Historical series, 10. Jn 12:20-33. Preached during Lent, 1997, Hodgeville Lutheran parish

Grundahl, Allan A.

English

Scholars Commons

Consensus
Volume 32
Issue 1 Cultural Reception of the Gospel Article 11
5-1-2007
We would see Jesus
Allan A. Grundahl
Follow this and additional works at: http://scholars.wlu.ca/consensus
This Sermons is brought to you for free and open access by Scholars Commons @ Laurier. It has been accepted for inclusion in Consensus by an
authorized editor of Scholars Commons @ Laurier. For more information, please contact scholarscommons@wlu.ca.
Recommended Citation
Grundahl, Allan A. (2007) "We would see Jesus," Consensus: Vol. 32 : Iss. 1 , Article 11.
Available at: http://scholars.wlu.ca/consensus/vol32/iss1/11
HISTORICAL SERIES, 10
We Would See Jesus
Allan A. Grundahl
Bishop (Ret.), Evangelical Lutheran Church In Canada
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
(The Rev. Dr. Allan A. Grundahl was the second Bishop of the
Saskatchewan Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church In Canada,
serving in that ministry from 1993 to 2002. During the next year he
served as the Interim Director of Spiritual Care in the LutherCare
Communities in Saskatoon, and retired in 2004. Born in Horton,
Kansas, U.S.A., he spent almost his entire ordained ministry in
Saskatchewan; during the years 1975-1978 he served a parish in
Minnesota, U.S.A. This sermon was preached during Lent 1997 in the
Hodgeville Lutheran parish as part of a routine pastoral parish visit.)
Text: John 12: 20-33
Even though I come from the United States, originally, I grew up in
Canada – grade school and high school. My High School was the
Lutheran Collegiate Bible Institute at Outlook, Saskatchewan, where
the motto is: “We Would See Jesus,” which is right out of today’s
Gospel reading! 
“We would see Jesus” was the desire of some foreigners who
came from outside Palestine – so that surely fits me as a “foreigner”
from the United States; a “foreigner” who did “see Jesus” at LCBI in
a way that directed the entire rest of my life! So this Bible story is a
reminder of what’s so special about Jesus: Jesus Christ is the heart of
the Christian faith.
It may not seem, out here in rural Saskatchewan, that there are
many “foreigners” who don’t know much about Jesus Christ. But
actually throughout North America there is less and less awareness of
even the most familiar stories of the Bible. Our society is growing
more and more secularized, with so many distractions and other
interests that we can’t assume anymore that people know even the
basic facts about Jesus.
Furthermore, our world right here in Canada is the home of more
and more people from other religions. Do you know a Muslim
121
Published by Scholars Commons @ Laurier, 2007
person? A Hindu? A Sikh? It’s getting to be a pretty common
experience in the cities now. So what do you and I tell a person who
doesn’t know much about the Christian faith?
Well, the centre of our faith is Jesus Christ. “We would see
Jesus,” folks say in their own way, and we want to respond … but
always with clear respect towards those who don’t know or are
asking. Neither Jesus nor the disciples in any way “put down” those
who didn’t know much of anything about Christ. But what is there
that’s so special about Jesus which we want others to see? Let’s keep
it clear and as uncomplicated as possible.
First of all, Jesus has always profoundly impressed his followers as
the only religious leader (in all of history) to even claim to be both
divine and human. Thus, Christ is the bridge between humans and God.
That special status comes out in the chapters before today’s Gospel
reading. Then, secondly, and even more importantly, Jesus is the only
one who has dealt with the very worst problem possible for human
beings: dying and living again. Yes, living again without any help from
another human being! So, when the Greek foreigners came looking and
stating their wish, “We would see Jesus,” Jesus immediately launches
into a description of dying and coming to life again … like a seed dying
in the ground, but coming back again with much more life.
And yet Jesus doesn’t make light of the dying part. That’s a really
deep concern of most human beings – almost a greater concern than
anything else, even in our day. We go to the greatest lengths to avoid
dying: medicines, and health foods, and exercise, and vitamins, and
doctoring, and much more! Even the Bible says that death is an
enemy. Certainly the experience of dying was for Jesus also
agonizing. So much so that he earnestly prayed to God somehow to
avoid it. In fact, Jesus prayed so earnestly that drops of blood came
out of the sweat of his forehead – which medical people now say can
actually happen under extreme stress. Yet Jesus explained that his
horrendous dying would draw many people to believe, turning death
into life, and multiplied many times over!
For many of us Christians Jesus’ dying and rising is an old,
familiar story. But remember: There is no other religious figure in all
of history who has even claimed to die and rise again. That’s the heart
of the Christian faith for all who “would see Jesus”.
Thirdly, the life and death of Jesus demonstrated a life-style that’s
absolutely radical in this world! Right up to the point of dying Jesus
122 Consensus
http://scholars.wlu.ca/consensus/vol32/iss1/11
preached and demonstrated doing good, even when folks didn’t deserve
it! That’s what made Jesus so radical then...and still does today!
You see, back in ancient times, if anyone harmed you it was only
sensible to “pay back double” or more to “teach ’em a lesson” and to
make sure they didn’t do it again. Sound familiar? Then the Jewish
people came along, and they really got to be quite famous for “being
fair,” not “mean.” For they were really quite different in that they
advocated “an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.” That is, keep it
even, not mean. That was noticeably radical in Old Testament days.
Even though the Israelites didn’t always live up to it, they were
known in their time not to be devilishly mean like other nations.
Then Jesus comes along with the toughest challenge of all: “Turn
the other cheek; walk and extra mile; give your coat away … and
furthermore, do it when it’s not expected of you!” Now that’s hard for
us to do. It’s so easy to “pay back” or “teach ’em a lesson” instead of
doing the totally unexpected Christian response, to be kind when it’s
not expected!
So, we who “would see Jesus” are called into the most
challenging kind of living possible when we are Christians. 
Have you and I seen this Jesus who has called us into such a life
ever since we were baptized? And can we tell others what is most
significant in the Christian faith? (1) Christ is the bridge between
heaven and earth, between the divine above and our human world
here below. There’s no one else like him in any religion. (2) Christ
demonstrated dying and living again, and that’s never been done
before or since. (3) And, finally, Christ modelled such a radical life-
style that it still surprises our world today – with kindness when it’s
not expected or deserved!
That’s how special it is to “see Jesus” and follow him! Thanks be
to God!
We Would See Jesus 123
Published by Scholars Commons @ Laurier, 2007


We would see Jesus

Wilfrid Laurier University

ConsensusVolume 32Issue 1 Cultural Reception of the Gospel Article 115-1-2007We would see JesusAllan A. GrundahlFollow this and additional works at: http://scholars.wlu.ca/consensusThis Sermons is brought to you for free and open access by Scholars Commons @ Laurier. It has been accepted for inclusion in Consensus by anauthorized editor of Scholars Commons @ Laurier. For more information, please contact scholarscommons@wlu.ca.Recommended CitationGrundahl, Allan A. (2007) "We would see Jesus," Consensus: Vol. 32 : Iss. 1 , Article 11.Available at: http://scholars.wlu.ca/consensus/vol32/iss1/11HISTORICAL SERIES, 10We Would See JesusAllan A. GrundahlBishop (Ret.), Evangelical Lutheran Church In CanadaSaskatoon, Saskatchewan(The Rev. Dr. Allan A. Grundahl was the second Bishop of theSaskatchewan Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church In Canada,serving in that ministry from 1993 to 2002. During the next year heserved as the Interim Director of Spiritual Care in the LutherCareCommunities in Saskatoon, and retired in 2004. Born in Horton,Kansas, U.S.A., he spent almost his entire ordained ministry inSaskatchewan; during the years 1975-1978 he served a parish inMinnesota, U.S.A. This sermon was preached during Lent 1997 in theHodgeville Lutheran parish as part of a routine pastoral parish visit.)Text: John 12: 20-33Even though I come from the United States, originally, I grew up inCanada – grade school and high school. My High School was theLutheran Collegiate Bible Institute at Outlook, Saskatchewan, wherethe motto is: “We Would See Jesus,” which is right out of today’sGospel reading! “We would see Jesus” was the desire of some foreigners whocame from outside Palestine – so that surely fits me as a “foreigner”from the United States; a “foreigner” who did “see Jesus” at LCBI ina way that directed the entire rest of my life! So this Bible story is areminder of what’s so special about Jesus: Jesus Christ is the heart ofthe Christian faith.It may not seem, out here in rural Saskatchewan, that there aremany “foreigners” who don’t know much about Jesus Christ. Butactually throughout North America there is less and less awareness ofeven the most familiar stories of the Bible. Our society is growingmore and more secularized, with so many distractions and otherinterests that we can’t assume anymore that people know even thebasic facts about Jesus.Furthermore, our world right here in Canada is the home of moreand more people from other religions. Do you know a Muslim121Published by Scholars Commons @ Laurier, 2007person? A Hindu? A Sikh? It’s getting to be a pretty commonexperience in the cities now. So what do you and I tell a person whodoesn’t know much about the Christian faith?Well, the centre of our faith is Jesus Christ. “We would seeJesus,” folks say in their own way, and we want to respond … butalways with clear respect towards those who don’t know or areasking. Neither Jesus nor the disciples in any way “put down” thosewho didn’t know much of anything about Christ. But what is therethat’s so special about Jesus which we want others to see? Let’s keepit clear and as uncomplicated as possible.First of all, Jesus has always profoundly impressed his followers asthe only religious leader (in all of history) to even claim to be bothdivine and human. Thus, Christ is the bridge between humans and God.That special status comes out in the chapters before today’s Gospelreading. Then, secondly, and even more importantly, Jesus is the onlyone who has dealt with the very worst problem possible for humanbeings: dying and living again. Yes, living again without any help fromanother human being! So, when the Greek foreigners came looking andstating their wish, “We would see Jesus,” Jesus immediately launchesinto a description of dying and coming to life again … like a seed dyingin the ground, but coming back again with much more life.And yet Jesus doesn’t make light of the dying part. That’s a reallydeep concern of most human beings – almost a greater concern thananything else, even in our day. We go to the greatest lengths to avoiddying: medicines, and health foods, and exercise, and vitamins, anddoctoring, and much more! Even the Bible says that death is anenemy. Certainly the experience of dying was for Jesus alsoagonizing. So much so that he earnestly prayed to God somehow toavoid it. In fact, Jesus prayed so earnestly that drops of blood cameout of the sweat of his forehead – which medical people now say canactually happen under extreme stress. Yet Jesus explained that hishorrendous dying would draw many people to believe, turning deathinto life, and multiplied many times over!For many of us Christians Jesus’ dying and rising is an old,familiar story. But remember: There is no other religious figure in allof history who has even claimed to die and rise again. That’s the heartof the Christian faith for all who “would see Jesus”.Thirdly, the life and death of Jesus demonstrated a life-style that’sabsolutely radical in this world! Right up to the point of dying Jesus122 Consensushttp://scholars.wlu.ca/consensus/vol32/iss1/11preached and demonstrated doing good, even when folks didn’t deserveit! That’s what made Jesus so radical then...and still does today!You see, back in ancient times, if anyone harmed you it was onlysensible to “pay back double” or more to “teach ’em a lesson” and tomake sure they didn’t do it again. Sound familiar? Then the Jewishpeople came along, and they really got to be quite famous for “beingfair,” not “mean.” For they were really quite different in that theyadvocated “an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.” That is, keep iteven, not mean. That was noticeably radical in Old Testament days.Even though the Israelites didn’t always live up to it, they wereknown in their time not to be devilishly mean like other nations.Then Jesus comes along with the toughest challenge of all: “Turnthe other cheek; walk and extra mile; give your coat away … andfurthermore, do it when it’s not expected of you!” Now that’s hard forus to do. It’s so easy to “pay back” or “teach ’em a lesson” instead ofdoing the totally unexpected Christian response, to be kind when it’snot expected!So, we who “would see Jesus” are called into the mostchallenging kind of living possible when we are Christians. Have you and I seen this Jesus who has called us into such a lifeever since we were baptized? And can we tell others what is mostsignificant in the Christian faith? (1) Christ is the bridge betweenheaven and earth, between the divine above and our human worldhere below. There’s no one else like him in any religion. (2) Christdemonstrated dying and living again, and that’s never been donebefore or since. (3) And, finally, Christ modelled such a radical life-style that it still surprises our world today – with kindness when it’snot expected or deserved!That’s how special it is to “see Jesus” and follow him! Thanks beto God!We Would See Jesus 123Published by Scholars Commons @ Laurier, 2007

https://scholars.wlu.ca/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1114&amp;context=consensus

We would see Jesus

Abstract

Similar works

Full text

Available Versions

Scholars Commons

Wilfrid Laurier University