John 12:20,21 – 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 said to him, "Sir, we wish to see Jesus." Philip went and told Andrew; Andrew went with Philip and they told Jesus.

At last I've worked my way through all 454 pages of the manuscript and the copy-editing stage is finished. I admit that I did sneak more than one look at the title page to see how it looks with my name on it, and to make sure I get full credit when the book is published. We all like to see our name in print.

One thing some people find difficult to realize is that all four Gospels were originally anonymous works. The earliest form of the titles, "According to Matthew," and so on were added in the second century. The original authors had no interest in seeing their names on the title page or of claiming credit for themselves. Their sole aim was to introduce their readers to Jesus.

When a group of Greeks in Jerusalem expressed an interest, Philip and Andrew did not push themselves forward; they did the best thing possible and immediately told Jesus about the enquirers who wished to see him. (We may recall how, according to John 1:41,42, "Andrew the Introducer" had already brought his own brother to Jesus). I can remember a church in Scotland which had the text "Sir, we would see Jesus" hung above the door leading from the vestry to the sanctuary; it was what the minister saw every time he entered the church to conduct a service. Not only preachers and teachers but all Christians need to be reminded to point attention away from themselves towards Jesus, our Lord and Saviour.

Prayer: Forgive us, O God, that so often, even when we are witnessing to our faith, we contrive to take centre stage. Help us in all our dealings with others to deflect attention from ourselves and to direct it to Jesus. By the words we speak and above all by the lives we live may we help others to see Jesus. Amen.

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