Jesus be the center

Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the festival. They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. “Sir,” they said, “we would like to see Jesus.”
- John 12:20-21

Over the last month, we’ve looked at how Jesus calls his followers to break through barriers that divide people. We shouldn’t be surprised to see this breaking through ministry show up in Jesus’ own life.

In today’s passage, a group of Greeks come looking for the Jewish rabbi. They want to see Jesus. There’s something about Jesus that fascinates people of every race, every tribe, every tongue and nation. There’s something about Jesus that makes rich and poor, men and women, educated and uneducated alike feel like they can connect with him and with his story. Many people who don’t believe in the story of Jesus’ death and resurrection still find something fascinating about Jesus.

These Greeks aren’t the first to go looking for Jesus. And they won’t be the last.

This story about the Greeks coming to look for Jesus is unique to the gospel of John. It doesn’t show up in the other Gospel accounts even though it fits well with the picture they paint of Jesus. John juxtaposes the Greeks coming to see Jesus with the warm reception from the Jews that Jesus received when he entered Jerusalem on what we now call “Palm Sunday.”

By linking these two stories together, John shows us how Jesus’ very presence starts to cause these barriers between people to crumble. The “draw” of Jesus transcended people groups during his life and it has continued to this very day. Jesus has resonated with more people across more cultures than just about anyone in history.

When we think and talk about breaking through barriers, we must remain centered on Jesus. Ultimately, he is the one who makes breakthrough possible. Our programs and initiatives and individual efforts will come to nothing if Jesus isn’t the center.

What helps you keep Jesus at the center of your life? What disciplines, practices, rhythms and routines help you stay focused on Jesus, even in the midst of your efforts to love and reach out to people who are different from you?

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