I have come into the world as a light,
so that no one who believes in me
should stay in darkness.
John 12:46
It is Tuesday now and as Jesus enters the temple; he has a verbal confrontation with the established leadership there. Jesus makes it known that these leaders have no authority over him. Only God has the authority to cause the events to unfold as they do.
He boldly and teaches God’s Word publicly in the temple. This will be the last public address made before the crucifixion of Jesus. One of the valuable teachings Jesus shares that day is the Bible Verse that opens this devotional. “I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.” Jesus weaves these beautiful words into John 12 and you will find them in verse 46.
So many people choose to stay in darkness, loving evil more than the light of life. Yet Jesus says to anyone who simply believes in Him, the darkness will dissipate.
I can not fathom why anyone would choose to dwell in darkness over light. Darkness consumes, terrifies, and envelops people with a blanket of hopelessness. Why stay in that misery? Open God’s Word and shine the flashlight of His grace and mercy on your soul. Shine the light of His love over your fractured heart today. Just read the Bible and ask God to shine His light upon your understanding of it. And the gospel of John is the perfect place to begin to read.
As we move back to John 12, we see that many of the leaders believed in Jesus, but because of the Pharisees, they would not confess their faith. They thought they would get expelled from the synagogue. These men loved the praise of man more than the praise of God.
We need to do some self analysis here. What would we have done if we had gone to the same church all of our lives and a radical leader for the good, begins preaching something good and true and valuable? Would we forsake the old and stand for what is right and true? Or would we, along with the teachers of the law, cling to what is empty, dead and meaningless without the cross of Christ? By God’s grace may we always stand boldly for Christ.
As Jesus leaves the temple on Tuesday, the chief priests and scribes, the leaders of the day, are planning with a vengeance on how to arrest Jesus and have him killed.
Tomorrow we will learn more about Wednesday of Holy Week.
For now, let us reflect on our Saviour’s boldness, courage and obedience in following God’s will. We know Jesus was fully man, and he felt everything we would feel in a similar circumstance. Yet Jesus was perfect. God and man all at once. His sacrifice for each of us if we believe was sufficient for all but only efficient for those who believe.
To read more about the Holy Week and particularly about Tuesday of Holy Week, go to Matthew 21:23-26:5, Mark 11:27-42, Luke 20:1-22:2, John 12:37-50)
It is a privilege to immerse ourselves in and reflect on the God’s Word as it pertains to Holy Week. It will enhance our experience of understanding our Saviour’s sacrifice for us. As we draw near to God, He draws near to us.
Take with you, words, words of truth, words of light, words about our precious Saviour and Lord, who gave His life for us, who shines His light into our souls so that we can live a new life forever and ever with Him.
