Day 43: Light to the Darkness

Read John 11-12

Quick Recap: In chapter 11 there a lot of things that happen. We see the death of Lazarus and Jesus’ miraculous healing, and then the Pharisees and priests plot to kill Jesus. In chapter 12, Jesus is anointed at Bethany and later predicts His death.

The main verse I want to focus on today is John 12:24.

“I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.” -John 12:24

Jesus said this when he predicted his death. He is telling us that we must die in order to live. We must be willing to surrender our life for Christ. Dying in Christ means letting go of our old, sinful ways and replacing that with the love of Christ. In order to produce many seeds, we must first make time and space for Christ and glorify his name! This Lenten season is the perfect time for this. We give up food, music, social media, TV, etc. but what do we do in place of that? That time you spend “giving up” those worldly pleasures must be spent furthering your relationship with Christ.

How can we do this?

The theme of light resonates between these two chapters. Whenever Jesus was about to go back to heal Lazarus, the disciples questioned and reminded Him, “a short while ago the Jews tried to stone you, and yet you are going back there?” (John 11:8). Jesus responded, “…A man who walks by day will not stumble, for he sees by this world’s light. It is when he walks by night that he stumbles, for he has no light.” (John 11:9).

Jesus shows no fear because He fully relies on God. When we “walk by day” we will not “stumble.” This means that by remembering God and walking a life pleasing to the Lord, we will not stray away. ‘Stumble’ means falling back or getting lost in our relationship with God. If we “walk by night” then we will stumble for we lack the light. Walking by night means to walk in a way that is selfishly motivated and unpleasing to the Lord. So how do we find this light? Right before Jesus left, he says to His disciples, “…Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you…Put your trust in the light while you have it, so that you may become sons of light.” Jesus clarifies that He is the light. We need to put our trust in Him and use Him when we walk so that we do not stumble.

By trusting in Jesus and using him as our light, we are able to walk by faith and ultimately better our relationship with Him. This faith and trust will guide us on the path to produce many seeds.

"Great Are You Lord"

You give life, You are love

You bring light to the darkness

You give hope, You restore

Every heart that is broken

Great are You, Lord

It's Your breath in our lungs

So we pour out our praise

We pour out our praise

It's Your breath in our lungs

So we pour out our praise

To You only

All the earth will shout

Your praise

Our hearts will cry

These bones will sing

Great are You, Lord

It's Your breath in our lungs

So we pour out our praise

We pour out our praise

It's Your breath in our lungs

So we pour out our praise

To You only

- Lydia Philip