Grace to you and peace in Jesus’ name. Amen.

I. Introduction: A Guiding Light in Darkness

Have you ever experienced the relief of seeing a distant light after being lost in dark? Think about how a flashlight can guide you when everything around you is pitch black. In the Children’s Message we talked about how Jesus is like that flashlight. He offers us hope, direction and guidance in our darkest moments.

It could be driving through a snowstorm, walking through a dark forest at night, or coming across a lake looking for the place to dock your boat at night. That light becomes a beacon of hope and safety, guiding you to where you need to be.

In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus declares Himself to be the Light of the World. What the world struggles to understand is the paradox of how: this light shines most brightly through the darkness of Jesus’ suffering and death. His journey to the cross is the ultimate revelation of His glory and grace. That journey from ashes to glory is the one He walks with us. Through His suffering, Jesus draws all people to Himself, offering the hope and salvation that only His light can bring.

On Saturday when you pray Psalm 23 you’ll be reminded of this guiding light, as it declares:

Even though I walk
through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me.¹

Jesus, our Good Shepherd, leads us through darkness into the safety of His light. Like a shepherd watches over every sheep, leading them to green pastures and protecting them from harm, Jesus provides us with the assurance of His constant presence and care. He really does walk with us and He knows the challenges this world can bring. In fact He knows them better than we do.

II. The Weight of Glory

As Jesus faced the cross, His soul was troubled. He prays in the Temple Courtyard:

Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? It is for this purpose I have come to this hour.²

The weight of what lies ahead of Him is unimaginable. Jesus knows the agony that awaits Him, with not just physical suffering but the burden of the world’s sin. Yet, He does not turn away. He submits to the Father’s will, saying, “Father, glorify Your name.³”

In this moment, we see the profound truth of Christ’s light. It is not a light that avoids darkness but one that overcomes it. Through His death, He reveals the glory of God in a way that transforms our understanding of real power and victory.

On Tuesday you’re going to read about Yom Kippur.⁴ A yearly event that foreshadowed Jesus’ work on the cross. Yom Kippur was when the high priest entered the Holy of Holies on the Day of Atonement, to deal with the weight of the people’s sins. Then the scapegoat was sent into the wilderness, symbolized the removal of sin from the people. Jesus, our ultimate High Priest and ultimate Scapegoat, carries our sins and removes them, fulfilling this atonement once and for all.

When Jesus was just days from that cross, in that Temple courtyard, under great stress, He still prays for you. He says, “Father glorify Your name.” God the Father answers Jesus’ prayer saying, “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.⁵” For Jesus the path of suffering is the path to glory. First for Him, and then for us as we follow Him, never walking alone. That is the mystery that calls us to a deeper faith and with it a deeper understanding of God’s love for us.

III. Drawing All People to the Light

Jesus explains the purpose of His death, saying:

When I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to Myself.⁶

The image of being “lifted up” refers to His crucifixion, where His love and sacrifice become a beacon light for the entire world.

Think of a lighthouse on a rocky shore. Its light cuts through the storm, guiding ships to safety. Jesus’ on the cross is the light that guides us to our “safe harbor” our salvation. The cross is not a symbol of defeat. It is where sin and death are conquered forever. That is why it stands empty. The death it brought was defeated by Christ.

That truth, scribed centuries earlier, you will pray on Thursday when you pray Psalm 22:

All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations will worship before You.⁷

Jesus’ crucifixion draws all people to Himself, fulfilling this prophecy. As you pray through Psalm 22 you will see it transitions from despair to triumph, showing us how Jesus’ suffering on the cross leads to the ultimate victory of light overcoming darkness.

As followers of Jesus, we are called to lift Him up in our lives, to display His light through our words and actions, so others can be drawn to Him. The questions to ponder is: How are you lifting up Jesus in your life? How are you reflecting His light to those around you?

IV. Walking in the Light

Jesus teaches:

The light is among you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you.⁸

That is both a warning and an invitation to peace. The light of Jesus is not something to take for granted. You can’t just walk by. It requires a response. You must walk in it or in the shadows.

To walk in the light means to live in the truth of Jesus’ words. It means turning away from the darkness of sin and stepping into the life He offers. The walk is not always easy. Like the disciples, we face: doubts, struggles, even moments of fear. Through all of it His light guides us through it all.

That blessing of obedience is not threat. God sets down His rules because He cares and wants you to avoid harm. This week you’re going to read a lot of rules in the book of Leviticus. They are there to remind us of the blessings of obedience and the pain that comes because of disobedience. Jesus, through His perfect obedience, secures eternal blessings for all who follow Him. As Christians, we reflect obedience to God by living lives that shine His light: showing kindness, forgiving others, and standing firm in our faith.

Jesus’ journey to the cross is the ultimate revelation of His light. It is a light that shines through suffering, overcomes darkness, and offers eternal hope to all who believe. That is part of the goal this week: To think about the light and darkness in your own life. Then discover what areas of your life need that light. How can you step more faithfully into His truth?

V. Conclusion: A Light That Shines Forever

The season of Lent is approaching fast. It is in fact only two weeks away. As it comes let’s fix our eyes on that cross, where the Light of the World shines most brightly. Let’s walk in His light, trusting His love will guide us through every darkness, and into His glorious light of forever-life.

In Jesus’ name.

Amen.
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