20 Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the Feast. 21 They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. "Sir," they said, "we would like to see Jesus." 22 Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus.
No one who truly seeks Jesus with an unfeigned heart comes away disappointed. From the wise men of the East who sought to bring Jesus honor at His birth to the women who sought to saturate His body with spices at His death – and everyone in between - no one came away from a sincere encounter with Him, wanting. The prophet Jeremiah tells us:
13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. Jer 29:13 (NIV)
The writer of Hebrews tells us:
6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. Heb 11:6 (NIV)
These Greeks sought out Jesus at the very time the Jews sought to take His life. Who could have imagined that foreigners from a distant land would come forth asking for an audience with our Lord. These Greeks were devout worshippers of the One true God though strangers to the commonwealth of Israel. Uncircumcised, they would not have been permitted to partake in the Passover meal yet all the while they were present in order to worship fully at the Feast. They took advantage of the privileges they did have. Having a desire to see Christ, they were both industrious and proper in their approach. They made the most of the opportunities availed them. Paul tells us in Ephesians:
15 Be very careful, then, how you live--not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is. Eph 5:15-17 (NIV)
Perhaps these Greeks were influenced by curiosity; perhaps they surmised – as did the Magi - that Jesus was the promised King of the Jews whom the Eastern world anticipated. Whatever the reason, to their credit, they certainly displayed a more earnest interest in our Lord than their Jewish religious counterparts. Respectfully coming to one of our Lord’s number, perhaps from near their own area, these Greeks appear both persistent and genuine in their seeking. The great desire of every soul should be to see Jesus. Indeed, the privileges are extraordinary for those who diligently seek Him.
Consider Nicodemus – a Pharisee and a member of the Jewish ruling council. He pays a visit to our Lord in the darkness of night. Perhaps he did not want to draw attention to his visit, perhaps it was the only time he had available, or perhaps it was just the normal time for visitations – whatever the reason, his visit with Jesus came cloaked in darkness. Clearly, Nicodemus was earnestly seeking to understand the achieving power Christ had demonstrated. John tells us:
He came to Jesus at night and said, "Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him." John 3:2 (NIV)
Christ sets forth His mission and His doctrine albeit Nicodemus seemed a bit befuddled in the conversation yet later we find him defending Jesus to the Pharisees and even later accompanying Joseph of Arimathea asking for our Lord’s body in order to prepare it for burial with a mixture of myrrh and aloes. Nicodemus was privileged to hear with his own ears - through the lips of our Lord - the summary of the entire gospel and the motivating force behind it – love – and he came away a changed man:
16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. John 3:16-18 (NIV)
Like Nicodemus, our growth in Christ is progressive – He who began a good work in us will carry it on to completion. We are to be persistently pressing on towards the goal of Christlikeness. Spiritual maturity is a desire to go on with Christ. This is seen here in the life of Nicodemus. I am reminded of Paul’s words to the Church at Philippi regarding our growth in Jesus:
12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. 15 All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. 16 Only let us live up to what we have already attained. Phil 3:12-16 (NIV)
12 Sow for yourselves righteousness, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the LORD, until he comes and showers righteousness on you. Hosea 10:12 (NIV)