The Glorious Mysteries.

John 12.20: ‘Now among those who went up to worship at the festival were some Greeks. They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and said to him, sir, we wish to see Jesus’ (NRSV).

Jesus responded: ‘The hour has come for the son of man to be glorified … unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain … whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will my servant be also. Whoever serves me, the Father will honour’ (John 12.23-26).

Many might think this response does not address the desire of these men, who had come to Jerusalem for the Passover.

The issue is, we want to see Jesus!

On the evening of the first day of the week, after the crucifixion, Jesus appeared to the disciples. They had shut themselves in a house. Jesus appeared to them and he said ‘peace be with you. After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord’ (John 20. 19-20).

They did not ask to see Jesus. His Majesty simply showed up. They saw and touched the glorified Lord. This was Almighty God sovereignly acting. Jesus told his disciples before he died, whoever serves me, follows me, and where I am, there they will be also. Jesus says honour follows all of this. Thus we see the disciples were being honoured when they saw the Lord of Glory.

That honour stands for ‘whoever’ would follow the master.