Behold! Look!

I was especially moved by this passage...

"That is John's characteristic posture.  He points away from himself to Jesus.  It is the characteristic posture of all christians witnessing and preaching: Behold! Look!"

what a beautiful picture of what it looks like to point others to Christ ... literally! "he points away from himself to Jesus".  We talk about this as a part of Sonshine culture all the time; we talk about dying to ourselves so that Christ may be known, lowering ourselves and letting him be exalted, not drawing attention to ourselves but to Jesus.  Reading this I am challenged to let every part of my being point away from me and towards Jesus. After all, this is what I was made for! I am an image bearer! If I am reflecting myself and pointing to myself I am being misused.  I am not fulfilling my created purpose.  What a waste of something that was fearfully and wonderfully created! Creation is misused, unused, warped, and limited when it is not totally and completely reflecting Creator.

When I am with campers, staff, family, does every piece of me and every action point towards Jesus: behold! look! or is there a piece of me that is still pointing to myself for recognition/love/approval?

John 12 verses 20-22 says, "Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the feast. They came to Phillip who was from Bethsaida in Galilee with a request. 'Sir' they said, 'we would like to see Jesus.' Phillip went to tell Andrew, Andrew in turn told Jesus"

that request is almost haunting to me, "Sir, we would like to see Jesus" because when I really listen to campers, staff, family; I hear it.  "Sir - Ma'am - Emily - we would like to see Jesus".  I don't often hear these actual words, but I see/hear/experience the longing that results from a desperate need for relationship with Jesus.  So whatever the symptom is - the cause is always the same "we would like to see Jesus".  So what a cheap imitation if I point them to myself!!!!!! It sounds ridiculous, but how often do I do it?!

ok, so what does it look like to point to Jesus? I don't know if these Greeks ever actually got to see Jesus because my version of the passage only says that Andrew told Jesus about them, but if they did get brought in to see Jesus, what did they see? Death. Wait, what? If in this moment Andrew and Phillip brought the Greeks to see Jesus, this is what they saw and heard...

"Jesus replied, 'the hour has come for the son of man to be glorified. I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. but if it dies, it produces many seeds. The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.  who serves me must follow me; and where I am my servant also will be. My father will honor the one who serves me.  Now, my heart is troubled, and what shall I say? Father save me from this hour, no. It was for this very reason I cam to this hour. Father, glorify your name!'" - John 12:23-28

This is the Jesus they were introduced to! This is who I was created to point to. And so how do I do it? What do I show campers, staff, family when they ask to see Jesus? I show them death! Crucifixion is not the end of life but the beginning - not just for me, but for those who are being introduced to the lamb that infuses human life with the very life of God.