Light

Shortly after Jesus spoke to the Greek Pilgrims about dying seeds; reckless love’s sacrifice of life “to have it forever, real and eternal,” He said something that troubled the crowd. “I, as I am lifted up from the earth, will attract everyone to me and gather them around me.”

Many years later John, one of the “Sons of Thunder,” was inspired by the Holy Spirit to write the Story of Jesus. Recalling these troubling words of Jesus he wrote, “He put it this way to show how He was going to be put to death.”

“Voices from the crowd answered, ‘We heard from God’s Law that the Messiah lasts forever. How can it be necessary, as you put it, that the Son of Man be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man?

The crowd was conflicted. They wanted this Man to be their Messiah. What He’d done in Bethany fanned the flames of excitement and anticipation in them. Sure the “donkey” ride wasn’t what some of them expected. But now, this talk about dying seeds, and love that lets go of life, and being “lifted up.” “Messiah?” “Son of Man?” They may have made the connection. The great Prophet Ezekiel, was called, by the Lord Himself, “Son of Man.” “Messiah,” is the “anointed,” the consummate “Servant” of God and Humanity.” Can this “Prophet,” from Galilee, who keeps talking about His destiny as the One who “has not come to be served but to serve,” who’s now talking about dying, be Him?

Do you want to know Pilgrim? Do you want an answer? Well, at least, He’ll tell you where to find it. “For a brief time still, the light is among you. Walk by the light you have so darkness

doesn't destroy you. If you walk in darkness, you don't know where you're going. As you have the light, believe in the light. Then the light will be within you, and shining through your lives. You'll be children of light.”

What? or Who? is this light?

John would later answer, “What came into existence was Life, and the Life was light to live by – ‘Life that made sense of human existence.’”

“Light reveals.” John’s initial Name for the Son-of-Man was “the Word.” A word reveals. Jesus reveals. He is “light to live by.” His life reveals everything we need to know about Life; Life with a capital “L.” “Life that makes sense of human existence.” Life which unravels its mysteries and contradictions. “Ahhhh!” Life; luminescent in its insistence, “that’s how it’s done!” “That’s our raison d’être;” “why we are;” “why we’re here and not somewhere else.”

To the questioning crowd that day Jesus insisted, “For a brief time still, the light – ‘I’ – am among you.”

“Walk in the light ‘My Life’ shines around and in you … Since you have ‘Me – the light’ believe in ‘The Light.’ Then ‘The Light’ will be within you, … shining through your lives. You’ll be children of light.”

This “Light,” is the very Man who will die. Still, “Son of Man,” – tho’ the Cosmic Seed laid in the ground – “recklessly” letting go of “life.” The very Man who will be “raised to life again,” “real and eternal,” “reproducing itself countless times over.”

“Follow Him! To the cross and beyond. You, enlightened, will know Who? you are … What? you’re about … When? you’re on … Where? you’re meant to be … How? to be all you’re meant to be …