The sermon text is below the video…

Sermon preached at St. Stephen’s Church, Goldboro, NC; Sunday March 21 2021
The Reverend Alan Neale; “Sir…”

John 12:21 “Sir, we would see Jesus.”

The Reverend Charles Simeon was born in 1759; his brothers went severally into the military, banking law and politics. Charles sought ordination in the Church of England and received the living of Holy Trinity Church, Cambridge, in 1783 he was nominated curate-in-charge. He was at first unpopular. Services were disrupted, and he was insulted in the streets. But Simeon’s ministry (especially his preaching ministry became so effective, so popular) that he remained there until he died, age 77.

If you have ever visited Cambridge in England you may remember two distinctive characteristics of Holy Trinity Church; the first… it is built in the round and the second… on the pulpit pillow remains a note that reads John 12:21 “Sir, we would see Jesus.”.

Simeon saw this one morning as he climbed the pulpit steps and asked that the note remain… it was the summation, the goal, the purpose of his preaching and pastoral ministry… and he did not want to forget it.

“Sir, we would see Jesus.”

On the Mount of Transfiguration, in the center of so much theological profundity and confusion, the disciples eventually look up and we are told… (Matthew 17:8) “they look up and see Jesus only”.

In a world of chaos and disruption, in a world longing to harmony and order… the writer to the Hebrews affirms (Hebrews 2:9) “but we see Jesus”.

In our personal lives often beset with frustration, failure, disappointment we are urged (Hebrews 12) “fix your eyes on Jesus, consider him!”.

We who name ourselves Christians, we are the ones whose constant prayer it is “we would see Jesus” – so that we might be encouraged, strengthened, enlightened.

And though King David preceded the advent of Jesus in the flesh, I am convinced that in the depths of his shame and guilt he too “looked to the grace and steadfast love of God, to Jesus” with vigor and determination.

Scholars differ in identifying the “Greeks” who ask this primal question. Maybe the term was used to refer to all Gentiles, maybe it referred to Jewish proselytes… but this we know… they had come to Jerusalem to worship at the time of festival, there was a stirring in their hearts that prompted them to be with the people of God, in the place of God, and in the time of God.

Consider their request. It was made humbly, intentionally and specifically.

Humbly… these Greeks were willing to be known and identified as worshippers, though the one whom they worshiped doubtless lacked clarity and definition yet they refused to be satisfied with self-sufficiency, smug self-reliance and rigid autonomy. At one party, Oscar Wilde once heard a man boast that he was a self-made man; to which Wilde responded, “Well, that relieves the Almighty of a terrible responsibility.” These Greeks knew that they were not self-made and were prone and ready to worship.

Intentionally… the Greek word for “would” translates better as desire, yearn, petition! This is no passing whim, no mere fad – no, this is wanted, really wanted.

Specifically… “we would see Jesus”. Not a glance, not a glimpse, no fleeting look… no, we want to see, to understand, to gaze and know Jesus.

And consider the response. The response is respectful, shared and specific.

Respectful. It is hard to imagine the busyness of the city and temple, the confusion and concern of the disciples, the maelstrom of hopes and anticipation amongst the disciples. And yet… in all of this, Philip makes time to stop and to listen to these request from obvious foreigners and aliens. Some have suggested that the Greeks talk to Philip because of his Greek name, maybe… but for whatever reason Philip has a sense that at this very moment… this is his raison d’etre, his purpose. The one who showed puzzlement and confusion at the miraculous feeding, now shows a sense of respectful purpose and mission.

Shared. I love this sense of a relay race of pastoral mission as the Greeks talk to Philip, and then Philip talks to Andrew and then Philip and Andrew talk to Jesus. At its best, most authentic there is no “lone ranger” ministry in the Church.

Specific. I know it is obvious, but clergy are always tending to state the obvious… where do the disciples take this request of the Greeks… they take it to Jesus. “Have we trials and temptations, take it to the Lord in prayer. What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer.” Do you carry cares and concerns into church this morning, take them to the Lord in prayer.

In all Christian families, children may rightly ask of parents and parents of children, “We would see Jesus.”
In all churches, those in the pew may rightly ask of those around the altar, and those around the altar may rightly ask of those in the pew, “We would see Jesus.”

In all congregations, members may rightly ask of one another, “We would see Jesus.”

And every search committee may rightly ask of any candidate, and any candidate may rightly ask of any search committee, “We would see Jesus.”

Friends, let this be your simple yet profound request this coming Holy Week and Easter and beyond,

“Sir, we would see Jesus”. AMEN