Now there some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the Feast. They came to Phillip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request, “Sir,” they said, “we would like to see Jesus.”

We have a wonderful electronic device connected to our TV. It is a PVR, Personal Video Recorder! Being digital it is ten times better than our old VCR. It allows us to reshape the TV shows we watch. We can skip over the commercials, fast forward through boring parts of shows, replay the exciting parts, and delete what we don’t want. We can see what we want, when we want.

As I was pondering today’s Gospel lesson I wondered how often do we try to see Jesus in a way that we want: fitting Him to our lives when it is convenient for us: skipping over this teaching, fast forwarding over that parable, just seeing the parts that we find interesting or exciting, and deleting Him when we are done with Him. But, is this reshaped Jesus the one we ought to be seeing?

Our Gospel lesson begins this morning with some Greeks, God-fearing Gentiles, who come insistently asking, “Sir, we would like to see Jesus”. I found it interesting thatat the beginning of Jesus life it was Magi from the east that came looking for one born “King of the Jews,” and now at the end of Jesus’ life Greeks from the west have come in search of Him, the Jesus who several verses earlier, back in verse 13, came into to the city to the cries of “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the King of Israel.”

What a great request, “Sir, we would like to see Jesus.” Those are amazing words. They have stuck with me, struck a cord with me. So much so that I keep a note up here in this pulpit that says those very words, Sir, we would like to see Jesus. That is after all who we should come here to see. It shouldn’t be for show or to be seen, but to see the One who is God in flesh appearing; the One who can save us from our sinful selves. However, I fear that the Jesus many people may come to see today isn’t the Jesus the Greeks nor the Magi were looking for. I fear the Jesus many are looking for is one that has been fast forwarded over, edited, and reshaped to fit our likes, dislikes, and lifestyle:

Sir, we would like to see the “Status Quo Jesus”- the one who never seeks to turn my life upside down like He did with the money changers in the temple.

Sir, I would like to see the “Lamb Tender Jesus”- but not one who will shear me or let the sheep dogs bark at me even if it is to keep me away from danger.

Sir, I would like to see the “Blind-eye Jesus”- the one who will let me continue what I am doing even if it is sinful.

Sir, I would like to see “Tolerant and Trendy Jesus”- the one who accepts that all lifestyles no matter how deviant are okay, one who knows times and people are different now than they were back then.

Sir, I would like to see a “Spiritual Jesus”- the one that says all religions and philosophies lead to heaven.

Sir, I would like to see “Loophole Jesus” – the one who would allow people who lived a good life or at least had good intentions, or who were friends of mine into heaven.

Sir, I would like to see “Mix and Match Jesus”- the one who will let me mix into my Christianity a little Buddhism, a few bit and pieces of new age thinking along with some occult practices, and also with some idol worship.

Oh, Sir, I would like to see the “Genie in the Bottle Jesus”- the one who is there at my beckon call when I need him, one I can put away when times are going okay.

I fear that the Jesus many, including many of us, want to see is not the Jesus who set aside heaven to rescue us from sin. They want to see some made over Jesus, but that Jesus cannot save them. It is the Jesus of the Bible, the whole unedited Jesus that we all need to see rather than a Jesus of our making. So, who is this Jesus who has come into Jerusalem? Sir, we see that Jesus.

That Jesus is eternal. Hebrews 13.8 tells us that He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Jesus is all-powerful and sustaining. Colossians 1.16 tells us that all things were created by Him and for Him. He is before all things and in Him all things hold together. One who is able to calm the storms by His Word: Hush be still! (Mk 4.39) able to cleanse lepers: Be clean, able to make the blind see, and even raise “four day dead and in the tomb” Lazarus to life all with just a Word, no special effects BUT real power.

I was speaking just this past week to a couple with little if any faith and I pointed out to them that if there was someone who could do these types of things and these miracles, too, then they might just want to pay attention to Him, at least seek to, learn more about Him. Sir, we would see this One who does what no one else can do.

See this Jesus who is holy. The prophet Isaiah and apostle John saw glimpses of the Lord in heaven and heard the declaration: Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God almighty. (Is 6.3 & Rev 4.8) Even the demons upon seeing Jesus declared, We know who you are- the Holy One of God (Mk 1.24) Being God and being holy, Jesus was worshipped. The man whom Jesus healed of his blindness knelt before Him and worshipped Him. (Jn 9.38) Others were drawn to him for He spoke with power and authority not as their teachers of the day.(Matt 7.29) Even today Jesus draws us here by His Word and Sacraments healing us of our spiritual blindness, drawing us near to Him that we might no longer worship the idols and false teachings of this world but worship Him who can give us life!

The Jesus we need to see is resolute in fulfilling His mission. He has not come to condemn the world, which would be easy enough, but He has come to save the world! In the John text, note these three verses: First, verse 23, The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Now look at verse 27, Jesus says from a troubled heart, what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour.’ Now look to verse 31. Now is time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world is driven out. Each of these verses brings us to see the cross and the ultimate mission of our Jesus- to save us from our sins, to save us from the darkness of our sinful reason and selfish desires, to save us from all the false Jesus(es) we would concoct and devise.

He saved us by His death in our place. We call that “substitutionary atonement”. Fancy words that mean He took our place on the cross. The punishment and death that we deserved He endured for us. St John writes in his 1st letter, He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world. (1Jn 2.2) St Paul writes it this way to the Corinthians, God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting men’s’ sins against them. (2 Cor 5.19) This is a Jesus we need to see, the One dying on the cross in our stead, the One whose suffering and death shows us the great price paid to redeem us.

We need to see what Jesus endured to drive out the prince of this world – Satan. If there was a another way, an easier way or way by which we could save ourselves and our God did not know of it, then we must not have much of a God. But there is no other way, no other name, (no other work) under heaven by which men will be saved. (Acts 4.12) It is this sacrifice, as our text declares (32), that the Father will use to draw us to Himself. When I am lifted up from the earth I will draw all men to myself. This is the Jesus we need to see…. There are times when a crucifix not an empty cross speaks a thousands words.

We need to see the Jesus who died for us and more than that rose again from grave. We need to see a Jesus who declares, see my hands and side. Put your finger here and your hand here. Stop doubting and believe. (Jn 20.24-27) We need to see and heed a Jesus that says because I live you will live also.

Now go and make disciples of all nations telling them of what you have seen, heard, and beheld. Tell them, “Sir, we have seen Jesus. The One is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He isn’t a 21st century made-over Jesus, one that has been fast forwarded, skip over, re-edited that we need to see. No we need to see the real deal, the One who lived for us, died for us, and rose again for us. That is the Jesus we need to see. The One who is Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world the one who by His Word changes lives and eternities. Sir, I invite you to see Jesus.”

Amen