Tuesday Holy Week Meditation over John 12.20-36

It is 2 am and you just woke up because you have just spent the last five minutes coughing and you need a drink to satisfy the tickle in your throat. Darkness has overtaken your room and you cannot seem to find your way smoothly. Bumping into your bedpost you stub your toe and mumble a few words under your breath out of frustration. Finally, you arrive to the kitchen and you flip the switch only to feel as if you pupils have just exploded. Light now surrounds your self and you can see again, although it causes you to squint. You can find your way now as you navigate through the light to the sink, then as you leave your turn the light on in the hallway and finally you return to your room, where you climb back into bed and sleep.

Christ tells his disciples that his light is soon to be put out as he approaches the cross and essentially his death. This comes after a confused crowd looks around and is puzzled over how the messiah, if this Nazarene really is the Messiah, can die because the Scriptures say he will live forever. Ignoring these questions Jesus simply explains that his light will shine for only a little longer. Imagine some are looking intently while others still scratching their heads, Christ tells them that if you walk in the light, darkness will not overtake them. Finally Christ says, “put your trust in the light while there is still time, then you will become children of the light.”

Staying in the light is difficult at times. Yet what is this darkness that Christ teaches and warns us about? Satan’s name is thrown in the mix earlier in the text, yet we are afraid to mention this man. We tell our selves that we need not worry about the darkness for it has no control over our lives now and that Christ spoke symbolically. Are we afraid to follow Jesus? Are we afraid of putting our trust in this light and to be recognized as a child of the light?

"Anyone who wants to be my disciple must follow me, because my servants must be where I am. And the Father will honor anyone who serves me.”

May we come to realize that our life’s are indeed corrupted and consumed by darkness and that our hope lies in the Light of the world himself who during this week, walks in the darkest of places for us, providing us a path that is and will be lit until he comes again. Today, light a candle in a dark room, meditate on the dancing flame and allow Christ to come to you with his light and teach you what it means to be his servant. Awake in the middle of the night and give thanks for the light that encompasses your life! Peace to you.