Longing to See Jesus

Back in August, I was doing some continuing education in North Carolina. One of the books I read in preparation for the class was called, The Great DeChurching. It was based on current social and demographic research. Apparently, right now we are in the middle of the largest and fastest religious shift in the history of our country. Over the last 25 years, roughly the time I’ve been in ministry, somewhere around 40 million people have stopped attending church. That’s about 15% of our population.  Approximately 86 churches are closing every week.

This is a huge shift!  

What the research also shows is that at the same time, we are experiencing an epidemic of loneliness in our country. There is more division and isolation. And people are longing to connect with others… in a real way. They are longing to fit in somewhere, to belong. And, they are longing for meaning and hope in this world that is so fractured right now. 

It’s interesting. On a hopeful note, the research also shows that many who stopped going would be open to coming back if someone invited them, if they thought they could build new friendships, or if they found the right church. But the questions people are asking are no longer – Is Jesus real? Or is the story of Jesus true? No. The question people are asking is: Is Jesus good?  

Over the past couple of days, we reflected on John 12:21, where some outsiders find the disciple Phillip and say, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.”  Jesus answers, They will see me. They will see me in self-sacrifice. They will see me in humility. They will see me in generosity. They will see me in self-giving love. 

I have to believe people are still longing to see Jesus. They are not longing to know what we think about politics. They are not longing to hear sermons. They are not longing to know every detail of our doctrines… But they do want to see Jesus. 

They would see Jesus. 

May they see him in you, and in me.

Let us pray: God of Hope, meet us today at the deepest point of our need. Heal us where we need healing. Comfort us where we need comfort. Challenge us where we need to be challenged. And then use us as instruments of your love and grace, that the world might see Jesus, through us. Amen.