When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12, NIV)
The opening lines of Scripture tell us that “empty darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters” (Genesis 1:2). Then God spoke the four words known well even to those who have little knowledge of the Bible: “Let there be light.” It’s the original special effect, high drama ages before the invention of cinema.
When we come into the Gospels, however, we find that darkness still plays a role in the hearts of humanity. The religious leaders, as we read yesterday, came in the darkness of night and the darkness of their mission to arrest Jesus and set him up for the cross.
For all the shame of this night, we can find in it the work of the light of the world, of Jesus.
– At dinner, he revealed that one of the Twelve would betray him.
– In the garden, he kept awakening men who slept on the job of prayer. They could not watch for even an hour.
– At his arrest, he made note that his enemies always did their work in the dark.
– In the moments of denial, his eyes found Peter and reduced “the rock” to tears.
On the darkest night of all, Jesus’ light shone brightly.
But the full character of light is that it will find you even when you do not want it to. It bleeds through the shutters and splashes into the corners. Just when you think you’ve found a place to hide, the light goes on. To darkness, such exposure means death. But to those who would embrace Jesus and walk in his light, it gives life.
The most rudimentary understanding of science will remind you that it is photosynthesis that allows the grass on your favorite golf course to thrive. By synthesis, the process of combining, photo, meaning “light,” enters the plant and it is conditioned for life. So too, when the photo (light) of Jesus enters those who welcome it, they are changed; they grow and thrive. Yes, light will lay matters bare, but in that baring, and in the caring of Christ, we are given new life if we have chosen to follow him.
—
Jeff Hopper
October 14, 2015
Copyright 2015 Links Players International
The Links Daily Devotional appears Monday-Friday at www.linksplayers.com.