St. John 12:20-43
Dearly beloved,
St. John's gospel for today gives us a mixture of happenings. It almost
seems like a miscellaneous series of events that need to be taken care of
before something big happens. In this case, Jesus is putting things in
order just before His arrest and death. We see the human dimension of
things in this gospel. Jesus is approaching a crucial time in His earthly
life and ministry. Jesus is about to die. It seems as only Jesus
understands the depth and intensity of what is approaching.
But humans, as we are so likely to do, don't seem to see what is
coming. Certain Greek men come to Philip and they make the simple
statement, "Sir, we wish to see Jesus." Therein stands a confession of
faith that is laudable. It is to be the confession of all who wish to be
saved, "Sir, I wish to see Jesus." These men had heard of Jesus. They
probably heard of miracles and the raising of the dead.
As is always the case, we are to look at the gospels and gaze into the
divine mysteries of Jesus, His life and His eternal majesty. We are to look
upon the beauty of our Lord in His Divine being and also in His blessed
works. As we look at this gospel, let us also remember that lives of human
beings are interspersed in the gospel lection. Greek men seeking Jesus.
There are sinful people looking on and listening to the preaching of Jesus.
He preaches on, even at that late hour in His earthly life.
We must remember that the scriptures are of a divine quality and they
convey divine messages. God interacts with His people. God descends into
the lives of people. God desires fellowship with His creation and so God
comes down and interacts, leaving blessings. This gospel highlights exactly
this dynamic of God. God does not want to leave you hanging in this world
alone. St. John's gospel reminds us of this fact.
Jesus speaks of His death. He tells that if a grain of wheat falls to
the ground and does not die, it does no good. It must die and much fruit
shall be borne from it. Jesus speaks of His death. His death shall bring
fruit to many. Jesus then speaks in ways that are very concrete and real,
easy for us to understand. Jesus says, "If any man serve me, let him follow
me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be."
Jesus picks this up a few verses later when He continues, "Yet a little
while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness
come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not where he goes.
While ye have the light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children
of light." Jesus is speaking to His disciples and anyone who will listen.
These are words to ponder for our own lives. How do you live? Are you like
those Greek men "Who desire to see Jesus?" I have no doubt that all of you
here desire to see Jesus.
But the words of Jesus give us pause. Yes, we want to be children of
light and we believe in the light, Who is Jesus. But, "walk while you have
the light lest darkness come upon you"? "He that walks in darkness does not
know where he is going"? What is Jesus trying to tell the church before He
departs from her?
Think about your life. You get up every morning, and you are off to
work or to do projects. You find that your days go way too fast. There is
not enough time for the important and meaningful things. We just try to
keep up. In fact, we look at attendance at the Divine Service and we
realize that there are a lot of people that just don't come. When I talk to
them and encourage them to come, most of the time I see the same thing.
They will get a serious look on their faces and they will acknowledge
the need to be at the Divine Service. They often say that time is getting
away from them. This or that is going on and it makes it difficult to get
to church. I don't think I have ever had a confirmed member of the Lutheran
Church tell me they don't want it anymore. The problem is the world, not
the church. The problem is the subtle darkness not the overt darkness. The
danger lies in the subtleness of darkness. Be watchful.
Jesus is framing light and darkness in the context of walking. Walking
a path takes time. How do you walk? Where are you walking? When we talk in
terms of the soul of a person, we must realize what a dynamic part of us it
is. The early church father, Athanasius, once wrote that the soul is of
such a complex nature, that it is always in movement. The soul is never
idle. Athanasius goes on to say that if the soul does not have good things
to go to, it will go towards bad things. Perhaps you see this in your
life. When you are surrounded by God's word, your soul is heading in the
right direction, but idle time finds the soul desiring sin.
This is likened to the words of Jesus. Walk in the light, not in the
darkness. Well, how do you walk? Where does your soul want to take you?
Slowly, people are led by the enticements of the world. Slowly, the
person's gaze is diverted from Christ and His holy gifts, towards something
of the world. This is what happens to those people who are not often in
attendance at the Divine Service. Other things creep in, the soul slowly
looks to other things. Rarely, do people make the cognitive decision that
they don't want Jesus anymore. But the darkness takes over anyway, while we
are not paying attention.
This is Jesus' warning to our wayward souls. The light that illumines
our path is Jesus. Jesus knows what we face--He was in the flesh and
withstood temptation. Jesus is our holy Saviour. Jesus comes to you in
order to help you on your journey. You follow Jesus, which means He and His
light lead you on the Christian journey. Jesus also feeds you on the
journey, while giving you the forgiveness of your sins and tendencies to
wander and be led by the world.
Jesus comes to you with His very body and blood in the sacrament to
strengthen you on the path. Just as Jesus broke bread with the Emmaus
disciples and their eyes of faith were opened to Him, so it is with you.
Jesus has the pastor bless the bread and the cup in order to give you the
body and blood of Christ. You eat Christ's flesh and drink His blood, and
Jesus draws your soul away from the world. Jesus draws you to Him in love
and mercy.
Jesus draws you away from the darkness and into His marvelous light in
the blessed sacrament. Your eyes are opened as you walk as children of
light, who continually say, "Sir we wish to see Jesus." Amen.
--
Rev. Chad Kendall
Trinity Lutheran Church
Lowell, Indiana
