Light of the World

Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” So the Pharisees said to him, “You are bearing witness about yourself; your testimony is not true.” Jesus answered, “Even if I do bear witness about myself, my testimony is true, for I know where I came from and where I am going, but you do not know where I come from or where I am going. You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one. Yet even if I do judge, my judgment is true, for it is not I alone who judge, but I and the Father who sent me. In your Law it is written that the testimony of two people is true. I am the one who bears witness about myself, and the Father who sent me bears witness about me.” They said to him therefore, “Where is your Father?” Jesus answered, “You know neither me nor my Father. If you knew me, you would know my Father also.” These words he spoke in the treasury, as he taught in the temple; but no one arrested him, because his hour had not yet come. John 8:12-20

It has been sunny and delightful the past few days in Sitka. We have so much cloud cover as the norm, that when the sky lifts we all notice and want to run outside, no matter what we should be doing. It makes people a little silly, greedy and a little crazy. Nights without cloud cover are very cold. I leave today for the House of Bishops but hesitate because I do not want to leave Sitka in the sunshine.

Jesus is speaking during the festival and from inside the temple. He was teaching them that he is the light of the world and that he was sent by God, from the heart of God. These words were considered inflammatory and illegal. No one claimed to be God without violent punishment, let alone from inside the treasury of the temple. But Jesus knew the world needed light, deeply needed the love of God which institutions can often forget, and he knew he was the one to deliver that light and love in himself. The people were desperate for light, as we are here, and Jesus promise to provide what we need, despite the all constraints we live with.

Today, as I travel. I ask God for confidence. May we have confidence to trust that there will always be light in the world through Christ Jesus. May we be bold to trust that, despite the problems and challenges we face, God is acting to bring us light and love, and to free us from the bonds which tie us now. And may we, when freed, bring the light of God's love to the world.