Jesus Gave Fair Warning Of The Coming Storm

What Did Jesus Do?

“Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you.”
John 12.35


Have you ever been plunged suddenly into darkness by a power failure? There's not usually a warning that the lights are about to go out, is there? I remember one time when I was working on a take home exam when I was in seminary, and I had some 8-9 pages of work disappear in an instant (I was new to using computers, and only on that most unfortunate occasion learned the lesson of frequently saving my work), that was painful. But it was nothing at all compared to the suffering that accompanies being cast into eternal darkness. Jesus gave fair warning of a coming storm, and the darkness that would overtake all people who did not come to the Light.

Often times it is severe storms that cause the lights to go out in an instant. I'm no meteorologist, but I believe that, in simple terms, storms result from the clash of systems. The convergence of different air masses can cause extreme disturbance in the atmosphere, generating devastating winds, drenching precipitation, and violent lightning. Jesus warned the people of Jerusalem of a coming storm. There was about to be a clash of cosmic proportions, there would be a “disturbance,” if you will, that would have eternal consequences, and those unprepared would be thrust into a terrible darkness.

In fact, many in the crowd which had been listening to Jesus had moments earlier heard what they thought was thunder (often the ominous precursor to a storm), while others thought that perhaps an angel had spoken to the Lord (John 12.29). But John, the author of the Gospel, and I believe a few others who had been listening to Jesus, heard a voice from on high announcing that the world was about to be judged. Darkness and light were about to collide violently, and though the ruler of the world would be cast out (John 12.31), the light would be taken out of the world for a time.

Yet, “for a little while longer,” the people would have the light among them (John 12.35). Now was the time for the people of Jerusalem to walk, if they wanted to avoid being overtaken by the coming darkness. Now was the time for Jerusalem to come to the light, and so withstand the approaching darkness. Once overtaken, and surrounded by utter darkness, people would have no idea of where they were going—they would be lost. But, for a time, the light was still present, if the people would but recognize and believe in the light, they could become children (Greek NT “sons”) of light (John 12.36).

While the science of forecasting storms has advanced significantly, it is still impossible to predict power failures. Lights (And computers!) still go suddenly dark when storms rage. And for most of us, while the lights are on, we give little thought to the possibility of darkness suddenly overtaking us. But once the darkness envelopes us in an instant it's kind of late to go stumbling around looking for a candle or flashlight.

Even so, now is the time for people to come to the light, to become children of light, to walk in the light, lest they be condemned to eternal darkness. As Jesus gave fair warning to the people of Jerusalem of what was shortly to come upon them, so we who are Christ's disciples are still called in our day to warn others about the terrible truth about the darkness, and invite them come to the Light while there is still time. That's what Jesus, the Light of the world, did.

S.D.G.

Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4