My family chose to read through the book of John for Lent. I love many aspects of this book; it is personable, easy to read, there are tremendous themes of love and light all of which make Jesus approachable. But as we read, one question continues to whisper in my ear: “Do you know me?”
In John 12 there those who don’t believe, namely the religious people. They fear that Jesus is swaying the whole world toward belief in himself away from Judaism (John 12:19). Then there are those followers who seem to believe but are torn, confused, and becoming double-minded because what Jesus is asking of them is too difficult to understand. (John 6:60 and 7:43). The bottom line is that they want to know: Who is this Jesus person? Will he be who they want him to be?
The tide of Jesus’ ministry begins to change with the cries of “Hosanna!” in the air revealing no longer what Jesus wants, but what the people truly want.
‘Blessed is the King!’ are the shouts from unbelieving and believing alike who desire one thing: a ruler, but only under their conditions. It is quite reminiscent of the elders of Israel telling Samuel in the Old Testament, “Now appoint a king to lead us. Give us a King.” (1 Samuel 8)
Being creatures of habit, formed and bound by earth, we struggle to see beyond visible reality into the supernatural. While the people hail Jesus as a king of their making, Jesus persistently redirects their falsely placed notions past himself toward the true source of life; the Father.
Even a voice from heaven glorifying God’s name, could not shake them from their single-minded ambition. Their fears had grown too deep rooting them in the disbelief of any possibility of a spiritual existence. They wanted a king who would grant them power and place in the world they understood (John 12:28-30). Yet, eager as they were to crown Jesus, they continued to ask, “Who is this ‘Son of Man’?” They no doubt saw his power and authority, but remained blind to who he was.
Jesus didn’t walk away from the blind man, nor does he intend to leave us in our darkness. He came to illuminate us to a life beyond corporeal practicalities and kingdoms. Those who closely watched Jesus’ life could not understand the words he spoke any more than we can most days. This impossibility on our part is revelatory to our need for the Cross, for a way, the Way, to crack open the part of our spirit that’s been held captive by sin and darkness so that we may have eyes to see, ears to hear, and hearts to understand when Jesus says, “I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed […] the one who loves his life will lose it, while the one who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.” (John 12: 24-25) Knowing our inability to self-reveal the ways of God, Jesus is resolved to light the path of our being able to know what is real verses temporal.
Jesus came to live among us because God longs to know us and be known by us, which is why Jesus spent so much time saying things like: ‘when you look at me, see the one who sent me and then you will know who I am.’ (vs. 45 paraphrase) Jesus is getting to know us and giving us the opportunity to get to know him, but first we must abandon who we think he should be, and see him for who he truly is. “Don’t you know me Philip (we could enter our own name), even after I have been among you such a long time?” Jesus (John 14:9).
Jesus spent his ministry redirecting our misguided, self-focused desires so that we could know who he was, and is, by looking deeply at him. “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father.” He knew when the time came, after his death and resurrection, the light would flicker and there would be that ‘a-ha’ moment where we would know we’d been looking at the face of God all along.
He lived among us in plain sight, yet we couldn’t decipher who he was. He captivated us with stories to help us reimagine the world through his eyes, yet we complained we couldn’t understand. He showed us how to love and serve, and we somehow still self-connived for personnel ambition. He asked us to eat of his flesh and drink of his blood and we said it was too hard to believe such a thing.
When I still wonder, who is Jesus, and I do, I hear him lovingly respond, ‘Don’t worry, meet me at the Cross. It will all make sense when you meet me at the Cross.’
At the Cross we see through the eyes of Christ directly to God himself. We see our triune King reigning beyond earthen empires, capturing our hearts from sin and death and leading us out of banishment into his loving presence; our true home.
“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father.”
John 14:7
Lord, open our eyes to see beyond the corporeal into our truest reality. Give us ears to hear like the sheep who know their shepherd’s voice. Grant our hearts understanding so that we may trust that our place in this world is you in us and us in you. Amen.
Reflective Activities for Holy Week
- As we approach Holy Week starting with Palm Sunday, journey with Christ through the scriptures. How does he talk to people? What questions are asked of him? Where do you see yourself in the journey? Meet Jesus at the Cross, who do you see in his face, who do you see in yourself? Spend time praying through those thoughts.
- The Stations of the Cross is a prayer journey through the Passion story. You can find online versions or find a local outdoor facility offering the journey. Here is one example of an online version: Click Here. As you read through scripture and pray, consider how you see Jesus? What images come to mind? How does Jesus reflect the Father, love, forgiveness, compassion? Does it stir any feelings or thoughts in your heart, confess and surrender those revelations to God.
- “Do you know me?” Jesus asks this questions in various ways throughout the Gospels. Spend time praying, or journaling on this question. Imagine Jesus asking you, much like he asked Philip, “Don’t you know me?” How have you gotten to know Jesus throughout Lent? Are there ways you’d like to know Christ more intimately? What fears may be keeping you from seeing Jesus for he truly is?
- Read John 15. What words or phrases jump to the forefront for you? Read it again. Consider how those words or phrases may be connecting to your life. What might God be saying to you in this word. Read the scripture again. What do you think God’s invitation might be to you in this word? Spend time in prayer or journaling about what God opened to you in this reading.
