Your Peeps

John 12:20-22 - Now among those who went up to worship at the feast were some Greeks. So these came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and asked him, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” Philip went and told Andrew; Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus.

How do you feel when you are the stranger? For most of us, it is not comfortable at all. When entering a group where everyone knows each other but you know no one, you probably want to leave. However, when a friend comes with you and introduces you that stress level drops off dramatically.

In describing the events of Palm Sunday, John takes an interval to tell us about some Greeks who wanted to meet Jesus. We do not get to know a lot about them, but we do know they were strangers in town. Jesus was very popular that day. The Greeks were probably very intimidated and fearful as strangers, but they really wanted to see Jesus. So, they went up to one of Jesus’ disciples with the very Greek name of Philip, and he sought another disciple with a Greek name (Andrew). They had both brought people to Jesus before (see John 1:40 & 45 and 6:8), so they used their networking skills again, and they introduced these Greeks to Jesus. Those Greeks got to hear Jesus’ message of eternal life and be invited to live forever with him. (See John 12:25-26 and 35-36)

We do not know for sure if it was Philip and Andrew’s “Greekness” that made them more approachable for the Greeks, but we do know from our own experience that we often feel better with people “like us” in one way or another. It may be your nationality, your favorite sports team, your musical preference, or working for the same company, but the commonalities you share with another can be a bridge for a life changing relationship. Find what you share in common with those around you and seek to do life together. If you know Jesus, bring your friends to him. If you do not know him yet, ask me. Introducing you to Jesus would be the greatest joy of my life.