Invitation into the light

March 11, 2018

Fourth Sunday in Lent

Numbers 21:4-9

Psalm 107:1-3, 17-22

Ephesians 2:1-10

John 3:14-21

Please pray with me,

May the words of my mouth and the meditations of all of our hearts be acceptable and suitable in your sight, O God, our rock, our strength and our redeemer.  Amen. 

We are in the gospel of John, in a very familiar passage from John.  To hear both a message that brings hope and promise but also a message that makes us wonder. 

A colleague of mine, when referring to the gospel of John, sometimes describes it as a play set on stage.  Picture this: Jesus is standing center stage, in the spotlight, and the rest of the stage is dark.  Throughout this gospel, people – either individuals or groups come to Jesus in the light…they talk, they ask or answer questions and then they depart back into the darkness.  – oh that’s telling, isn’t it? 

After interacting with Jesus in the light, they depart, back into darkness. 

They come into Jesus presence, hear his words, hear the message of love and grace and forgiveness and are transformed or confused or sometimes both…and then they go on their way. 

Some leave, telling the great news of God through Jesus Christ, like the woman at the well, who proclaims, “Come and see!”

Others, like Nicodemus, the one to whom Jesus is speaking in today’s passage, comes to Jesus at night asks him questions, but does not seem to understand Jesus’ answers. 

So as we hear today’s familiar passage, it’s important to remember to whom Jesus was speaking, but also to hear it as words being spoken to us, today. 

We hear the familiar words in John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.” 

Ah…familiar words, the mini gospel in one verse…the verse seen on bumper stickers, as tattoos and on signs at sporting events. 

A podcast I listen to said, “It’s funny, you don’t see people carrying posters of John 3:18 or 3:19.” 

Those verses read…“Those who believe in him are not condemned; but those who do not believe are condemned already, because they have not believed that the light has come into the world.  And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than light.” 

And people loved darkness rather than light…

Why is that the case? 

What is it about the darkness that makes us comfortable?  Or causes us to feel safe?  Or is just a place we want to be? 

Maybe the better question is, what is it about the light that makes us uncomfortable? 

In John’s gospel, light is truth.  The light of the world, Jesus teaches God’s love.  Jesus reminds us of how God sees us.  Just as we are.  Warts and all. 

Jesus reminds us that created in God’s image, God knows our innermost thoughts, dreams, hopes, worries and anxieties.  God knows our heart and our mind and all that happens within both. 

Maybe the darkness is a place we retreat to because having God see us for who we truly are is a very vulnerable spot to find ourselves in.  Or maybe, just maybe, there are things about ourselves, that we want to keep hidden from our own eyes.  Things – attitudes, actions, personality traits, words we’ve said that we would rather not be reminded of…that we’ve pushed into the dark recesses of our minds and hearts as to not claim them as parts of ourselves. 

We – on some level- may fear the exposure of our own mediocrity….so we control what we share and with whom, so no one knows the secrets we hold. 

Yet, in the light…the light of Christ, the light of an empty tomb….we cannot hide.  God sees into our hearts…and sheds light on our worries, faults, weaknesses, sinful actions, anxieties and says…this is why I came into the world, not to condemn you for this, but that you may be saved through the life, death and resurrection of my Son, Jesus. 

Now that is one powerful light. 

A light of truth…

A light of grace…

A light of peace and love…

We don’t shine the light on others to say….Ah ha!  This is what you’ve been hiding!!  Gotcha! 

Nope.  Not us. 

Oh, except when we do. 

When we do find ourselves doing that, we’ve fallen into the trap of sin yet again. 

But God is shining this light…on us to say, hey…this stuff about you…the stuff you don’t like…the stuff you feel you need to hide...there are ways to heal this brokenness.  Shining a light on your brokenness lets you know that I know it is there and I love you just the same. 

God says, I don’t want you to feel shame…

God says, I want you to feel whole and complete and loved. 

God says, You are worthy and you are mine. 

I’ve just finished reading Rising Strong: How the ability to reset transforms the waywe live, love, parent and lead.   It’s written by Brené Brown who has done extensive research in the areas of vulnerability and shame. 

On Wednesday, I read this passage:

“Our identities are always changing and growing, they’re not meant to be pinned down.  Our histories are never all good or all bad, and running from the past is the surest way to be defined by it.  That’s when it owns us.  The key is bringing light to the darkness – developing awareness and understanding.” 

“The key is bringing light into darkness – developing awareness and understanding.”

That’s what God did and continues to do through Jesus by bringing light into darkness.  Showing the world a new awareness and understanding of God’s love. 

So maybe that’s the call for our lives…and our world.

Continue to bring the light into darkness. 

Personally, it will give us each space and time to reflect on our own needs, worries, faults, foibles, imperfections, you know, those things that we hide from the world… Bringing light into darkness will allow us space to let God see us for who we are…and to love us because we are worthy of that love.  Nothing you do or do not do can take God’s love away from you. 

And after we have the opportunity to let the light of God into our own hearts and minds, we are invited to let it shine through us. 

That light will transform us. It will change our view of others and the world around us.  It will open up small spaces of vulnerability between us and others, to listen more closely, to understand more clearly and to come into relationships more deeply. 

We’ve all been called to step into the spotlight with Jesus…it’s a space where we may not be ready to stay for too long, but the invitation is always there.  In that light, we are seen as amazing, beautiful, broken and hurting children of God…for that is who we are. 

In that light we are seen as imperfect and enough. 

In that light we are seen fully as imperfect and at the same time we are enough. 

In that light, we are loved and forgiven and given another opportunity to live lives full of grace, truth and love. 

May the light of Christ shine on you this day and all days. 

And may the peace of Christ, which passes all understanding, keep our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, and let all God’s people say amen.