The Greeks said to Philip: "Sir, we would see Jesus." Philip tells Andrew, and they two come to Jesus and tell him. (John 12:20-33.) Evidently they had some doubt as to the propriety of the request. Philip would not tell him by himself; he must put part of the responsibility of bearing the hazardous message upon Andrew. And what did Jesus answer? It says he answered them, but we have to read it twice and think on it awhile before we see an answer in it. He did not say "Yes," and he did not say "No." He sent no message to the aspiring Greeks. But before his eye opened the view, most wonderful and sweet to the lover of souls, a vision of men of all nations seeking him and finding in him all their great need supplied. "It is too light a thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob. . . . I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth." (Isa. 49:6.) And this request of the Greeks was an earnest and first-fruit of world-wide salvation. So, instead of directly replying, he foretold his coming sufferings, when, as a grain of wheat cast into the earth, he would perish that he might become the light of many. "And I," he said, "if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto myself." There is in our hearts also the longing for Jesus. We, too, would see him, and we feel that there, in his presence, would be our rest and our salvation; there we could unburden our hearts forever, the still unsatisfied yearning, there find love and help and confidence that would chase every fear away. The request of the Greeks in a deeper and broader meaning comes from our own innermost hearts. [37]

      When he was lifted up and his heart was breaking for our sakes, he drew us unto himself. And we come and behold him by faith, and being transformed into the same image, we bide the time when we shall be like him, and shall, forever in the Father's house, see him as he is.

[TAG 37-38]