After drafting the Constitution with the other Founders, Benjamin Franklin walked out of Philadelphia’s Independence Hall and a woman said to him, “Dr. Franklin, what have you given us: a monarchy or a republic?” Franklin replied, “A republic, madam, if you can keep it.” In other words, the American people are the ones who are responsible to know, live, and pass on the ideas that these men set into motion. This is the premise of a fascinating new book by my friend Eric Metaxas. Read more »

Thursday, April 27, 2017

More Than a Passing Glimpse

Now there were certain Greeks among those who came up to worship at the feast. Then they came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and asked him, saying, "Sir, we wish to see Jesus."

—John 12:20–21

If you had visited ancient Greece and said that you believed in God, you would have been asked what His name was. The Greeks believed in multiple gods. It was said in that time that it was easier to find a god in Athens than a man.

Yet the Bible tells us there were “certain Greeks” in Jerusalem for the Passover who were looking for Jesus. There were, of course, religious leaders looking for Jesus because they wanted to kill Him. On the day Jesus rode into the city on a donkey, there were others looking for Him as well. But they were looking for a different Jesus who would fit into their mold. Then there were the people identified as “certain Greeks.” And it seems they had the right motives in looking for Him.

At this time, Greece had been conquered by Rome, and it had benefitted Rome in many ways. The Greeks were renowned for their incredible philosophy, architecture, and learning. In fact, the city of Athens was an intellectual center for the world.

Yet these Greeks, these men of culture, obviously were dissatisfied. Apparently their philosophies and religion had not satisfied them. Nor had their accomplishments. So there they were, saying to Philip, “We wish to see Jesus.” A more literal rendering of that statement would be: “We desire to see Jesus.” They wanted more than just a passing glimpse; they wanted to really see Him.

Is that your desire? Do you want to see Jesus? Jesus said, “‘Behold, I have come—in the volume of the book it is written of Me—to do Your will, O God’” (Hebrews 10:7). We don’t have to look any further than His Word. We can find everything we need to know about God in the pages of Scripture.