John 12:44-50
These words of Jesus come at the end of his public ministry. In the following chapter, Jesus gathers with his disciples on the night he is betrayed, washes their feet, and gives them a new commandment to love one another.
These words are a summary of his teachings. Throughout the Gospel of John there are references to darkness and light. In these final words, Jesus states it clearly – “I have come as light into the world.”
Like any good book, the summary brings us back to the beginning. In the first chapter of the Gospel of John, we read these words:
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being 4 in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it. (John 1:1-5)
Light reveals things that darkness hides. This can be a good thing. It can also be a scary thing. For the truth is that there are things that we wish could stay hidden in the darkness. We hide it in the deepest, darkest corner we can find, and we hope no one will ever find it.
The light that shines in the darkness comes to you and me to shed light, even on those dark places.
But we need not fear, for the good news of Jesus Christ is that even the darkest crevices of our being, the things we wish could be hidden away forever, the deepest pits are not going to keep the light of Christ from shining in our lives, and the love of God filling our hearts.
God knows you. God knows your joys, your sorrows, your highs and lows, the things you have done and left undone. God knows you, and everything about you. God knows the things you proudly display in the light, as well as the things you hide away in the dark. God knows you.
And the one God knows is the one God loves. The light of God breaks through the darkness, and light wins. A light brought into a dark room is not overcome by the darkness. The light shines in the darkness.
A quote attributed to Martin Luther King Jr. – “Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.” (A Testament of Hope: The Essential Writings and Speeches)
May the light of God shine in our hearts, and may the love of God be reflected in all we say and do!
One of my favorite hymns is “I Want To Walk as a Child of the Light.”
Kathleen Thomerson is the Organist and Music Director at Mt. Olive Lutheran Church in Austin, Texas. “I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light” is the only known hymn she has had published in any hymnals. She also wrote the tune for the hymn.
I want to walk as a child of the light.
I want to follow Jesus.
God set the stars to give light the world.
The star of my life is Jesus.
In Him there is no darkness at all.
The night and the day are both alike.
The Lamb is the light of the city of God.
Shine in my heart, Lord Jesus.
I want to see the brightness of God.
I want to look at Jesus.
Clear Sun of Righteousness, shine on my path,
and show me the way to the Father.
In Him there is no darkness at all.
The night and the day are both alike.
The Lamb is the light of the city of God.
Shine in my heart, Lord Jesus.
I’m looking for the coming of Christ.
I want to be with Jesus.
When we have run with patience the race,
we shall know the joy of Jesus.
In Him there is no darkness at all.
The night and the day are both alike.
The Lamb is the light of the city of God.
Let us Pray: