This morning I have a heavy heart. What I'm feeling will be hard to express. But, I'll try.

After Jesus raised His friend Lazarus from the dead, the Bible tells us witnesses carried the news to the religious leaders in Jerusalem. And, from that day on, these religious leaders began making plans to kill Jesus (John 11:53).

It was while this planning was going in Jerusalem that the Apostle John records an event that I've never been able to understand. But, after this morning's news, I think I may now. John records:

Now there were some Greeks among those who were going up to worship at the feast; these then came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and began to ask him, saying, "Sir, we wish to see Jesus." Philip came and told Andrew; Andrew and Philip came and told Jesus. And Jesus answered them, saying, "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified (John 12:20-23 New American Standard Bible).

My problem with the above passage was Jesus' answer didn't make any sense. And, one thing I've learned about the Bible is everything is there for a purpose. But, in this particular case, I could never find the purpose for the way Jesus responded when learning certain Greeks had come to see Him. Evidently, there was something about these Greeks that triggered Jesus' thoughts toward His coming crucifixion.

Once, while contemplating the meaning of this passage, I thought to re-examine the account of the first Christian martyr. We read:

And Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people. But some men from what was called the Synagogue of the Freedmen, including both Cyrenians and Alexandrians, and some from Cilicia and Asia, rose up and argued with Stephen. But they were unable to cope with the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking. Then they secretly induced men to say, "We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God" (Acts 6:8-11).

Once again we see the Greek factor being associated with persecution. You see, Steven was being confronted by the Hellenistic (Greek educated) Jews. Evidently, these Greek thinkers came to debate Steven and, just like Jesus said would happen, they lost. If you recall, Jesus said:

But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and will persecute you, delivering you to the synagogues and prisons, bringing you before kings and governors for My name's sake. It will lead to an opportunity for your testimony. So make up your minds not to prepare beforehand to defend yourselves; for I will give you utterance and wisdom which none of your opponents will be able to resist or refute (Luke 21:12-15).

This morning I was watching the news about Pope Benedict’s recent lecture about faith and reason. And, due to some quotes Benedict referenced from a Byzantine emperor named Manuel II Palgeologus, much of the Islamic world reacted in violence Read about it here. I decided to take a look at what Benedict actually said. Something I found both amazed and concerned me. Benedict said:

Dehellenization first emerges in connection with the postulates of the Reformation in the sixteenth century. Looking at the tradition of scholastic theology, the Reformers thought they were confronted with a faith system totally conditioned by philosophy, that is to say an articulation of the faith based on an alien system of thought. As a result, faith no longer appeared as a living historical Word but as one element of an overarching philosophical system. The principle of sola scriptura, on the other hand, sought faith in its pure, primordial form, as originally found in the biblical Word Read it here.

Here's what I think: When Benedict referred to the Reformation that led to free churches --- such as we have here in America -- as "dehellenization", it should become clear that what Benedict foresees as a result of this so-called "dialogue of cultures" is a Hellenized Christianity, a Hellenized Islam and a Hellenized Judaism. In fact, Benedict's lecture on faith and reason may actually be the Pope's opening salvo in the dialogue of cultures Read it here. And, once again, we find the Greek factor. If you recall, it was the Hellenistic Jews who stirred up the people who stoned  Stephen. And, it was when certain Greeks came to see Jesus that His mind turned to His coming hour to be glorified.

Friends, I fear our hour has come.

One more thing: Take a look at these two links. I think they're linked pdf here  I  And here.