Drifting in the Dark or Walking in the Light?

John 12:34-50

I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.
- John 12:46

This passage reveals Jesus’ final public speech prior to the Last Supper. In this speech, Jesus presents himself as the One who can truly help humans who are fumbling around in darkness. He has already proved himself to be such an extraordinary Savior – he took time to instruct Nicodemus (John 3). He saw to it that the Samaritan woman at the well came to faith in him (John 4). He granted sight to the man who was blind from birth (John 9). Most recently, he had powerfully raised Lazarus from the dead (John 11).

Indeed, Jesus directly states, “I did not come to judge the world, but to save it” (John 12:47). The Savior is here! He has demonstrated numerous times that he is both caring and capable. Caring enough to stop and help needy humans; capable enough to make sure that what needy humans need (namely, forgiveness of sins and eternal life) is given to them. No one is like this Jesus.

But tragically we read in John 12:37 that, “Even after Jesus had done all these miraculous signs in their presence, they still would not believe in him.” What a sorry sight – to know that the Creator of these needy creatures is right in front of them, yet these people will not believe his words. This group walks in the dark and has no clue where they are going (John 12:35). They are walking, but their walking is directionless. They are not going anywhere. Jesus wants to help these lost souls. As he announced to this group, “I have come into the world as a light so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness” (John 12:46).

If these people will only put their trust in him, as Jesus wants them to, they will be transferred from the Dominion of Darkness to the Kingdom of Light (Colossians 1:12-13). These people have the opportunity to go from being drifters in the dark to being pilgrims, who can then take up the exciting, purposeful journey to the Celestial City.

Many of us who will read this devotion are already on this splendid path journeying toward the Kingdom of Light, thanks to our God who has already saved us. Now we wonder, how can more of my friends and family get onto this path with me? Well, the first thing we can do is pray. Praying is what Paul did for the Israelites who had not yet come to acknowledge Jesus as their only Savior (Romans 10:1). The second thing we can do is expose our unsaved loved ones to the reading, preaching, and teaching of Scripture. The Word of God states, “Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ” (Romans 10:17). People come to faith in Christ through the word of Christ. So then let us bring this Word to the unsaved!

Finally, let us not neglect nourishment for our own hearts. Our sustenance while we are on our journey to the Kingdom of Light is also Christ’s Word. Let us continue to feast upon it daily, as we journey toward our Savior Jesus, whom we will one day see, in that place that will forever be brilliantly light (Revelation 22:5)!