Sermon for Wednesday of Easter 4 – Br. David Allen
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Jn 12:44-50
The Gospel Reading for today is a discourse of Jesus making it clear that he did not come into the world on his own as an individual. We heard; “Whoever believes in me believes not in me but in him who sent me. And whoever sees me sees him who sent me.” (Jn 12: 44-45)
This 12th Chapter of the Gospel according to John marks the transition from Jesus’ Ministry to his Passion and Resurrection. The relationship of Jesus with God the father was close.
As I prayed with this passage I began to see parallels in this lesson with the 3rd Chapter of this same Gospel, just after the account of Jesus’ visit from Nicodemus. Probably verses 16-21 are commentary by the Evangelist. (Cf. Jn 3:16-21)
In John 3:17 it says that “God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” Today’s Gospel passage says, “I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.” (Jn 12:47b)
At the end of today’s Gospel we heard, “The Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment …. And I know that his commandment is eternal life.”
(Jn 12:49b-50a)
At the heart of the portion read as today’s Gospel Jesus said, “I have come as light into the world, so that everyone who believes in me should not remain in the darkness.” (Jn 12:46) In the Book of Genesis we can read, “Then God said, ‘Let there be light’; and there was light.” (cf. Gen. 3:1a) I think we can understand Jesus’ words about coming as light into the world not only as “the light of Christ”, but also the Light of God.
When God calls will you be ready to come to that light? (Cf. Jn 3:21)
Br. David, I can always depend on your sermons being short and to the point, with the scripture being the heart of them. Thanks for this one.