Lighting The Way

John 11:1-45

In our study group a couple weeks ago I went off on a tangent (as all good teachers do) and began talking about the use of light in the Gospel of John. The conversation started innocently enough with someone talking about how the light of Christ is something they strive to share. His comment was followed by a question about what the light of Christ meant to him. He struggled with an answer and eventually conceded that he really didn't know, it was just something he always heard in church and thought it sounded good.

I knew I was in trouble when he looked at me and asked what I thought the light of Christ was about (as good students always do). I thought for a while and asked the group one question: What does light do?

The answers revolved around one theme - it shows us things (the things varied, but lets use things as a catch-all). I followed up with a question to help us think deeper.

How does light show us things?

I smiled as the common answer was it helps us see better, answered in various ways. I continued to agree and ask for a deeper thought. Yes, it helps us see better, and yes it shows us things, but how?

The looks of grasping for the answer became pained and I began a story of how I had gone through the same thing in my New Testament class at VST. None of us could get the answer the professor was looking for either and we were all very, very troubled at not being able to get the answer.

The professor used this particular passage to highlight what he was looking for. John's gospel has Jesus saying, "Those who walk during the day do not stumble...But those who walk at night stumble." The light, he told us, helps us to see the things which are in our way; the things which may cause us to stumble and fall.

The light, I explained to the study group, isn't so much there to light our way or help us see the things that are good. It's a light that exposes that which is blocking our way as we try to live out the laws of God which asks us to love God, one another, and our selves.

If, then, we are to be the light of Christ, and share that light, it is our duty to do the same. As Christians we're asked to help people see the things that are blocking them from being in a complete, unconditional relationship of acceptance with everything around them.

This Lenten season I'm hoping to shine the light on those things which are holding me back from making my relationships better so that as I move forward I can shine brighter and truer for, and with, those around me.