Christian Reflection and Prayer

Lenten Meditation

Die in Your Sins

Read John 8:12-30.

TEXT: "Again Jesus spoke to
them saying, 'I am the Light of
the world.' ..." (John 8:12a).

Jesus' enemies want Him dead.
Has He pressed too hard? Is it
time to lighten up or compromise
to find common ground? No!
Jesus knows there is only one
way for them to be saved. So
He presses even harder. He
declares, "I am the Light of
the world."

Instead of backing down
Jesus draws a line in the sand
and says, "Whoever follows Me
will not walk in darkness, but
will have the light of life." But
to those who reject Him, He
says, "I am going away, and
you will seek Me, and you
will die in your sin."

Their hearts should be stirred,
but instead they stubbornly
refuse to listen. In idle curiosity
they ask each other if Jesus'
talk of "going away" means He
will kill Himself. Jesus answers,
"When you have lifted up the
Son of Man, you will know that
I am He."

When they lift Him up and nail
 Him to the cross, they will know
who He is. The miraculous signs
at His death: the darkness, the
earthquake, the torn curtain in the
temple and His glorious resurrection
will make it clear to them that
Jesus is the mighty Son of God,
the promised Messiah.

Which side of the line are you
walking on? Are you truly walking
in the light of Christ or the darkness
of this unbelieving world? Jesus
warns all of us that our time is short.
Don't wait for tomorrow. Today is
the day to live in Christ through faith,
rather than die in your sins.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, bring me
out of the darkness of my sin to the
light of Your Son Jesus Christ. I pray
in His Name. Amen.

Lutheran Ministries