The Light is with you for a Little Longer. John12:35
Opening Prayer
Lord Jesus Christ,
Open the eyes of our heart that we may see you
and follow you, the light of the world.
Amen
It was the Passover in Jerusalem and large multitudes of faithful Jews came to celebrate this festival. As Jesus rode on a donkey into town, the people hailed him as King , shouted Hosanna and waved palm branches (John 12:12-19). They had just witnessed or heard of the miraculous raising from the dead of Lazarus and were convinced the scriptures have been fulfilled (John 11:38-43). This apocalyptic miracle persuaded them that Jesus is the Messiah who has the the power to redeem them. The religious rulers were red hot with rage and sprang into action to devise a way to smother and stamp out the leader of this fiery crowd a threat to their leadership and faith.
The multitudes were seeking a King to overthrow the Roman dominion over them and rule the world. They were completely blind to what Jesus had really come to do. Evidently the world did not see the light! Nevertheless Jesus stoked the flames of his final hours in the world with a blaze of fulfilled messianic prophesies (Psalm 118:25,26; Zechariah 9:9). Jesus knew by shedding his blood as a sacrifice he would open the way to draw the people of his own nation and all the nations of the world into his fold.
So Jesus slipped away from the hysterical crowds and stayed at Philip’s home near the wilderness where he was hiding from the religious leaders who felt the blood of Jesus would bring back order to the Temple. He knew the hour of dreadful darkness of suffering and death was at hand. However some Greeks came to the scared disciples in secret seeking The Light, their humble request was, "Sir, we want to see Jesus (John 12:20-22).” How many of the multitudes came out with this deep desire to see the Light of the world? Did the disciples realize what Jesus meant when he said “the light is with you a little longer”?
Closing Prayer
As we rejoice in the gift of life,
May the light of your presence,
Set our hearts on fire with love for you;
That we may walk in the light of your Word.
Amen
1 comment:
Enthusiastic and frenzied crowds shouting Hosanna seems so incongruous with a later scene of not a single person rising in defence of the same Yeshua when on trial before the High Priest and Pontius Pilate- not even one of His own disciples! So much was the power and hold of the High Priest, the representative of Moses and guardian of the Law, over the jews of the time. But we remember Yeshua's intercessory deeply impassioned prayer for the disciples. Yeshua prayed God for the protection of the disciples that not even one of them should perish, except for Judas, who had to fulfill the Scriptures by betraying Yeshua. Yeshua made sure of the safety of His disciples through God's protection. Yeshua is the Light. The lamp unto our feet, so we don't stumble in the darkness of the world. I am in the world, but not of the world, He said. He prayed for the same for His disciples. Yeshua even silenced the headstrong Peter, for Peter had so much to do for the Ministry, and he cannot have his life extinguished at this point. We keep thinking that for ensuring Peter's safety, it was God who made Peter to deny Yeshua thrice. But, be of good cheer, Yeshua has sent His Helper, to ensure the continuity of the Light shining within us. We don't pray for the Light to come within us, we only Thank God for keeping the same Light burning within us. Let the Light so shine within us, that others may see the good works we do and glorify the Father in Heaven! Amen Lord Yeshua!
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