Let's start by remembering our place in the story.
Jesus has ridden into the city of Jerusalem to shouts of Hosanna.
There were the Greeks who wanted to meet with Jesus.
That triggered a moment of trouble in the soul of Jesus
as he sees that the hour of his suffering is quite near.
Jesus prayed to his father out loud,
and God the Father answered back from heaven in an audible voice.
And then Jesus has been talking to this crowd,
explaining about how this hour that has come has big implications
for judgment, for the kingdom of this world,
and for the people of the world.
The last thing that we heard Jesus say was in John 12, verse 32.
Verse 32.
And I, when I am lifted up from the earth,
will draw all people to myself.
He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die.
The crowd listening to this now speaks.
Verse 34.
The crowd spoke up.
We have heard from the law that the Messiah will remain forever.
So how can you say the Son of Man must be lifted up?
Who is this Son of Man?
So there are people in the crowd there who are thinking.
And the big question on their minds is,
is Jesus the Messiah?
Is he the king that God promised long ago?
That special king of God's choosing?
Is Jesus that one?
I mean, Jesus has just been paraded into the city to shouts of,
blessed is the king of Israel.
So some people obviously believe that he is.
And these folks here in this crowd are thinking about it.
They're listening to what Jesus is saying.
They heard him say,
I will be lifted up.
And it seems from their question that
some of them kind of understood a little bit of what he meant.
We've heard from the law that the Messiah will remain forever.
So how can you say the Son of Man must be lifted up?
At the least, they understood that to be lifted up
meant for Jesus to be taken away.
Or perhaps they even recognized that it meant lifted up as in to die.
Crucifixion.
But we've heard from the law
that when the Messiah comes,
he will remain forever.
They had certain ideas and expectations
about how things would go
for the Messiah when he came.
One of those expectations was that
when he did come,
he would come to stay forever.
And so they're looking at Jesus and thinking,
well, that doesn't fit
if you're saying that you're about to die
or to be taken away from us.
How does that work?
The crowd also says that they get this idea from the law.
That is, from the scriptures that Moses wrote long ago,
the first five books of the Bible.
And if we're looking at their question closely,
we can kind of see a little bit of what's going on in their minds.
It seems that they saw the Messiah
and the Son of Man as being the same person.
See if you see that in the question.
We have heard from the law
that the Messiah will remain forever.
So how can you say
the Son of Man must be lifted up?
How can that be true about the Son of Man,
that he will be lifted up
if the Messiah will remain forever when he comes?
Jesus has often and obviously referred to himself
as the Son of Man on many occasions.
And there are many in Israel
who are declaring that Jesus is the Messiah.
And to some who have asked along the way,
Jesus has even admitted it point blank.
Yes, I am the Messiah.
But now the people are wrestling with this.
How can all this that has been promised long ago
by God through the prophets,
how can that all be true, Jesus,
if you're about to die?
If you're about to be lifted up to die
or if you're about to be taken away from us,
it just doesn't make sense.
And it seems like they're really trying
to take Jesus at his word.
They ask a follow-up question.
Who is this Son of Man?
Like, are we wrong in thinking
that the Messiah and the Son of Man
are the same person?
Just who is it that you're talking about
when you say the Son of Man
will be lifted up to die?
Yourself or someone else?
And Jesus gives them this very cryptic answer.
In the next verse,
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.
Whoever walks in the dark
does not know where they're going.
Believe in the light while you have the light
so that you may become children of light.
Now, to some of us,
this answer is frustrating.
We're like, what does that mean?
Especially in our world today
where we have all sorts of people
asking all sorts of questions
about what's really going on
and why certain decisions
and courses of action are being taken
and we're hearing answers to those questions,
but often those answers
are not nearly as clear
and direct as we would like them to be.
Sometimes they're quite evasive.
So, I get it if you feel frustrated
when you hear that Jesus said this
in his answer.
But let's not make the mistake
of thinking that Jesus
is anything like the politicians
of our day.
Jesus is different.
He is the Son of God
sent from heaven.
He has shown on a number of occasions
that he knows the very thoughts
that people are thinking in their hearts
even as he talks to them
and even as they ask their questions.
Jesus is under no obligation
to give them a full explanation here.
In fact, he has often been teaching
the people with parables,
figures of speeches,
analogies, illustrations,
and he's made it quite clear
that he does that on purpose.
God has a purpose for speaking
in these kinds of ways
through Jesus.
We're not going to go into all that
this morning,
but I will say two things.
First,
when you hear Jesus say things like this,
does it not draw you in
to deeply consider
what Jesus means?
To really think about
what his words mean
when he says things like,
you are going to have the light
just a little while longer.
Walk while you have the light
before darkness overtakes you.
We're kind of wired
to try and understand things
and make sense of things.
It's in our very nature.
The way he says this
is intended to draw us in
and to take us
to a deeper level of thought
and consideration
about his words
than we otherwise might go to.
Second,
there's that saying
that's not from the Bible,
but is true.
A picture is worth
a thousand words.
And Jesus is painting pictures here
with his words.
Perhaps by saying it this way,
Jesus is saying so much more
than he could otherwise get across
in the time that he has to answer with.
So even though we really want
the quick and straightforward answer
to the question,
Jesus challenges us
to do the mental work
of chewing on his words
for a while
to understand what he's saying.
Let's consider
Jesus' answer.
You are going to have the light
just a little while longer.
Walk
while you have the light
before darkness
overtakes you.
Whoever walks
in the dark
does not know
where they are going.
First,
let's notice this.
Jesus seems quite content
to leave parts
of their loaded question
completely unanswered.
He doesn't say anything
about whether the law
teaches that the Messiah
will remain forever
when he comes.
Neither does he attempt
to resolve the apparent
conflict in their minds
about how he can remain forever
and how he will soon
be lifted up to die.
And neither does Jesus
make a direct claim
or answer their question
directly of who is the Messiah
or the Son of Man, rather.
Instead, Jesus tells them
just what they need to hear.
He gives them a brief statement
about how a big change
is coming
and several instructions
about what to do
right now
before that change
takes place.
So let's start
with his first statement.
You are going to have
the light
just a little while longer.
There's very soon
coming
a time
when you will
no longer have
the light among you,
says Jesus.
And in what Jesus
says next,
he gets them thinking
about how that works
in an ordinary day.
In an ordinary day,
before the dawn
of electricity-powered
light bulbs
and battery-powered
flashlights,
there was a limited
window of opportunity
to walk,
to go about,
to do your business.
And in those days,
you better be at it
while you have
the light of day.
Because when night falls
and the darkness
overtakes you,
if you're still out there
trying to get somewhere
or trying to get
something done,
you're going to find
yourself in trouble.
You won't be able
to see where you're going.
Have you ever
experienced that
in real life?
Maybe found yourself
outside in a place
that's unfamiliar,
in the dark,
with no light.
I still remember
a fishing trip
that a group of us
went on back
in my Bible college days.
We thought it'd be
a great idea
to make our way
out into the boonies
where two rivers
met with each other
we thought,
that's got to be
the place
where all the biggest
fish are hanging out.
We saw it on the map,
we got everything ready,
we went out,
and unfortunately,
that little bit
on the map
ended up being
a lot longer
than we thought.
Nine kilometers
of slow going
as we waded
across this river
countless times
as it wound
back and forth.
We decided
a number of times,
we were wondering,
should we just
turn back?
I mean,
this is getting
a little crazy here.
There's no trails,
there's no paths
to walk on.
Should we go back?
Oh, but what if
that spot
is just around
the next bend
in the river?
We would have come
all this way
for nothing,
so we just
kept going.
Eventually,
we made it there.
It was early evening.
We fished,
we caught
absolutely nothing,
and then we
found ourselves
scrambling
to get back
all those
nine kilometers
before the light
disappeared completely.
It didn't help
that during
that time,
we could hear
a large pack
of coyotes
howling and yodeling
somewhere in the area
nearby,
and then as it
came to dusk,
it was starting
to get much
harder to see,
and there was
one of our number
who was sure
that he saw
a huge bear
in the trees
just over yonder.
I don't know
whether it was
or not.
It could have been.
By the time
we were getting
around the last
bends in the river
on our way back
to our staging area,
it was nearly
pitch black outside,
and thinking back
on it,
if it weren't
for the river there
for us to follow
and for the Lord
watching over us,
we could have
easily been lost
out in the middle
of nowhere,
stuck all night
with all kinds
of animals
prowling around
nearby.
Boy, did we feel
unsettled
and tense
and anxious
as the darkness
overtook us
out in the wild.
This is the kind
of picture
that Jesus is
painting for us here.
The light is here
for a brief moment,
but it will not stay.
It will only be here
a little longer.
Each of you
has a window
of opportunity
to do the things
that can only be done
while it's here.
And if you do not,
you will be overtaken
by the darkness.
You will find yourself
in big trouble,
lost,
and unable
to find your way.
What's the meaning
of this sort of
mini parable
or analogy?
Well,
if we've been listening
to Jesus
throughout his ministry,
throughout the whole
gospel of John,
we'll know exactly
what the light is
or rather,
who the light is.
What did Jesus say?
John 8, verse 12.
I am the light
of the world.
Whoever follows me
will never walk
in darkness,
but will have
the light of life.
he said it again
in John 9, verse 5.
While I am in the world,
I am the light
of the world.
John,
the writer
of this whole gospel,
made the same sort
of statements
about Jesus,
referring to him
as the light,
the one who has come
into the world,
the one who gives
light to men.
He started his gospel
with that.
So what does Jesus
mean when he says
you're going to have
the light just a little
while longer?
He means that the time
that he is with them,
among them,
is very soon
to draw
to a close.
And think about
what Jesus
has been doing
all this time.
He's been bringing
light
to what's really
going on
in the world.
he's been speaking
truth
from the Father
to the people.
He's been
illuminating,
revealing
all kinds of things
about our sin
and our guilt
before God.
About the punishment
that we deserve
because of our sin
and guilt.
About how to be saved
from that punishment.
About a Father
who still loves us
and will take us
back even though
we have left home
and lived shamefully.
He's been shedding
light on eternal life
and life after death.
About the coming
kingdom of God.
About how God's people
should live in the world
right now.
And about how things
will go at the very end.
Jesus has done
among us
what light does.
He has enabled us
to see
and know
all kinds of things.
The truth
about us,
about the world,
about God.
But now
says Jesus
I'm about to die
and soon
to leave this world.
And Jesus
pleads with them.
Don't miss
your window
of opportunity.
Believe
in the light
says Jesus.
believe in me
while you have
the opportunity
before it is
too late.
Believe in the light
while you have
the light.
Now is the moment
of decision
about me
says Jesus.
And there are only
two outcomes
that Jesus
describes here.
There are those
who believe
in the light.
Jesus says
believe in the light
while you have
the light
so that you may
become children
of light.
That's one outcome.
That sounds
wonderful.
Those who believe
in the light
he says
will become
children
of light.
But the other
outcome
is not so wonderful.
Those who do
not believe
will be
overtaken
by the
darkness
and be
lost.
Do you hear
what Jesus
is saying
to these
people?
Do you hear
what Jesus
is saying
to you?
Now I want
to be careful
here.
I don't think
Jesus means
to say that
there's going
to be no
opportunity
for these
people to
believe
after he
dies
and after
he
departs
to heaven.
But I think
what he does
mean is that
his ministry
of bringing
truth
from God
to people
face to
face
is coming
to an end.
Pretty soon
the things
they heard
from Jesus
the signs
that they
witnessed
him do
will be
in their
minds
only memories
of the past.
And for
others
they'll be
only events
and descriptions
that they
have heard
about
or read
about.
So they
could come
to believe
later after
he dies
after he
leaves
to heaven.
In fact
thousands
of Jews
do
at Pentecost
as the
apostles
begin preaching
and doing
the same
kinds of
things that
Jesus did.
Maybe
some of
these people
in the
crowd
will be
some of
them.
But there's
also a sense
in which
I think
Jesus
is saying
now
today
right now
while the
light is
shining
undeniably
in your
face
now is
the time
to believe
in the
light.
Not
later
not
someday
if you
don't
accept
and believe
in me
now
when I'm
staring you
right in
the face
when I'm
speaking to
you with
my own
two lips
what makes
you think
it will be
any different
later
when I'm
gone.
To us
today
Jesus
has
already
gone.
He
died
he
rose
he
ascended
into
heaven
the
light
of
the
world
is
no
longer
here
in
the
world
and
so
that
light
that
Jesus
is
the
truth
that
he
spoke
it
comes
to
us
second
hand
through
the
writings
of
those
who
were
there
to
witness
it
and
so
there
is
for
each
one
of
us
also
a
window
of
opportunity
even
though
we
do
not
see
the
light
of
Jesus
first
hand
as
they
did
back
then
we
still
have
the
opportunity
to
see
it
second
hand
through
all
that
was
written
about
him
we
weren't
there
to
hear
him
speak
in
person
but we
have
the
very
words
that
he
said
a
good
number
of
them
we
weren't
there
to
see
the
signs
and
the
miracles
that
he
performed
with
our
own
two
eyes
but we
have
detailed
out
for
us
in
these
carefully
preserved
eyewitness
accounts
a good
number
of
them
and so
there
is
for
each
one
of
us
also
a
window
of
opportunity
a
chance
to
see
from
the
Bible
from
preachers
from
teachers
believers
a
chance
for us
to see
the
light
that
Jesus
was
and
still
is
there
is
for us
a
window
of
opportunity
in
our
lives
to
respond
to
him
to
believe
in
the
light
in
Jesus
and
to
become
children
of
light
now
maybe
you're
thinking
deep
down
inside
I
know
that's
true
but
I'm
not
ready
maybe
I'll
get
around
to
that
later
someday
but
not
today
listen
none
of us
knows
how
many
days
we
have
people
die
all
the
time
in
all
kinds
of
ways
and
enough
of
them
die
before
they
hit
old
age
the
next
one
could
be
you
listen
to
these
words
of
Jesus
again
believe
in
the
light
while
you
have
the
light
so
that
you
may
become
children
of
light
walk
while
you
have
the
light
let
the
darkness
overtake
you
today
is
the
day
to
decide
about
Jesus
if
you
haven't
already
now
do
you
believe
in
Jesus
the
light
of
the
world
during
world
war
two
an
American
naval
force
in the
North
Atlantic
was engaged
in heavy
battle
with
enemy
ships
and
submarines
and
it
was
an
exceptionally
dark
night
six
planes
took off
from an
aircraft
carrier
to search
out
those
targets
but
while
they
were
in
the
air
a
total
blackout
was
ordered
on
the
aircraft
carrier
in
order
to
protect
it
from
attack
without
lights
on
the
carrier's
deck
the
six
planes
could
not
possibly
land
they
made
a
radio
request
asking
that
the
lights
be
turned
on
just
long
enough
for
them
to
come
in
but
because
the
entire
carrier
with
its
several
thousand
men
as well
as
all
the
other
planes
and
equipment
would
have
been
put
in
jeopardy
no
lights
were
permitted
eventually
the
six
planes
ran
out
of
fuel
and
they
had
to
ditch
in
the
freezing
water
and
those
pilots
perished
into
eternity
I can't
help but
think of
this
story
as I
listen
to
Jesus
words
here
it's
as though
he's
saying
to
us
the
landing
lights
are
on
come
home
come
to
me
now
while
you
have
the
light
to
come
walk
while
you
have
the
light
before
darkness
overtakes
you
today is the day to repent and believe if you haven't done this already if you haven't done
this but you think you might need some help to figure out how to you're not sure what what to do
i want to invite you come talk to me after the service or if you're a kid talk to your mom and
dad or anyone here who you know knows jesus we would be happy to talk about that with you to
listen to you to pray with you to help you however we can
you will have the light only a little while longer
these words hint at what comes next in the story of jesus his death
well in one sense we we might hear what these people in the crowd are asking and we might think
wouldn't it be nice if jesus had come to stay that first time just set up the forever kingdom then
and there but in another sense i think we know that the story couldn't go that way
not if we want to be part of that good and glorious kingdom
the prophecies about jesus forever kingdom are true and they will all be fulfilled when jesus returns
but for this time for this hour of which jesus speaks we have need of something else
we need a way to get back to the father
we need a way to mend and restore that broken relationship that we have with him
because of our sins and our guilt and that's what jesus death was all about
he died on the cross to make a way home to the father for us
his body was broken his blood was shed to atone for our sins
and to secure forgiveness for all who will believe in him
we mark this amazing hour of jesus
every month by eating and drinking from this table behind me
bread which represents jesus body
the cup which represents jesus blood
we remember his death
a gift of love
for you
and for me
for all the peoples of the world
and truly a gift
it's ours
if we simply believe in him
the light of the world
and so if
that's you this morning
if you believe in him
if you believe that he is the light of the world
the son of man
the messiah
and much more
please
join with us
as we eat and drink
from this table behind me
in remembrance of him
if you're not there yet
then i would ask that you
simply let the bread and the cup
pass you by
until you've come
to that affirmation
in your heart
let's take a couple minutes
to reflect
and to pray quietly
and then charles will come
and pass out the elements
we'll wait until everybody has been served
and then we'll eat and drink together
in unison
amen
Thank you.
Let's eat and drink together.