Sir, We Would See Jesus
People of God want the whole truth and nothing but the truth, and so help us God! When a particular group of Greeks (Gentiles) came to Philip, a Jewish disciple of Jesus of Nazareth, they made one request. It was to see Jesus (Jn 12:21). Obviously, they were requesting an in-person meeting, but the play on words is not lost on us.
The purposeful visitation signaled the end. Jesus was deeply moved with emotion. His incarnate earthly ministry would climax in that particular Passover festival week. Jesus and the Father would be glorified along with His exalted Name above every other name. The Son of Man would be lifted up, and those who would look upon Him would be healed.
When the dawn of salvation’s first light is detected in the newly regenerate soul, the hunger and thirst for righteousness begins to grow. For those who see Jesus, they recognize He is the Light of the world who has shone in the hearts of those who received His Spirit (Jn 1:12–13; 8:12; Rom 8:9, 11; 2 Cor 4:6). The new believer declares, “I was blind, but now I see (Jn 9:25).”
God the Father was the One who drew these particular Greeks to Jesus (Jn 6:44, 65), and so it is with everyone God has chosen to belong to His Son (Rom 8:9; 11:5; 1 Cor 3:23). These Jesus bought for a price (1 Cor 6:20; 7:23) with His precious blood from the slave market of sin (Rom 6:6; 1 Pet 1:19). He cancelled their debt of sin (Col 2:14) and set them free from the reign of sin and death (Rom 5:17, 21). It was the truth that delivered the captives from the world of lies.
Jesus Christ died, was buried, and raised from the death, ascended into heaven, and He was enthroned at the right hand of majesty. He reigns on the throne of David, the throne of God — Son of Man, Son of God — who will return to judge the living and the dead on the final day of history (Gen 18:25; Acts 10:42; 2 Tim 4:1; 1 Pet 4:5; Rev 19:11).
All who were chosen by the Father, redeemed by the Son, and regenerated by the Spirit believe Gospel truth. They desire more light, that is, more knowledge of the truth. They are led by the Spirit of truth into the Word of truth, the Bible. It was the preaching of the truth that brought them to faith in God’s Word.
In the same way, Philip brought those Greeks to see Jesus, so is today’s preacher of the Gospel. The Spirit-filled man of God is called and compelled to preach Christ and Him crucified (1 Cor 2:2). Like Moses lifted up the bronze serpent on his staff in the wilderness (Num 21:6, 9), so the preacher lifts Christ above the frenzy of worldly chatter, so that some might be saved from the second death (Rev 20:14–15).
Jesus Christ is the truth (Jn 14:6), and true worshipers, filled with God’s Spirit want the truth — undiluted. So, we ask why so many preachers and teachers are unwilling to tell the simple, biblical truth even to a Christian gathering of saints? Obviously, most if not all would deny the accusation, but were not most of us brought up with watered-down man-centered theology?
The testimony of so many, as to the deficiency of preaching and teaching, warrants the inquiry into those who are ignorant to doctrine and thus oblivious to the very reality of the deficiency. In other words, they don’t know that they don’t know right doctrine.
Knowing the pathetic state of doctrine and knowledge of doctrine in the American church, one must ask, “Which came first, the preaching perfidy or the congregation’s catharsis?” Why is no one hot under the collar regarding the dismal decline of the church?
It is difficult to ignore the decline of both church and state in America. It would appear that God is not happy with us, and we certainly have given Him reason to judge us (Rom 1:18–32). The problem and the solution are related. When Jesus Christ was lowered into the realm of obscurity and private religion, trouble ensued for both civil and sacred operations.
The solution is to remove America’s interdict against the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is time for the church to stop accommodating the world system with an impotent Christ. The church must request, even demand, to see Jesus in His fullness from those entrusted with the stewardship of the Gospel ministry. Jesus Christ is the King of glory, and we must herald His coming as the just Judge of the whole earth.
If doctrine matters and it does, then congregations of Christians must insist on teachers who are not afraid of doctrines such as election, reprobation, predestination, sovereignty, sovereign grace, depravity, hell, eternal punishment, particular redemption, hatred/wrath of God, exclusive love of God, etc. All of these categories have been neutered or neglected altogether by lazy pastor/theologians, who wish to remain popular among the people.
Pastor, if you fear for your financial well-being and so distort doctrine then consider the day of judgment in which you will have to give an account of your careless disregard for the feeding and protection of the flock entrusted to you. Could even one of your congregants give a clear presentation of the Gospel, if asked? Are you too busy with the summer carnival, the Halloween trunk or treat event, or the Christmas program?
If God’s people knew what was good for them, and it may be a bit shocking that they do not know, then they would come to you and say, “Sir, we would see Jesus.” Sir, why do they even have to ask you to give them the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but biblical and doctrinal truth? In this, you must be found faithful, for if you are teaching or preaching anything else, you are already unfaithful.
David Norczyk
Spokane Valley, Washington
September 27, 2021
