Sons of Light

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL OF JOHN

SONS OF LIGHT

John 12:30-36

30 Jesus said, "This voice was for your benefit, not mine. 31 Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. 32 But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself."  33 He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die. 34 The crowd spoke up, "We have heard from the Law that the Christ will remain forever, so how can you say, 'The Son of Man must be lifted up'? Who is this 'Son of Man'?" 35 Then Jesus told them, "You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. The man who walks in the dark does not know where he is going. 36 Put your trust in the light while you have it, so that you may become sons of light." When he had finished speaking, Jesus left and hid himself from them.

NIV

We have included the last saying from Jesus for the context of this next part of his conversation with the people. So the crowd was a little confused when he said that he must die on a cross, not in those words but that was what was understood by how the crowd responded. If fact it appears they are not sure who Jesus really is as they ask of him who is this ‘Son of Man’? Confusion surrounding the truth was not limited to those people in the crowd then as it seems many people today are confused about the truth. If what he already said was confusing for them, he goes on to speak about the light and how they will have it a little longer. We surely know he was speaking about himself as being the light, and we certainly understand exactly what he was talking about. But it is likely many of those in the crowd became even more confused over his words especially since they were in response to their question as to who is the Son of Man. But the truth is still the truth and the fact remains that in order for us to walk in the light we must put our trust in Jesus. Those who either do not know Jesus yet, or know of him, but refuse to accept him, are walking in the darkness of their own lives and they simply do not know where they going. So many people who refuse the truth of having to be born again in order to enter the kingdom of God still believe they will go to heaven when they die. But that is not the truth, they are confused about the truth, as if they are walking in the darkness of their own religion, they do not know they are going to hell, and ultimately perish in the lake of burning sulfur. Walking in the darkness leads to a place they cannot see, but when we walk in the light, we are indeed able to see our way. We see with our spiritual eyes the path that leads to the gates of heaven. Jesus said he was the light of the world and we must put our trust in that light. We cannot be fence riders, or stand in the door between the light and the dark, on foot in both. We cannot stand balanced on the edge of the cliff one foot dangling in the air, one foot still on the ground. We must immerse ourselves in the light, we must close the door on the darkness, and we must leap off the cliff fully committed to living in the light. There can be no confusion about this, we cannot afford to have any conflict within, clinging to any part of our past, allowing that war to wage within us. We must be filled to the brim with trust in the light so that we are sons of the light, sons that reflect the appearance and life of the Father.