There were some Greek speaking Jews who came to Jerusalem, (no doubt to attend the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread). Like many Jews who were visiting Jerusalem at that time, they had probably heard much about the one whom they regarded as "Jesus the Carpenter from Nazareth)", and finding some of His disciples who were from Bethsaida, (a Greek speaking area, and a centre of Greek culture), they approached Phillip the Apostle, (one that spoke their language), with the request, "Sir we would see Jesus". (John 12:20-26)

If the Lord Jesus had have been vain in any way, He could have paraded Himself before them, telling them to look at Him, but it would seem from our passage that He did nothing of the kind, but instead He continued teaching His disciples. What He taught them then, are valuable lessons for us now, and for the saints of this dispensation. The point of the lesson was that if Christ is to be seen any where today, it is in the lives of those that love Him. This assertion is borne out by the experience of Saul of Tarsus. When he was struck down by the light outside the walls of Damascus, the exalted lord Jesus asked him the question, "Why persecutest thou Me?" Saul might have reasoned, "But I do not know You, I have never seen you", But he had seen Jesus, but where had he seen Him? The answer comes; he had seen Christ in the face of Stephen, and in the faces of those innocent Jewish believers whom he had hailed to prison and to death. The realisation of this truth makes our position here in this world one of great responsibility. The question remains for us to answer does the world see in me the likeness of fallen Adam, or the likeness of the exalted, the glorified Christ? If we are no different from those amongst whom we live and work, then all that the world will see in us is the likeness of fallen Adam, (the image of the earthly). If we are in the habit of communing with Christ, of reading His word, of beholding His glory as if in a glass, then the Holy Spirit who indwells us will transform us into His image, from Glory to Glory. (2Corinthians 3:18)

The Lord Jesus seemed to avoid the request of the Greek speaking Jews, and instead spoke of His being glorified. Publicly He was about to be crucified, and this was the epitome of shame. His clothes were to be removed, and His lacerated body nailed to a wooden cross, and there he would be lifted up out of the earth, as a gazing stock both to men, Angels, and demons. There could be no glory for Him in that, then how was He to be glorified? The answer comes, in His disciples, and now in you and in me. If those in the world are to see Jesus anywhere today, then they must see Him in you and in me.

But before Christ can be seen in you and me, the old Adam must die and be cast off. This is the inescapable impact of the words that follow. First we must see that Christ was the Corn of Wheat, which fell into the ground and died. He has shown us the way. As the result of His death, His burial and His resurrection, there are countless other corns of wheat, who have come into being as the result. We share His life; and at last will bear His likeness. If He had chosen to go back to heaven, then he would have gone without us, and we would have been left to go to Hell. But Glory be to His great and Holy Name, He died for you and me. But if we would be fruitful for God we also must take the same way. If we would love, or even hold onto our life, we shall only lose it finally. But if we are willing to hate what we are as in Adam, our old self, if we are willing to follow our Master into death, then the old self will be discarded there. It must first be put off, put out of sight, only then can the likeness of Christ be manifested in us, and only then can we attract others to Him.

This is the way into a life of sweet and daily fellowship with Him, and of nearness to Him. When we are prepared to serve Him, then we must take the way that He took, we must follow Him, and if we do then we will enjoy an experience of nearness to Him. May it be so!

It is said that a believer couple were looking for the house where Mr. C.A.Coates lived in Teignmouth England. They knew the name of the town, and the street where he lived, but not the number of his house. They inquired of two boys who were playing in the Street as to whether they knew of such a man, and which was his house. One boy looked at the other and replied, that would be the man who is like Jesus!