loving sacrifice. We are to be cross-carriers who show Christ in our lives.

Many years ago, I met a lady whose elderly mother had worked as a servant in a missionary compound in an Asian country. One of the memories she had from living in that compound was the little bell that the missionaries would ring to summon her mother to the dining table. I suspect that to the lady and her mother, the missionaries were reminders not of Christ who came to serve (Matthew 20:28), but of colonial masters who came to be served and to lord it over the people. One can imagine that hoarse whisper of a thousand needy voices around the missionary compound: "We would like to see Jesus."

Contrast this with stories of missionaries living in such humble, self-sacrificial, and godly ways that the people they served would mistake them for Jesus. These can be no better way than this to fulfil God's mission and witness for the crucified Christ.

Like those Greeks in the New Testament, many want to, and need to see Jesus. Will they see Jesus in us?

Heavenly Father, Your Word tells us that You chose us to be conformed to the likeness of Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. As the Holy Spirit works in and through us, may we display the splendour of our Lord in our words, deeds, and relationships, as we learn to obey Him daily by loving and serving Him. Amen
 

Did you know that there are people who wish they could see Jesus?

A group of Greeks came to Philip, one of Jesus' disciples, with this request: "Sir . . . we would like to see Jesus" (John 12:21). When Jesus was informed, He gave a very unusual reply. He talked about His impending suffering and death on the cross (John 12:23-33). It is clear that Jesus wanted Jews and all other peoples in the world to see Him as the crucified one - the one who would die on the cross in our place so that each of us could be saved. Such is the Jesus God wants us to see, in order that we might understand and taste salvation.


 A group of Greeks came to Philip, one of Jesus' disciples, with this request: 'Sir . . . we would like to see Jesus' (John 12:21).
PHOTO: A group of Greeks came to Philip, one of Jesus' disciples, with this request: "Sir . . . we would like to see Jesus" (John 12:21). When Jesus was informed, He gave a very unusual reply. He talked about His impending suffering and death on the cross (John 12:23-33). It is clear that Jesus wanted Jews and all other peoples in the world to see Him as the crucified one - the one who would die on the cross in our place so that each of us could be saved. Such is the Jesus God wants us to see, in order that we might understand and taste salvation.
Picture posted by Bible Art - John 12:21
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiycOEaCHmi3MWHZgimmEZ2HOYzPVIKztmdLVY0CPAqr8xX31Tiao_T0VDDWjJOqshXnEdsK6UveRMh9HKyl4ntpd7ignNfpSmx1wKxKzrK3BCEyRAds7fKCBxjM4YIdwKLoAoUoiB20NqS37tSIPZ7RlbqdktDTKnwahDtzZghkyAEwDxiXIeexbBfAu0/s1024/40cd85dc-9151-4410-b1e7-80b39b653daa-compressed.jpg
https://media.bible.art/40cd85dc-9151-4410-b1e7-80b39b653daa-compressed.jpg
https://bible.art/meaning/john-12%3A21#google_vignette


It is unsurprising, therefore, that when Paul took the Galatians to task for their distorted faith, he wrote with apostolic fire: "You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified" (Galatians 3:1). As a missionary who made it his goal to "preach Christ crucified" (1 Corinthians 1:23), Paul wanted to ensure that people saw Christ clearly, the way Christ himself wanted to be seen.


 It is unsurprising, therefore, that when Paul took the Galatians to task for their distorted faith, he wrote with apostolic fire
PHOTO: It is unsurprising, therefore, that when Paul took the Galatians to task for their distorted faith, he wrote with apostolic fire: "You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified" (Galatians 3:1). As a missionary who made it his goal to "preach Christ crucified" (1 Corinthians 1:23), Paul wanted to ensure that people saw Christ clearly, the way Christ himself wanted to be seen.
Picture posted by Bible Art - Galatians 3:1
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOwdF0uOd5zfcN72uZjPIb8n7DTLfqyXWG0GHCVbL8GT85X13rt_BL3gefEOmFg1NVxveRsozmHwcLDscImJT9lyldGizeGVTuObuldeL6WrDSgA46uFYeSPNVXS9HP2gwU7m-vvG1ASnDU3IWvhjCo6rpP79NKMfBAsYVfyLzvHRGbl-hIelM3BctEnA/s1024/b14dc057-1ecf-4d8f-8a39-43dba584df6b-compressed.jpg
https://media.bible.art/b14dc057-1ecf-4d8f-8a39-43dba584df6b-compressed.jpg
https://bible.art/p/aBp7lmucX4yXSUy4sVxy/galatians-3:1-o-foolish-galatians


Today, that need has not changed. People must be able to see Jesus in what is preached in our churches. As importantly, they must be able to see Jesus in what Christians do, and how we live. For that to happen, we must exhibit the same kind of servanthood that Jesus demonstrated in His life, ministry, and loving sacrifice. We are to be cross-carriers who show Christ in our lives.


 Today, that need has not changed.
PHOTO: Today, that need has not changed. People must be able to see Jesus in what is preached in our churches. As importantly, they must be able to see Jesus in what Christians do, and how we live. For that to happen, we must exhibit the same kind of servanthood that Jesus demonstrated in His life, ministry, and loving sacrifice. We are to be cross-carriers who show Christ in our lives.
Picture posted by  timelygospelpro on 12 January 2022 
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZTwekaUTvxkjmsQmU_DKmC6mcftX6ezZQ8axpuKnX7bF7PKcPk33BvZMCBKyYT4kz0ZHzfQyCOJrRm97jMXtETKX0p2NcwYbpUU5qSX0huBncu2FVBaEHiwd1cSzCKqitLR5tUUO-F3zStz60L6fx467mx95ARua7yE6xJMxvhTv9HqodI2HD65y5O8I/s1600/cross-car.jpg
https://timelygospelpro.org.ng/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/cross-car.jpg
https://timelygospelpro.org.ng/the-mark-of-a-true-discipleship-a-cross-carrying-pilgrimage-abu-emmanuel/


Many years ago, I met a lady whose elderly mother had worked as a servant in a missionary compound in an Asian country. One of the memories she had from living in that compound was the little bell that the missionaries would ring to summon her mother to the dining table. I suspect that to the lady and her mother, the missionaries were reminders not of Christ who came to serve (Matthew 20:28), but of colonial masters who came to be served and to lord it over the people. One can imagine that hoarse whisper of a thousand needy voices around the missionary compound: "We would like to see Jesus."


 Many years ago, I met a lady whose elderly mother had worked as a servant in a missionary compound in an Asian country.
PHOTO: Many years ago, I met a lady whose elderly mother had worked as a servant in a missionary compound in an Asian country. One of the memories she had from living in that compound was the little bell that the missionaries would ring to summon her mother to the dining table. I suspect that to the lady and her mother, the missionaries were reminders not of Christ who came to serve (Matthew 20:28), but of colonial masters who came to be served and to lord it over the people. One can imagine that hoarse whisper of a thousand needy voices around the missionary compound: "We would like to see Jesus."
Picture posted by Asia Harvest - Annie Skau
Picture upscaled by AI Image Upscaler at https://pixnova.ai/image-upscaler/


 Contrast this with stories of missionaries living in such humble, self-sacrificial, and godly ways that the people they served would mistake them for Jesus.
PHOTO: Contrast this with stories of missionaries living in such humble, self-sacrificial, and godly ways that the people they served would mistake them for Jesus. These can be no better way than this to fulfil God's mission and witness for the crucified Christ.
Picture posted by Paqui Ibáñez Sánchez
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYYgKdaUUMc7d0uq8l7bfGWtigRMZHKzcGd27R2wACsgkCfnFImDemFMtjyIaw0sbOgDRtCyZCwk1wWyOjVzqqKVjGvkAlZ3wFbD9Xwe8dSAaMi_liTvwK0pJ1HcuhiX1bGv4PtG6fUik4B3O_7o8Q_TnUTJy-cQC_nEWTOJz3XfJCdRd7qWQH3HAHcT4/s1898/35bc225129ca4d4960652a7d67242440.jpg
https://i.pinimg.com/1200x/35/bc/22/35bc225129ca4d4960652a7d67242440.jpg
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/48695239715133911/


Like those Greeks in the New Testament, many want to, and need to see Jesus. Will they see Jesus in us?

Heavenly Father, Your Word tells us that You chose us to be conformed to the likeness of Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. As the Holy Spirit works in and through us, may we display the splendour of our Lord in our words, deeds, and relationships, as we learn to obey Him daily by loving and serving Him. Amen
 

 Like those Greeks in the New Testament, many want to, and need to see Jesus.
PHOTO: Like those Greeks in the New Testament, many want to, and need to see Jesus. Will they see Jesus in us?
Picture posted by Ann Sokol
Picture upscaled by AI Image Upscaler at https://pixnova.ai/image-upscaler/
 

 Heavenly Father
PHOTO: "Heavenly Father, Your Word tells us that You chose us to be conformed to the likeness of Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. As the Holy Spirit works in and through us, may we display the splendour of our Lord in our words, deeds, and relationships, as we learn to obey Him daily by loving and serving Him. Amen"
Picture posted by Vinsensius Antonius
Picture upscaled by AI Image Upscaler at https://pixnova.ai/image-upscaler/
Reflection - Making Disciples - We Want To See Jesus
Source (book): "Making All Things New", 52 Reflections to Challenge the Way You Live, Chapter 52, "We Want To See Jesus", Page 268.
By Robert M. Solomon, Bishop of the Methodist Church in Singapore from 2000 - 2012



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Reference
[1] From "Making All Things New", 52 Reflections to Challenge the Way You Live, Copyright @ 2022 by Robert M. Solomon, Chapter 52, "We Want To See Jesus", Page 258.

Links


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