The Greeks Seek To See Jesus

Spring, c. 33 AD

The Greeks Seek To See Jesus

A fascinating shift has occurred in the demographics of those seeking the Master. Among the crowds coming up to worship at the feast are some Hellenistic Greeks. They approached Philip, asking simply, "Sir, we wish to see Jesus." When Philip and Andrew relayed this to Jesus, He recognized it as a profound turning point in His ministry.

Instead of granting an immediate audience, Jesus declared, "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified." The arrival of the Gentiles signals that His mission to Israel is culminating, and the global harvest is about to begin. It is here He reiterates that a grain of wheat must die to bear fruit, indicating that His death will draw all men—Jew and Greek alike—to Himself.

"Now there were some Greeks among those who were going up to worship at the feast... and they were asking him, saying, 'Sir, we wish to see Jesus.'"
— John 12:20-21 (LSB)

Timeline Box: This encounter occurred during the Passover festival, shortly after the Triumphal Entry.

Exilic Era, c. 539 BC

Daniel Survives The Lion's Den

The elderly prophet Daniel, having been thrown into a den of lions for refusing to stop praying to Yahweh, has survived the night. King Darius rushed to the den at dawn, only to find Daniel completely unharmed, as God had sent an angel to shut the lions' mouths. A decree has now gone out to all the earth to tremble before the God of Daniel.

"Then the king gave orders, and Daniel was brought in and cast into the lions’ den..."
— Daniel 6:16 (LSB)

Timeline Box: Daniel's deliverance occurred during the reign of Darius the Mede after the fall of Babylon.

Judges Era, c. 1100 BC

Ruth Gleans In The Field Of Boaz

A young Moabite widow named Ruth has gone out to glean ears of grain in the fields of Bethlehem to support her mother-in-law, Naomi. By divine providence, she has found herself in the portion of the field belonging to Boaz, a wealthy relative of Elimelech. This humble act of gleaning is setting the stage for the lineage of King David.

"And Ruth the Moabitess said to Naomi, 'Please let me go to the field and glean among the ears of grain after one in whose eyes I may find favor.'"
— Ruth 2:2 (LSB)

Timeline Box: The events of Ruth begin at the start of the barley harvest, which coincides with the Passover season.

Editorial: The Global Harvest

The God of Israel has always intended to draw the nations to Himself. We see this beautifully when Boaz takes Ruth, a Moabite, into his field and eventually into the lineage of the Messiah. We see it when the Persian King Darius decrees that the whole earth must fear the God of Daniel.

When the Greeks asked to see Jesus, the Master knew the time had arrived. The "grain of wheat" was about to be planted in the ground of Golgotha so that a harvest of souls from every tribe, tongue, and nation could be reaped. The doors of the Kingdom are swinging wide open, and the invitation is going out to the ends of the earth.

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