John 12:27-36

³² And I, when I am lifted up^[g] from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” 
³³ He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die.
³⁴ The crowd spoke up, “We have heard from the Law that the Messiah will remain forever, so how can you say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’? Who is this ‘Son of Man’?”
³⁵ Then Jesus told them, “You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. Whoever walks in the dark does not know where they are going. 
³⁶ Believe in the light while you have the light, so that you may become children of light.” When he had finished speaking, Jesus left and hid himself from them.

When I lived in Oklahoma, I used to hear a phrase of folk wisdom: “Believe none of what you hear and half of what you see.” The skeptic in me appreciated the acknowledgement that we usually misinterpret what we hear, so we ask questions to get more clarity. However, even when we are an eye witness to an event, we see it differently than others. Knowledge is usually incomplete, even if we don’t recognize it.

As Jesus foreshadows his death, the Jerusalem crowd questions the biblical authority of what he is saying. They do not understand why He is contradicting the Law. The same crowd had just  experienced (v. 28) the audible voice of the Heavenly Father, and they immediately began to misinterpret it as “thunder” or an “angelic voice.” While they are sitting at the feet of Jesus, they are skeptical of His message, even after He explains the audible voice.

Most Christians do not hear an audible voice of God telling them what to do. Most believers do not see God’s handwriting on a wall as a means of learning His will. Thanks be to God; we do have His will available in the 66 books of the Bible. We also have the Spirit of Truth – the Comforter, the Holy Ghost – who speaks to us in “a still, small voice.” (1 Kings 19:12) The NIV alternate translation is “a delicate whispering voice.”

Jesus said, “Walk while you have the light…” and “Believe in the light while you have the light.” He commands, “…become children of light.” Light drives out darkness. Light reveals the truth of our situation. Light allows us to see where we are going and helps to maintain safety.

Am I walking in the light of Jesus? Do I allow His light to shine in the darkness of my life – my stories, my memories, and my spirituality? Do I listen for God’s voice as I read scripture? Do I listen to the “delicate whispering voice” of the Holy Spirit? Am I ready to hear Truth (with a capital “T”)? Am I ready and willing to believe in the light, to walk in the light, and become a child of light?

Author: Bryan Merrill

Other Lenten readings for today:

• Psalm 91:1-2, 9-16
• Ecclesiastes 3:1-8;