Children of Light
Having just come off the Matthew reading of the Beatitudes in the lectionary a few weeks back, I’m immediately struck by verses 25-26 from this John passage: "Jesus said to them, “The light is in you for a little longer. Walk while you have the light, so that the darkness may not overtake you. If you walk in the darkness, you do not know where you are going. While you have the light, believe in the light, so that you may become children of light.”
We see a transition of who is the light throughout the Gospels—with it traditionally being taught as God and the Holy Scriptures being this light. Then Jesus comes into the scene, with full authority, claiming to be the light of the world (we so beautiful recall this on Christmas Eve). Then Matthew jumps to us being the light of the world, the role has shifted yet again. It’s a shockingly quick transition of light source for a God who’s been around for all of eternity and then some.
In this passage however, John gives us a nice moment of transition, noting the reality that Jesus is the light and is now in us; that when we believe, we become children of the light, the image bearers of the Christ. All of this a shockingly well thought out metaphor for someone who was already anticipating his coming death, metaphors definitely not being what I’d be focusing on in that moment.
Jesus notes earlier in this passage the idea of service to him being an act of following—a word we also get in other Gospel accounts, my utmost favourite being the encounter with the rich young ruler, who when invited to follow Jesus, simply cannot because it would cost him too much. This is to me one of the most practical and essential gospel moments, for Jesus is asked how to inherit eternal life and he gives a rare, plain answer: follow me. This act of following Jesus is for me, one of whole life transformation, one that takes work and letting go, one of still being Daniel, being my true authentic self—yet also so formed in the ways of Jesus that I indeed am the light I’m called to be. So far I’ve yet to find anyone else as interesting, compelling, and real to follow.
I wonder during this Lenten season if you’ve made a Lenten promise on your journey of following Jesus? Is it helping? Is it adding business? Is it shaking up your routine enough to notice the Holy in new ways? Is it costing you?
As we walk through this season of repentance, reflection, and promise, pausing to check-in is good—very good actually, because maybe giving up root-beer (as I did in grade 4) doesn’t really mean anything at this point. Or maybe giving up your bed (also did this, and I only recommend it if you’re in your early 20s) is hitting too hard and not making your a kind, more Spirit filled person.
Our God is one of grace and love on this journey, not one keeping score of how good we’re doing at Lent, embrace the spirit of that grace. All the while, still focused on following Jesus, serving him, and becoming the kind of people that want to spend eternity with God.
Daniel Martin