The Committee

Anyone ever wondered how the church could survive today without committees?  Most of us would say, "Probably not very long."  The church today has more committee meetings each week than it does worship services.  Preachers get burned out and church members slip out the back door never to return because of them.  Imagine for a moment a church without meetings.  Ah, a vision of the Kingdom coming for sure!  It makes you wonder where it all got started, does it not?  It makes you wonder if it is a Biblical ecclesiastical phenomena, or something borrowed from the business world.

 

I think I may have found the answer in my current read through of John's gospel.  I have found a never before noticed record of a committee meeting.  The disciples always seem to be relating to Jesus on a one-on-one basis, but in the record of the 12th chapter, it changed.  Remember the story of the Greeks who came to Philip saying, "Sir, we wish to see Jesus."  (John 12:21)  Instead of going to Jesus with the request as might be expected, the Word reports, "Philip went and told Andrew; then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus."  (John 12:22)  The first committee.  Maybe it could even be called an evangelism committee.  

 

We do not know if the Greeks actually got to see Jesus.  The text does not tell us.  We know Jesus received the word of the committee because it precipitated a long discourse which indicates it was an anticipated sign.  But, the question still hangs out there?  Did the Greek seekers see Jesus?  Did they have their moment of encounter with Him?  It is hard to imagine it not happening.  There is no record anywhere of Jesus turning seeking people aside.  His Word was always, "Come,.."  It is same Word He speaks to us today.