"Sir, We desire to see Jesus!"

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“Sir, we desire to see Jesus.”

Key verse: John 12:21

By: Mary E. Woodis

Can you relate? Have you felt the same lately? It is February again and with it comes all the backlash of cold winter months. You know the symptoms; restless, grumbling children, mothers tired of one lackluster day after another. Could you have whole heartedly be in agreement with this group of Greeks who came to Philip and made this request. Let’s look at this passage of Scripture together and see if we can glean a few pearls of wisdom to make it past this last bit of winter.

John 12:20-24, “Now among those who went up to worship at the Feast were some Greeks. These came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and they made this request, ‘Sir, we desire to see Jesus.’ Philip came and told Andrew; then Andrew and Philip together [went] and told Jesus. And Jesus answered them, ‘The time has come for the Son of Man to be glorified and exalted. I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains [just one grain; it never becomes more but lives,] by itself alone. But if it dies, it produces many others and yields a rich harvest.”

Dear friends, have you begun to feel stale in your spiritual life? Are you tired of short, cold, damp days? Come into the light! Come and see Jesus! Do you need to be re-energized and purified from doubts and depression? Come and see Jesus! Winter is one of the hardest seasons for homeschool moms. This season brings little down time and a very high demand for us to perform. This is the season filled with the most sickness, the least outlet for our children’s energy and a definite lack of sunshine. The shorter the days grow the harder it becomes to fight depression, even for people not given to this malady.

Humans need sunlight to produce just as much as chickens do. When the number of hours of sunlight decreases, so does egg production in the hen house. It occurred to me that this happens with people too! On those cold winter mornings it is all I can do sometimes to drag myself out of bed. I am an outside person, I thrive on hikes through the woods and taking care of my plants and animals; but not on winter mornings!

I like cool weather, even down into the ‘40’s. The ‘40’s is perfect weather to take to the field and thicket and search for animal tracks! This is something I do with my middle child, Emily. We were lucky enough one day to find very fresh tracks and scat. But when the temperature drops lower than that I become like all sensible animals and desire to hybernate. You just can’t do that when you are a momma.

Children need more attention in the winter than they do in the summer. This is the season that we get lots of books read. Nothing does a sick, grumbling child more good than to curl up with mommy and listen to her sweet voice go through the pages of a great book! Even daddies can get in on this! And you know what, the more you read aloud the more you want to!

There was another thing that I discovered to be the culprit of my malaise, a lack of sonlight. Not the big yellow ball in the sky, but the Creator of it. The more I became distracted the less time I found to sit alone with my Lord. Like the Greeks in our passage, began to cry out, “Sir, I desire to see Jesus.” My eyes had become darkened the lack of light and my spirit was sinking into the morass. Satan had gained a foothold and I was thinking more and more pessimistic thoughts. There is a passage of Scripture in Acts that speaks of this very thing. Notice with me the text of

Acts 26:18, “To open their eyes that they may turn from darkness to light and from Satan to God...”

Don’t for one minute let anyone tell you that it is just laziness or you are a nut if you battle with winter time depression. It is a truly physical condition. Just be on your guard during these times because this is when we are most vulnerable to attacks from Satan. Turn to Psalms when you are battling and read how David fought his depression. What about Job? Have you considered his response to depression.

Considering verse 24 of John 12 we find that it is very normal to go through times of death and darkness. Jesus spoke of this in His illustration of the kernal of wheat. It is perfectly normal for us to fall into times of darkness. It is what we do during this time that makes all the difference. Do we fall into the trap of sin and self-pity and begin to rot where we lay? Or do we seek guidance from our Son and thereby bring honor and glory to Him. Jesus said in verse 23 that it was at this time that the Son was to be glorified and exalted. Remember what Paul said? We are to rejoice when we fall into various trials because this is where we grow! And when we grow, our children and spouse see that growth. Our friends tell us how nice we look and want to know what is going on. This is where we are give the opportunity to bear fruit. I get excited just thinking about it! Don’t you want to produce?

Jesus instructed us to follow in His example. His whole life on this earth was to give us a pattern to follow. Have you ever tried to sew a garment without a pattern or a guide to follow. You end up with a mess! In verse 27 of John 12 Jesus gave us an example of what we are to do when we are troubled or distressed, this is what He did. He prayed!

John 12:27, “Now My soul is troubled and distressed, and what shall I say? Father, save Me from this hour [of trial and agony]? But it was for this very purpose that I have come to this hour [that I might undergo it].”

When you are faced with a difficult situation or the day is becoming more and more unbearable cry out to God, your Father, “Glorify Your name!” Three little words, but Satan will do everything in his power to prevent you from uttering them! Imagine, One so powerful and perfect as Jesus crying out for help we are nuts not to do the same thing. How could we even imagine we could handle it on our own? Surely our trials are nothing compared with those facing our Lord, but in proportion, “ask and you shall receive, seek and you shall find, know and it shall be opened unto you!”

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This article is copyrighted by Mary E. Woodis. If you would like to print this article in whole or part in your publication please contact Jessie and Mary Woodis at jessiew@hiwaay.net for permission and more details.

Page last updated February 2003


	Crooked Pines Ministries back to Articles by Mary E. Woodis "Sir, We desire to see Jesus!" “Sir, we desire to see Jesus.” Key verse: John 12:21 By: Mary E. Woodis Can you relate? Have you felt the same lately? It is February again and with it comes all the backlash of cold winter months. You know the symptoms; restless, grumbling children, mothers tired of one lackluster day after another. Could you have whole heartedly be in agreement with this group of Greeks who came to Philip and made this request. Let’s look at this passage of Scripture together and see if we can glean a few pearls of wisdom to make it past this last bit of winter. John 12:20-24, “Now among those who went up to worship at the Feast were some Greeks. These came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and they made this request, ‘Sir, we desire to see Jesus.’ Philip came and told Andrew; then Andrew and Philip together [went] and told Jesus. And Jesus answered them, ‘The time has come for the Son of Man to be glorified and exalted. I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains [just one grain; it never becomes more but lives,] by itself alone. But if it dies, it produces many others and yields a rich harvest.” Dear friends, have you begun to feel stale in your spiritual life? Are you tired of short, cold, damp days? Come into the light! Come and see Jesus! Do you need to be re-energized and purified from doubts and depression? Come and see Jesus! Winter is one of the hardest seasons for homeschool moms. This season brings little down time and a very high demand for us to perform. This is the season filled with the most sickness, the least outlet for our children’s energy and a definite lack of sunshine. The shorter the days grow the harder it becomes to fight depression, even for people not given to this malady. Humans need sunlight to produce just as much as chickens do. When the number of hours of sunlight decreases, so does egg production in the hen house. It occurred to me that this happens with people too! On those cold winter mornings it is all I can do sometimes to drag myself out of bed. I am an outside person, I thrive on hikes through the woods and taking care of my plants and animals; but not on winter mornings! I like cool weather, even down into the ‘40’s. The ‘40’s is perfect weather to take to the field and thicket and search for animal tracks! This is something I do with my middle child, Emily. We were lucky enough one day to find very fresh tracks and scat. But when the temperature drops lower than that I become like all sensible animals and desire to hybernate. You just can’t do that when you are a momma. Children need more attention in the winter than they do in the summer. This is the season that we get lots of books read. Nothing does a sick, grumbling child more good than to curl up with mommy and listen to her sweet voice go through the pages of a great book! Even daddies can get in on this! And you know what, the more you read aloud the more you want to! There was another thing that I discovered to be the culprit of my malaise, a lack of sonlight. Not the big yellow ball in the sky, but the Creator of it. The more I became distracted the less time I found to sit alone with my Lord. Like the Greeks in our passage, began to cry out, “Sir, I desire to see Jesus.” My eyes had become darkened the lack of light and my spirit was sinking into the morass. Satan had gained a foothold and I was thinking more and more pessimistic thoughts. There is a passage of Scripture in Acts that speaks of this very thing. Notice with me the text of Acts 26:18, “To open their eyes that they may turn from darkness to light and from Satan to God...” Don’t for one minute let anyone tell you that it is just laziness or you are a nut if you battle with winter time depression. It is a truly physical condition. Just be on your guard during these times because this is when we are most vulnerable to attacks from Satan. Turn to Psalms when you are battling and read how David fought his depression. What about Job? Have you considered his response to depression. Considering verse 24 of John 12 we find that it is very normal to go through times of death and darkness. Jesus spoke of this in His illustration of the kernal of wheat. It is perfectly normal for us to fall into times of darkness. It is what we do during this time that makes all the difference. Do we fall into the trap of sin and self-pity and begin to rot where we lay? Or do we seek guidance from our Son and thereby bring honor and glory to Him. Jesus said in verse 23 that it was at this time that the Son was to be glorified and exalted. Remember what Paul said? We are to rejoice when we fall into various trials because this is where we grow! And when we grow, our children and spouse see that growth. Our friends tell us how nice we look and want to know what is going on. This is where we are give the opportunity to bear fruit. I get excited just thinking about it! Don’t you want to produce? Jesus instructed us to follow in His example. His whole life on this earth was to give us a pattern to follow. Have you ever tried to sew a garment without a pattern or a guide to follow. You end up with a mess! In verse 27 of John 12 Jesus gave us an example of what we are to do when we are troubled or distressed, this is what He did. He prayed! John 12:27, “Now My soul is troubled and distressed, and what shall I say? Father, save Me from this hour [of trial and agony]? But it was for this very purpose that I have come to this hour [that I might undergo it].” When you are faced with a difficult situation or the day is becoming more and more unbearable cry out to God, your Father, “Glorify Your name!” Three little words, but Satan will do everything in his power to prevent you from uttering them! Imagine, One so powerful and perfect as Jesus crying out for help we are nuts not to do the same thing. How could we even imagine we could handle it on our own? Surely our trials are nothing compared with those facing our Lord, but in proportion, “ask and you shall receive, seek and you shall find, know and it shall be opened unto you!” Back to the top This article is copyrighted by Mary E. Woodis. If you would like to print this article in whole or part in your publication please contact Jessie and Mary Woodis at jessiew@hiwaay.net for permission and more details. Page last updated February 2003