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How to Ruin a Good Religion

February 18, 2001

TEXT: JOHN 12:20-33

The story is told of a young preacher who came to his first church right out of seminary. His preaching early on was basically the content of his seminary classes. Finally, after months of inflicting his seminary notes on the congregation, he stepped into the pulpit one Sunday morning to find a note that had been left there on behalf of the people. It read simply, "Sir, we wish to see Jesus."

When I heard that story it reminded me of Chicago First Church of the Nazarene were I formerly served. It's one of the oldest churches in our denomination with a rich history. Some of the greatest preachers in the movement have proclaimed God's word from that pulpit.

And in the old sanctuary on the south side of Chicago, In the top of the pulpit so the preacher could clearly see, there were engraved into the wood those same words, "Sir, we would see Jesus."

Now the assumption in all of that is that Christianity need not be as complicated as a seminary course in theology. The thought is that while the finer points of doctrine might be a fine pursuit for some, the gospel is simple. It's just a matter of seeing Jesus.

In fact some would say that that's been the basic problem with the church all along. We make religion too complicated, too cumbersome, too heavy and serious. We just need to see Jesus, that's all. It doesn't have to be all that hard. It doesn't have to be cumbersome and heavy. It's just a simple matter of seeing Jesus.

The gospel lesson for this morning opens with the account of some people who just wanted to see Jesus. We understand that what they were asking for was an opportunity to visit with him. Obviously they could see him walking around the streets of the city. But they wanted to "see" him like we go to "see" a friend. A very simple request, right? Nothing too complicated about that.

Now please note who these people were. They are described by John as Greeks. Gentiles. And they knew that Jesus hadn't come to their people, he came to the Jews as a Jew. Because they were outsiders - and knew it - they were unsure whether Jesus would receive them or not. So they make the request to one of Jesus' disciples, Philip.

I guess Philip wasn't sure either whether Jesus would see them or not so he passes the buck to Andrew and together they go to Jesus with the request: "There are some Greeks who want audience with you."

Now if that's all the story we had, what would you expect to happen next? Wouldn't you assume that Jesus would say, "Oh, there are some people who want to see me? Fine, let's go to them and have a talk." Don't you imagine Jesus seeking them out and sitting down with them? Wouldn't Jesus just put his arm around them and answer all their questions and help them to feel "comfortable" and at ease? After all, that would be "simple."

Well, did anyone but me notice that Jesus never answered their question? I mean the way John tells the story here, it seems like Jesus completely ignored the request of these people. Look at it: the Greeks come and say "we want to see Jesus." So Philip goes to Andrew and Andrew and Philip go to Jesus and say, "Jesus, there are some Greeks who want to talk with you." Now we didn't lose anybody there did we? A pretty simple request that would require a simple yes or no answer. Look at verse 23: "Jesus replied, "the hour has come for the son of man . . .

What?

Simple question. Jesus, do you want to see these guys or not? And he launches into this theological discourse on laying down his life and being glorified and judgement coming on the world. He never tells the disciples if he will receive the greeks or not. What is going on here?

I think we've discovered that John is not stupid nor is he a bad writer. He knew that this answer doesn't seem to go well with this question. At least it's not a simple answer. So what in the world is going on here?

Well, please understand that when we come to chapter twelve we have come to a very critical point in the story of Jesus. He is in the final week of his life and the cross casts a long shadow over the story.

Throughout his ministry, Jesus has tried to proclaim the coming of God's kingdom to his people, the Jews. But for the most part, they would not listen. Oh, there were believers here and there, but as we have seen the message of Jesus was just too scandalous, too messy for most of them to accept.

So just before Jesus goes to the cross, here come these Greeks with a simple question. Can we see Jesus? John is writer who loves to use metaphor and symbol. I just wonder if in John's mind, these Greeks represent all of us who are Gentiles. We are outside the covenant people of God and their question is perhaps our question: "Can we see Jesus? We have heard the promise of the coming kingdom. Is it for us too? Will the Messiah save not only his people, but the whole world?"

"For he came unto his but his own would not receive him. But to those who would receive him, to those who would believe in his name he gave the right to become children of God."

Yes, they can see Jesus. But they will see him as the suffering Savior, lifted up on a cross, dying for the sins of the whole world. His answer to them was, "When I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw all men to myself."

They just wanted to see jesus. They just wanted to have a nice conversation with him and learn more about his fascinating teaching. Yet he responds by pointing to his cross.

That's how you ruin a good religion. You ruin it by bringing up that cross stuff all the time. Jesus just couldn't seem to get it off his mind. No wonder people got impatient with him.

For so often the Jesus we really want to see is the one who makes us feel better about ourselves. We want a Jesus who comforts us and gives us things, a Jesus who makes us feel better.

We want a Jesus who makes life simple and enjoyable. After all, why does life have to be so hard? Our religion doesn't have to be complicated, it's supposed to be simple, right?

And yet when Jesus talks about his kind of religion - life in the kingdom of God - he consistently points to the cross. For that's where you really see Jesus. The cross is where you begin to understand our sinful condition and what Jesus did to save us from that sin.

You're right. It's not all that pleasant to talk about the cross. It's disturbing and troubling. But unless you've seen the reality of the cross you have not seen Jesus.

Now I think I understand what we mean when we say that the gospel is simple. What we don't need is a lot of complicated theological systems and church structures. We need to focus on Jesus, but when we do, he will call us every time to embrace the cross and that is anything but simplistic.

Jesus does not call us a religion that is complicated. But he also does not call us to a religion that is milk toast and warm fuzzies. Simplistic religion wants everything to be reduced. What's the least I can do and still make it to heaven?

Christianity is not the path of least resistance but that's precisely how many of us treat it. And I get the strange feeling sometimes that when people talk glowingly about the simplicity of the gospel what they really mean is a religion that isn't too uncomfortable. A faith that doesn't have to get it's fingernails dirty.

If we even begin to understand this passage we realize that we do not have "simple religion" here. We have the mystery of the Cross. And we have the strange but powerful principle that in the Kingdom of God, life comes out of death. When you lay down your life, that's when real life begins.

"Unless a seed falls into the ground and dies, it remains only a seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds." If you try to preserve and protect your life, you will lose it. But if you surrender your life to God, you will keep it for eternity.

These Greeks just wanted to see Jesus. They were pointed to a cross. We just want to see Jesus, and every time, he points us to a cross.

My question for you this morning is this: "Is your religion simple? Is it easy? Is it non-threatening and comfortable? Does it ever trouble you to be a follower of Jesus? Do you ever shudder when in the shadow of the cross you come to face to face with your "undoneness" before God?

If not, if that kind of thing never happens to you, then you still haven't seen Jesus. The life he has called you to is the journey of the cross. I certainly recognize that that is not popular talk. That's not the kind of religion we really would like to have. It's certainly not "simple."

All this talk about the cross may ruin a good religion, but it will save you. For it's through the cross that your sins have been forgiven and you now have the offer of eternal life. And the way to receive that gift, is take up your own cross, give up the desire to be your own god, and allow the risen Christ to breathe new life into you.

Do you want to see jesus? Look to the cross.