March 27: Light Within

by Kathy Merkle-Raymond

John 12:27-36 – The Light Within

²⁷ “Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour.

²⁸ Father, glorify your name!” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.” ²⁹ The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him. ³⁰ Jesus said, “This voice was for your benefit, not mine.  ³¹ Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. ³² And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.”

³³ He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die.

³⁴ The crowd spoke up, “We have heard from the Law that the Messiah will remain forever, so how can you say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’? Who is this ‘Son of Man’?”

³⁵ Then Jesus told them, “You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. Whoever walks in the dark does not know where they are going. ³⁶ Believe in the light while you have the light, so that you may become children of light.”

When he had finished speaking, Jesus left and hid himself from them.

Maybe this is how it went:  The colt was returned to its owner and the crowd quietly began to disband.  Each one took home the coat or blanket they had strewn for the festive parade into town. Ears still rang from the excited, frenetic shouts of “Hosanna!”  But why did he leave the celebration?  And is it true that he actually talked to thunder?

Jesus looks out on those who remain, the ones confused about whether or not this “Son of Man” fits in with the written laws about a promised Messiah. He feels out of sorts, heartsick and lonely, maybe even doubting or angry with himself. Did he fail at getting God’s message through to the people most in need of hearing it? Has anyone paid attention or is his life’s work just one huge wasted effort with a very gloomy ending soon to come?

In Chapter 8, John quotes Jesus as saying “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” Today’s verses encourage us to reach for that light and hold on to it dearly, so we may avoid stumbling in darkness.

This Holy Week, how are we availing ourselves to Christ’s light?  Encountering darkness is inevitable, but when we find ourselves in a lonely or discouraging place, do we shut our eyes tightly and hope it goes away?  Or do we let our eyes adjust a bit and then trust the light within us to guide our way?