Page:Spiritual Reflections for Every Day in the Year - Vol 2.pdf/356

 Lord's response thereto was, "The hour is come that the Son of man should be glorified;" and "Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone; but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit." Now it would be asked by the natural man, "What has this reply to do with the request of the Greeks?" They informed the disciples of their desire; the disciples made the Saviour acquainted with it; and He, instead of saying, "Let them be introduced," first remarks that He is glorified, and then replies by a parable, apparently quite foreign to the request. Let us look a little more minutely at the subject, and strive to understand while we read. These Greeks being Gentiles, had doubtless heard of the fame of Jesus, and felt a desire to see Him. Now this desire could hardly have existence without some impression having been made upon their minds of the truth of His mission; and therefore they were anxious to behold Him, that they might thus learn, from personal observation, the degrce of credence necessary to be paid to Him; for doubtless they, as well as others, judged much according to appearance, and such judgment is often very erroneous. This, indeed, is confirmed by the Lord's caution, "Judge not according to appearance, but judge righteous judgment." At the time these Gentiles came to worship, the hour was indeed come for the Son of man to be glorified. But a mere personal interview with the Lord, or even a full belief in the truth of His mission, would be of no avail to the enquirer, unless they were ready to forsake all; take up the cross, and follow him whose presence they wished to behold, It is the inward life that glorifies the Lord; it is the bringing forth much fruit that constitutes