The Key West citizen., 1954-03-13
BY RALPH ROGERS
Jesus faces the cross. John II,

Jesus faces the cross. John II.
IS 1880
The excitement created when Je.
sus raised Lazarus from the dead
in last Sundays lesson caused the.
complaint by the PhariSees that
"The whole world has gone after
him" This prophecy of the uni.
versal spread of Christianity is
being fulfilled in today's lessen
when some proselytes, or at least
God-fearers (See Acts 1911, %. 35l
appeared at this festival and asked
to Jesus. His answer to the Greeks
contains the meat of today's les.
son as Jesus faces the cross"
Christ had made a tremendous
impression on the people in his
ministry of mercy and helpfulness
The Greeks had heard of the re.
markable miracles. Attending the
festival of the Passover. thew
sought more information and so
approached Philip saying, I'VE
would see Jesus" D." They sought out
Philip perhaps because he had
Greek name, or perhaps it was
because he had come from Beth.
saida, a fishing town north of the
Sea of Galilee and east OF where
the upper Jordan flows into the
Sea. The Greeks had the reputa-
ton of being inquiSitive, seeking to
know the latest and most up-to-date
news.
This enquiry was a most encour-
aging sign. The Greeks represent
ed the world outside Judaism and
Jesus reception of them formed the
basis for Paul and his successors S
missionary work. There was and
is a call for missionaries with a
sympathetic understanding of the
wider quest for God. Those who
have never seen Jesus, the reveal
er of God, must come to a fuller
knowledge of Him through those
who can transmit the living wit
ness. THAT which we have seen
and heard we proclaim also to
you, that you may have fellowship
with u.s." U John 1:3) Jesus saw
in this request that for which he
had been waiting and so was more
resigned to face the cross. His
hour had come.
This incident moved Jesus deep
ly. He had experienced the hosti-
lity and enmity of those who
should have supported his mess
age. He, had been bounded and per-
secuted from city to city but his
hour had not yet come. John 2:4).
Now comes the encouraging en-
quiry and with it the opportunity,
the "Son of man should be glori-
fled" This request of the Greeks
seems trivial and insignificant but
Jesus sees in it an open door on
something big, tremendous and &C.
tually begun. Christ had been thrill
ed before. When the seventy re.
turned from their missionary tour
Jesus with cry of triumph said,
Il saw Satan fall like lightning
from heaven" (Luke 1918. Later
he expressed the fulfllment of his
mission with a knowledge that he
had not failed when he cried ON
the cross, "It is finished"
Now is the opportune time to
present another and important
truth. Unless a grain OF wheat
falls into the earth and dies, il
remains alone" A grain of wheat
seems insignificant enough, simply
lump of starch. However within
that grain is life which is evident
when we drop that lump into fer
tile soil and we see "first thu
blade, then the ear, after that the
full corn on the ear" Put these
many grains back again IN the
earth and the process is repeated
in sort of chain reaction, a re.
producing process that goes or
and one. If it is not put in the
soil, lit remains alone"