John 12:20-21
09/15/2025
- Now among those who went up to worship at the feast were some Greeks.
- So these came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and asked him, ‘‘Sir, we wish to see Jesus.’’ (ESV)
Saint John, in his Gospel, recorded the events of Palm Sunday, the first day of the week that Jesus was crucified. Many people from all over the world were in Jerusalem for the Passover Feast. ‘‘Now among those who went up to worship at the feast were some Greeks. So these came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and asked him, ‘Sir, we wish to see Jesus.’’’
In many churches, this reading is used for the Gospel for the Feast of the Holy Cross, which was celebrated yesterday, September 14. On this date in the year 335, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre was dedicated in Jerusalem. Helena, the mother of Emperor Constantine, located Mount Calvary and the tomb in which Jesus was buried during her travels in 326. She had been sent by her son, the Emperor, to collect relics of Jesus, and to determine the historical places where events in His life happened.
In an age where people worshiped pagan myths, the historical relics and places proved that Jesus truly walked upon this earth. Unlike the gods of Olympus, unlike the animist worship of nature, Christians claimed that Jesus lived, died, and rose again in a certain place and at a certain time.
‘‘We wish to see Jesus’’ has led many people to look for the artifacts, the relics and places, which declare the truth, Christ Jesus did what was written of Him as reported by eyewitnesses. This week we will seek Jesus where He promises to be found.
May our Lord grant us faith
to recognize Jesus, to see Him as our Savior.
Amen.