Light
Good Wednesday to you,
Light and dark are two mutually exclusive concepts. When they collide, light will always prevail. Darkness hides while light exposes. Are we surprised that so much evil and violence happen at night? Amidst the backdrop of the Feast of the Tabernacles, and (by all reports) the stunning spectacle of the ceremony of light, Jesus boldly declares, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life" (John 8:12). In the wilderness, in the darkness, the Israelites were "led by a pillar of fire" that illuminated the way forward. While celebrating God's faithfulness in the past, the religious leaders failed to see that they were in a spiritual wilderness of darkness, and Jesus was offering to lead them forward out of darkness.
They were blinded by their "institutional" faith. Has much changed over the centuries? We can get so caught up in our institutional faith (Presbyterian, Methodist, Lutheran, Episcopal, Baptist, etc.… ) that our "personal" faith is found lacking.
Once again, rather than examine their own beliefs, they attack Jesus' witness. His response reveals their blind obedience to the "institution" at the expense of their personal faith – "If you knew me, you would know my father, also." To know Jesus is to know God because Jesus is God. It was a difficult concept for them to grasp, just as it is for many today. But if you seek God with all your heart and mind, you will find the Light of Life, whose name is Jesus. The conversation will continue next Sunday as we look at chapter 8:21-30.
I hope you are excited about the All Church Picnic coming up on October 1st. We moved it to the afternoon (4:30-6:00pm) in hopes of some cooler weather. Please sign up and plan your side/dessert. Or, if you are meat smoker, please let me know, and I will provide you with the protein of your choice. I am hoping for a great day of feasting and fellowship as we gather together.
Thank you for your amazing faithfulness. I look forward to seeing you all soon.
Grace and peace,
Pastor David
If you missed this Sunday’s sermon, click here to listen now!
