Jesus Walked In His Own Light

What Did Jesus Do?

“If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble,
because he see the light of this world.”
John 11.9

For the sake of love, and for the glory of the Father (see WDJD 4/21/11), Jesus tarried two days after word had reached him that his friend Lazarus was seriously ill (John 11.6). Then he declared that it was time to return to Judea (John 11.7) But such a mission was fraught with peril, for there were no few people in Jerusalem who meant to do the Lord deadly harm (see John 10.31), and the mere mention of heading back to Judea filled the disciples with alarm (John 11.8).

Yet Jesus showed not the least apprehension, knowing that as long as the work of the Father remained to be done, there would be more than ample light to walk safely in Judea, with no fear of stumbling or falling (John 11.9). Having already revealed himself the Light of the World (John 8.12), Jesus could confidently prepare to go to Bethany, for, even as he responded to the summons of Martha and Mary, he walked in his own light as he went about the works of the Father.

While his disciples feared the darkness, or, what people under the influence of the power of darkness, could do, Jesus had no such fear. Full of light, Jesus wanted to encourage his followers to recognize the light that was in him, to receive the light themselves, and to walk confidently in his light as long as he was with them, with no anxiety about stumbling. The “twelve hours” of the “day” spanned all the earthly days of Jesus, and extend even to eternity future for all who walk in the knowledge and power of the Resurrection. All who walk in the “day,” who see and know Jesus, the light of this world, do not stumble. Only those who walk in darkness, in the “night” of ignorance or rejection of Jesus, stumble, because the light, his light, is not in them (John 11.10).

Thus it is that all who follow Jesus can tread even the darkest paths boldly, confidently, even the “valley of the shadow of death” (Psalm 23.4). They need “fear no evil” because his light comforts and protects them, even as a shepherd's rod and staff protect his sheep. Christ's very words are as a lamp shining before us, a light showing us where to step, safely and securely, all along the path of life (see Psalm 119.105). There is no stumbling, except as we turn away from Jesus, the light.

The problem with the world, and, let us be honest with ourselves, with us, is a preference for darkness over light (see John 3.19). This preference to abide and walk in darkness is the power of sin at work in the world, and in us. Our one and only hope is to look to Jesus, and to pray for the Holy Spirit to overcome the sin and darkness within us. This prayer we can and must pray in confidence, for we know that, though the darkness contends against the light, the darkness can never overcome it (John 1.5). Indeed, Christ came into the world so that all who believe in him should step out of the darkness forever, and into his light (John 12.46).

We, who abide in the power and truth of the Resurrection, do not have to grieve, as the first disciples did, the dying of the Light, for we have seen its victory over darkness, sin, and death! Easter, or Resurrection Sunday, is the shining forth of the Glory of the Father in and through the Son, in whose light we walk, even as Jesus himself walked in his own light.

S.D.G.

Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4