Wednesday, March 27, 2019
Old Testament: Jeremiah 8:18-9:6
Psalm 119: 97-120, * 81, 82
Epistle: Romans 5:1-11
Gospel: John 8:12-20
In the Gospel of John, Jesus spoke to them saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.” Jesus made this statement to the “people” in the temple while teaching.
The Pharisees were also present and of course had to try and trip him up, saying he is the only one saying these things about himself. They could not accept it, being more in the legal transactional mode of thinking rather than transformative spiritual — and requiring witnesses to these statements. Jesus was having none of it, and was quick to tell the Pharisees they were judging him by human standards when he is not judging anyone. Also he pointed out that they did not know him, for if they did they would know who his father is.
Oh, to be a fly on the wall in the Temple that day, to see a country Rabbi schooling the legalistic Pharisees. I’m sure more than one of the people in attendance that day ran home and started saying to a spouse, “Miriam/Isaac you won’t believe what happened in the Temple today. This country Rabbi schooled those Pharisees, and boy, were they hopping mad. He had better watch it cause they don’t play!”
In a way, this is one step in Jesus’s journey to the cross to become the light of the world. Jesus’s journey to the cross was done so that we don’t have to walk in darkness. Be a light unto the world! Be a transformative influence, emulating Jesus’s life in doing good works. Being the hands and feet of Christ is “The Way,” not the legalistic, transactional worship touted by so many of the Christian churches of our day, or the Temple Pharisees in Jesus’s Day. Change is in the wind. Be the wind.
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
Ty Walling
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