“Sir, we wish to see Jesus.”    John 12:21

 Dear friends,

            The brief story of the Greek visitors to Passover in Jerusalem who want to meet Jesus (John 12:20-22) has always been one of my favorites.  I believe their request to Philip expresses the deepest longing of every human heart and the deepest need of every human life:  people need to see Jesus.  The question this story always poses for me is this:  do people see Jesus in me—because of me—or are they turned away from him instead.

            In one of my ordination interviews a colleague reminded me that my life may be all people ever know about who Jesus is and the love he represents.  He also reminded me that integrity between my words and actions is an absolute necessity—not just because I’m a pastor, but because I’m a Christian.  It’s an awesome responsibility to carry Jesus’ name and to know my life witnesses for him—or against him—no matter what my words say.  It’s hugely important to me to live in such a way that people will be able to see Jesus because of me.

            In this holy season of Lent, as we move toward Jesus’ passion and resurrection may each of us ask ourselves this vital question:  can people see Jesus in and through me.  May we find ourselves growing more and more in his likeness every day so that, indeed, people will see Jesus through us.

                                                                        Shalom,

                                                Pastor Janis