There are a variety of responses when our balloon of expectations is popped by the pin of reality. Some express anger, others become confused, some just go numb, and a few accept the reality. In today’s section from the Gospel of John, Jesus pops the crowd’s balloon.
John records, “Now my soul is deeply troubled. Should I pray, ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But this is the very reason I came! Father, bring glory to your name.” Then a voice spoke from heaven, saying, “I have already brought glory to my name, and I will do so again.” When the crowd heard the voice, some thought it was thunder, while others declared an angel had spoken to him. Then Jesus told them, “The voice was for your benefit, not mine. The time for judging this world has come, when Satan, the ruler of this world, will be cast out. And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself.” He said this to indicate how he was going to die. The crowd responded, “We understood from Scripture that the Messiah would live forever. How can you say the Son of Man will die? Just who is this Son of Man, anyway?” Jesus replied, “My light will shine for you just a little longer. Walk in the light while you can, so the darkness will not overtake you. Those who walk in the darkness cannot see where they are going. Put your trust in the light while there is still time; then you will become children of the light.” After saying these things, Jesus went away and was hidden from them.” (John 12:27–36, NLT)
This is the final part of Jesus’ conversation with the crowd following His entrance into Jerusalem. First of all, Jesus knew what was about to unfold. But He also recognized and accepted that the suffering on the horizon is His purpose. The crowd didn’t get it. They expected the beginning of the Messianic age that would see the elevation of Israel beyond the golden age of King Solomon. But Jesus had another, broader, kingdom in mind.
Jesus said to the crowd, “when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself.” While the idiom is a little lost on us, the crowd understood that “lifted up from the earth” meant death by crucifixion. Pin, meet balloon. But there is also something grander in Jesus’ proclamation that the crowd didn’t challenge – Jesus will draw everyone. This goes beyond Jewishness and maybe why John points out the Greek seekers at the beginning of the chapter.
The crowd didn’t get it. They responded from their expectation and asked about the “son of man.” Old Testament prophecy is both murky and startlingly accurate. Their understanding was based on some of the prophecies. But their interpretation was faulty, something solved with hindsight.
Jesus didn’t answer their question but provided a new picture. “My light will shine for you just a little longer. Walk in the light while you can, so the darkness will not overtake you. Those who walk in the darkness cannot see where they are going. Put your trust in the light while there is still time; then you will become children of the light.” That last call of Jesus to put our trust in the light still rings out today.
A week or so ago, I drove home from worship team practice on a dark and very foggy night. I’ve driven in worse, but it required more concentration than normal. I had to trust the light that I could see and focus on the road within the fog limited range of my headlights. I couldn’t have made it home without those lights. Our walk with Jesus is just like that. There’s plenty of darkness and fog, but if we concentrate on the light we can see, then our journey will discover joy.
There is one certainty in our journey with Jesus; there will be popped balloons. Meaning this. We all bring and develop expectations of what faith in Christ means and accomplishes. Some of those expectations, though, are at odds with God’s kingdom reality. As we learn more about Christ and more from the Bible, we need to be ready for that pop moment. If not, we risk our faith becoming shipwrecked. Now, more fully exploring some of those expectations is beyond the scope of today’s encouragement. Instead, follow the light and be prepared to change course when your expectation meets God’s reality.
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Thanks for this piece @ “the children of light “. It is brief and on point. More grace sir