We Would See by Adelaide D. Wellman

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Dec 21, 1915

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 42, No. 50.

“We Would See”

By Adelaide D. Wellman

By ADELAIDE D. WELLMAN

“CERTAIN Greeks” once came to the Christian Philip with the request, “Sir, we would see Jesus.” From the divers philosophical cults of that day, these men had turned to the light glimmering faintly through the mists and shadows of Judaism. The cant and bigotry of the Jews had not wholly hidden the truth from the eyes of earnest seekers.

But these Greeks sought more than they had found in the Hebrew ritualism. They had heard of the new Teacher—more, they had heard Him. And their interest in Him was not merely that of their fellow countrymen who “spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear some new thing.” Nor was it the shallow curiosity that would be satisfied with observing His pompless bearing, His homely attire, His quiet countenance. Thus much and more they had already had opportunity to observe, if they would. Even His miracles were not the point of greatest interest. But they craved further knowledge of those mighty truths which had been briefly opened to the motley multitudes.

Giant dredgers working to clear away the great slide in the Culebra Cut, Panama Canal.

DO WE DISTRUST THE INVITATION?

Philip himself, three years before, had been brought to Jesus by Andrew. Now he went to Andrew with the request of the Greeks, and the two disciples together took the strangers to the Master.

We have no intimation, in the Scriptures, that it was a difficult matter to secure audience with Jesus. Surely it was not difficult for His immediate disciples; and we wonder that Philip did not alone make his request to the Saviour.

Still, we need not criticize this ever overcautious disciple; for mayhap all are prone to distrust the sincerity of the invitation which, making no mention of mediating priest or saint, simply bids us come to Him, and assures us that those who come He will not repulse.

It is most gratifying to know that the importunity of these converts from paganism was wonderfully rewarded. Though the idle crowds about perceived nothing more remarkable than an apparent peal of thunder, these devout men received such a testimony from heaven as had only twice before been vouchsafed to mortal.

Had the request of the Greeks been made a few weeks later, Philip and Andrew could not have taken them into the bodily presence of the One sought; for then the Saviour was no longer in person with them. Yet such requests came, and they still come, virtually if not verbally. “We would see Jesus.” It is the cry of many a perplexed soul, longing for a solution of the bewildering questions that press upon a darkened world.

GOD WITH US

One of the titles given to Jesus in the Scriptures is Immanuel, “God with us.” Should a troubled heart turn to us for help, would he “see Jesus”—see God with us? Or must we, like Philip, pass the case along to some one else?

There are many seekers after truth who do not find in nominal Christianity the enlightenment they crave; and to these, since Christ has appointed us His representatives, we should be able to give a message as truly from heaven as was that which those “certain Greeks” heard in His presence.

The appeal may not be formally made—may not be made at all, because of our not being in condition to grant it. Yet any person who has access to the Saviour, will not lack opportunity to introduce other souls to Him; for there are those near us daily who “would see Jesus.”