Today’s reflection would be short and straight to the heart. After 12 days what is my resolve about Jesus being the light of God? We have passed mid point of our 21 days reflection: What have I learnt so far and what is my personal resolve? Remember on Day 3, Nicodemus revealed to us that salvation is personal. So let us do a quick self-check!
What do I know about the Light of the World? Have I accepted the light of Christ? Have I allowed the Light of Christ enlighten my life / through me to others? Do I choose light over darkness? Do I allow the truth take root in my heart or do I habour lies in my heart and keep peddling lies to others? Do I have the courage to say the truth at all times or does my position or social standing define what should be true and what should be accepted. Does political correctness determine my point of view on personal, family or societal issues? Do I deceive others on the account of what I would gain or wish to preserve? Does my family help or determine my relationship with Jesus Christ?
Yes, this is a moment of Truth! We must tell ourselves the truth and allow it to take root in our heart. When we do this, we allow the light of God cast out darkness in our heart. Unlike the wicked man presented in Psalm 36, we must not allow sin speak to our heart; or when it does, how do we respond? Remember the story of Eve in the book of Genesis Chapter 3, when sin spoke to her heart, she forgot all what God said to her. We must guard our hearts from darkness.
Click below to read the full text of Psalm 36 and see how the wicked man falls.
21 Day Lighting Experience – Psalm 36 (GNT)
Human Wickedness
Sin speaks to the wicked deep in their hearts; they reject God and do not have reverence for him. 2 Because they think so highly of themselves, they think that God will not discover their sin and condemn it. 3 Their speech is wicked and full of lies; they no longer do what is wise and good. 4 They make evil plans as they lie in bed; nothing they do is good, and they never reject anything evil.
The Goodness of God
5 Lord, your constant love reaches the heavens; your faithfulness extends to the skies. 6 Your righteousness is towering like the mountains; your justice is like the depths of the sea. People and animals are in your care. 7 How precious, O God, is your constant love! We find[b] protection under the shadow of your wings. 8 We feast on the abundant food you provide; you let us drink from the river of your goodness. 9 You are the source of all life, and because of your light we see the light. 10 Continue to love those who know you and to do good to those who are righteous. 11 Do not let proud people attack me or the wicked make me run away. 12 See where evil people have fallen. There they lie, unable to rise.
I promised that this reflection would be short, but there are many things to present as we reflect John’s gospel chapter 12. The chapter commences with Mary’s expression of love and appreciation of Jesus in her life. In contrast, we find Judas’ deceit and ingratitude. Are we jealous of others who choose to go for thanksgiving in places of worship for what God has done to them? Do we sit at a corner of the church and calculate what is brought to the church and how it is being used. Or do we seek to also bring our offerings to God? How much gratitude do you show to God? Has God / the church become a common thing/place to you? If you are not careful you would become a sell-out!
This chapter also shows that the righteous man gets attacked for no justifiable reason. He gets attacked because he has received the light of God and received God’s mercy, blessings and love. Because on account of his life others leave the dark and come into light. As we said on Day 9: Leaders who wallow in the dark want others to wallow in the dark with them. Today’s reading shows us that Lazarus is a target just because he is a testimony of God’s light. Do not be surprised when people attack you for no reason; keep living in the light.
Click below to read the full text of John Chapter 12
21 Day Lighting Experience – John Chapter 12
12 Six days before the Passover, Jesus went to Bethany, the home of Lazarus, the man he had raised from death. 2 They prepared a dinner for him there, which Martha helped serve; Lazarus was one of those who were sitting at the table with Jesus. 3 Then Mary took a whole pint of a very expensive perfume made of pure nard, poured it on Jesus' feet, and wiped them with her hair. The sweet smell of the perfume filled the whole house. 4 One of Jesus' disciples, Judas Iscariot—the one who was going to betray him—said, 5 “Why wasn't this perfume sold for three hundred silver coins[a] and the money given to the poor?” 6 He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief. He carried the money bag and would help himself from it. 7 But Jesus said, “Leave her alone! Let her keep what she has for the day of my burial. 8 You will always have poor people with you, but you will not always have me.”
The Plot against Lazarus
9 A large number of people heard that Jesus was in Bethany, so they went there, not only because of Jesus but also to see Lazarus, whom Jesus had raised from death. 10 So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus too, 11 because on his account many Jews were rejecting them and believing in Jesus.
The Triumphant Entry into Jerusalem
12 The next day the large crowd that had come to the Passover Festival heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. 13 So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, shouting, “Praise God! God bless him who comes in the name of the Lord! God bless the King of Israel!” 14 Jesus found a donkey and rode on it, just as the scripture says, 15 “Do not be afraid, city of Zion! Here comes your king, riding on a young donkey.” 16 His disciples did not understand this at the time; but when Jesus had been raised to glory, they remembered that the scripture said this about him and that they had done this for him. 17 The people who had been with Jesus when he called Lazarus out of the grave and raised him from death had reported what had happened. 18 That was why the crowd met him—because they heard that he had performed this miracle. 19 The Pharisees then said to one another, “You see, we are not succeeding at all! Look, the whole world is following him!”
Some Greeks Seek Jesus
20 Some Greeks were among those who had gone to Jerusalem to worship during the festival. 21 They went to Philip (he was from Bethsaida in Galilee) and said, “Sir, we want to see Jesus.” 22 Philip went and told Andrew, and the two of them went and told Jesus. 23 Jesus answered them, “The hour has now come for the Son of Man to receive great glory. 24 I am telling you the truth: a grain of wheat remains no more than a single grain unless it is dropped into the ground and dies. If it does die, then it produces many grains. 25 Those who love their own life will lose it; those who hate their own life in this world will keep it for life eternal. 26 Whoever wants to serve me must follow me, so that my servant will be with me where I am. And my Father will honor anyone who serves me.
Jesus Speaks about His Death
27 “Now my heart is troubled—and what shall I say? Shall I say, ‘Father, do not let this hour come upon me’? But that is why I came—so that I might go through this hour of suffering. 28 Father, bring glory to your name!” Then a voice spoke from heaven, “I have brought glory to it, and I will do so again.” 29 The crowd standing there heard the voice, and some of them said it was thunder, while others said, “An angel spoke to him!” 30 But Jesus said to them, “It was not for my sake that this voice spoke, but for yours. 31 Now is the time for this world to be judged; now the ruler of this world will be overthrown. 32 When I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to me.” (33 In saying this he indicated the kind of death he was going to suffer.) 34 The crowd answered, “Our Law tells us that the Messiah will live forever. How, then, can you say that the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man?” 35 Jesus answered, “The light will be among you a little longer. Continue on your way while you have the light, so that the darkness will not come upon you; for the one who walks in the dark does not know where he is going. 36 Believe in the light, then, while you have it, so that you will be the people of the light.”
The Unbelief of the People
After Jesus said this, he went off and hid himself from them. 37 Even though he had performed all these miracles in their presence, they did not believe in him, 38 so that what the prophet Isaiah had said might come true: “Lord, who believed the message we told? To whom did the Lord reveal his power?” 39 And so they were not able to believe, because Isaiah also said, 40 “God has blinded their eyes and closed their minds, so that their eyes would not see, and their minds would not understand, and they would not turn to me, says God, for me to heal them.” 41 Isaiah said this because he saw Jesus' glory and spoke about him. 42 Even then, many Jewish authorities believed in Jesus; but because of the Pharisees they did not talk about it openly, so as not to be expelled from the synagogue. 43 They loved human approval rather than the approval of God.
Judgment by Jesus' Words
44 Jesus said in a loud voice, “Whoever believes in me believes not only in me but also in him who sent me. 45 Whoever sees me sees also him who sent me. 46 I have come into the world as light, so that everyone who believes in me should not remain in the darkness. 47 If people hear my message and do not obey it, I will not judge them. I came, not to judge the world, but to save it. 48 Those who reject me and do not accept my message have one who will judge them. The words I have spoken will be their judge on the last day! 49 This is true, because I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has commanded me what I must say and speak. 50 And I know that his command brings eternal life. What I say, then, is what the Father has told me to say.”
Other parts of the chapter spiral into the gradual preparation of the end of Jesus’ public ministry on earth. The various signs begin to play out such as: Jesus riding on the donkey as a king; the desire of the gentiles for the light of Christ; and Jesus openly speaking about his death, were signs that his time has come. The time has come for him to be called the King of the Jews; for the whole world to accept the light of his salvation; and for him to pay the supreme price for our salvation.
Now, please I must conclude this reflection as promised, we are encouraged by Jesus in verse 36; “Believe in the light … so that we will be the people of the light.” Be are invited to bear the light of Christ. The 21 Days reflection is geared towards a Lighting Experience. The reflections first attempts to enlighten / remind us about the person, ministry and mission of Jesus.
Secondly, these reflections are in a bid to increase our faith and belief in Jesus. Jesus has many titles of which one is Jesus – the Light of the World! The metaphor for Light over darkness is very symbolic and of serious import. It is sometimes difficult to extricate the point of one metaphor from another metaphor when used to describe the person of Jesus. In Genesis chapter 1, we read that through the word (Jesus), light came into the world. Not the light that is powered by generator or solar, but light here means LIFE. This is carefully explained in John 1:1-5
1 In the beginning the Word already existed; the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 From the very beginning the Word was with God. 3 Through him God made all things; not one thing in all creation was made without him. 4 The Word was the source of life,[a] and this life brought light to people. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has never put it out.
John 1:1-5
Hence, in John 12:45 and following we see Jesus reiterating the need to for us NOT to stay in darkness but to receive the light, receive his message (the Word of God) and in turn receive life. Your words are spirit Lord and they are life!
Join us tomorrow, 13th February for Lighting Experience – Day 13
Speechlesswaters