THE UNIVERSAL QUEST

JOHN 12:2

A. "WE WOULD SEE JESUS"
  1. On several occasions during the earthly ministry of Jesus we find Him coming into touch with the representatives of the world beyond the boundaries of Judea
  2. But among the incidents in the gospels which suggests a larger mission than a ministry in Israel alone:
    1. Stands pre-eminently John's story of the Greeks who came up to the feast at Jerusalem with an earnest desire to see Him
    2. What ever their intention or their coming kindled in the mind of Christ, a vision of universal human desire - and of Himself to answer it B. "WE WOULD SEE JESUS"
  3. It is the universal quest:
    1. Of sinners - Matt. 9:10; Mark 2:15
    2. And of the saints - Luke 2:25-32
  4. It is the quest:
    1. Of the astronomers from the East - Matt. 2:1-12
    2. And the poor shepherds in the field near Bethlehem - Luke 2:15-18
  5. It is the desire of the ages:
    1. Men weary of empty rituals, disappointed by their vain endeavors to obtain peace of heart, were eager to see Jesus
    2. The longing to see Jesus began when Adam and Eve heard the promise of the coming Redeemer and the echo of that promise was passed on by the Patriarchs and the prophets - John 8:56-58; I Pet. 1:10-11
    3. To see Jesus means to see "The Day Star" that proclaims the coming of the morning of the hope of men - 2 Pet. 1:19; Rev. 2:28
    4. Even Balaam saw His star - Num. 23:9; 24:17
  6. "We would see Jesus"
    1. Is the deep, deep, longing of God's children living in the closing days of earth's history
    2. Their eager look turns heavenward in quest for the cloud that will bring Him - Is. 25:9; Heb. 9:28
    3. Their longing to see Jesus is increased by their suffering that Satan has brought upon them - Dan. 12:1 C. WHY O WHY THE UNIVERSAL QUEST TO SEE JESUS?
  7. He is man's only hope:
    1. "Neither is there salvation in any other; for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved" - Acts 4:12
    2. "Look unto me, and be ye saved all the ends of the earth; for I am God and there is none else" - Is. 45:22
  8. He is man's only hope:
    1. The hope of freedom from fear - Luke 21:26; Is. 24:17-22; 41:10; 43:1; 44:8
    2. The hope of freedom from the enslavement of sin - John 1:29; Matt. 1:21
    3. The hope from the bondage of death - Heb. 2:14-17; John 11:26; Ps. 23:1-6
    4. The hope of a new heaven and a new earth - 2 Pet. 3:13; Is. 65:17-21
  9. To see Jesus means for men:
    1. To see God, the King of the universe - Matt. 5:8; Is. 52:8; I Cor. 13:12; Ps. 24:7-8
    2. To see Jesus means that final and eternal redemption has come to this sin-stained world
  10. And what more shall we say about the universal quest to see Jesus:
    1. He is in truth "The lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the world" - John 1:29
    2. He is indeed the Prince of Peace - Is. 9:6; Acts 5:31; Rev. 1:5
    3. He is the Rose of Sharon - Song of Sol. 2:1
    4. He is the express image of God the Father the great delight of the unfallen universe - Heb. 1:3; Phil. 2:10-11
    5. "We would see Jesus" - what a desire; not a desire for vain glory but for the center of eternal glory


Design © John Bryant 2011