"We Would Like to see Jesus"

In the middle of all our religious and theological differences and conflicts, one person stands out as of supreme and final significance. (No, it is not the Pope or the Pastor.) We are, first and last, apprentices of Jesus, walking and serving with Jesus on the Way. Our goal in every situation is to see the name and reputation of Jesus honored in every way and in every place.

This central truth reminds me of an interesting story in the gospel of John. Jesus had just entered Jerusalem on the back of a young donkey to the shouts of “Hosanna” from the crowd (the same crowd that would later shout, “Crucify him”). As usual, Jesus was not impressed with the vagaries of human followers. Jesus was carefully attuned to the heart and purpose of the Father. Jesus knew that his glory would soon be revealed. An important step in that process involved a group of Greeks (probably “God-fearers”) who were in Jerusalem for the feast. This group came to Philip and made a simple request: “We would like to see Jesus” (John 11:21). I’m sure the disciples wondered what to make of this request. Jesus had not come to save the Greeks, had he? Would he even honor their request? They may have been surprised when Jesus responded, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified” (John 11:23). Jesus came to save the whole world, not just Israel. His glory would be revealed to the whole world. His purpose was to show the world God’s love and purpose. The whole world needed to see Jesus!

In his first epistle John elaborated on this theme. “And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world” (1 John 4:14). Then John made a very important statement: “God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus” (1 John 4:16-17). The nature and heart of God is clearly defined: “God is love.” God is not loving or lovable; God is love. John further equates God with love by saying, “Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.” Whoever abides in, makes their home in the love of God are those who have a real, intimate connection to the heart of God. And then this pronouncement: “In this world we are like Jesus.” This world needs to see Jesus; they need to see the God who is love. And the way they are going to see Jesus is by seeing us. We are the Jesus the world will see.

Ouch! We are the revelation of God in the world. Jesus used the word “witnesses” (see Acts 1:8). A “witness” is someone called to come before the court and offer testimony, to present evidence in support of the defense. We are the witnesses of Jesus, the official evidences presented before the court of a watching world, proof that Jesus is who he claimed to be and accomplished what he came to do.

Jesus talked about our “witness” in the upper room. “As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:34-35). The evidence, the witness we are to provide, has everything to do with the way we treat each other, with the quality of our relationships, with the authenticity of our community. Then, on the night he was betrayed Jesus prayed, “that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me: (John 17:21). The fact that Jesus-followers are able to avoid “normal” human divisions and stand united in Christ, the miracle of God’s love working in the hearts and lives of the redeemed ones, will be an authoritative proof that it was God who sent his Son into the world to be the savior of the world.

I think that’s what Jesus meant by the “Kingdom of God.” The domain of God’s righteous rule, starting in the hearts of those who are connected to God through Jesus, will demonstrate the nature of God to the world. Paul gives us one of the most interesting and helpful definitions of God’s Kingdom. The Roman church was treating the Rule of God as if it was primarily about religious rules and regulations and not primarily about love. Paul responded by writing, “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Romans 14:17). The reign of God is the rule of three things: (1) Righteousness, right behavior in the context of right relationships, love and justice that comes as a result of love; (2) Peace, the inner harmony and wholeness that only God can bring, hearts and minds ruled by God’s peace; and (3) Joy, a positive expectation of the future based on an unshakable confidence in God’s rule and will. When God is ruling, when God is in control, the evidence can be seen in the rule of God’s righteousness, peace and joy, and those three things are seen primarily in the relationships God’s people have in community.

The world longs to see Jesus. When they see the church, what do they see? When they observe our relationships, the way we love and honor one another, the way we serve each other, what do they see? May they see the love of God ruling in our hearts and lives, made possible by the real presence of Jesus in and among us.