While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light

"While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light."  These things Jesus spoke, and departed, and was hidden from them.

But although He had done so many signs before them, they did not believe in Him, that the word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spoke:

"Lord, who has believed our report?
And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?"

Therefore they could not believe, because Isaiah said again:

"He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts,
Lest they should see with their eyes,
Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn,
So that I should heal them."

These things Isaiah said when he saw His glory and spoke of Him.  Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.

- John 12:36-43 

In yesterday's reading, Jesus continues His dialogue in His first day in Jerusalem after His Triumphal Entry.  It is Passion Week.  He said before the crowds, "Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say?  'Father, save Me from this hour'?  But for this purpose I came to this hour.  Father, glorify Your name."   Then a voice came from heaven, saying, "I have both glorified it and will glorify it again."  Some people said it had thundered, and others said an angel had spoken to Him.  Jesus answered and said, "This voice did not come because of Me, but for your sake.  Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out.  And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself." He was speaking of His death.  The people responded saying that Messiah is to remain forever according to the law, so what does this mean the Son of Man must be lifted up?  And, who is this Son of Man?  Jesus said, "A little while longer the light is with you.  Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you; he who walks in darkness does not know where he is going.  While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light."  These things Jesus spoke, and departed, and was hidden from them.

"While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light."  These things Jesus spoke, and departed, and was hidden from them.  Today's reading begins with the last verse in yesterday's reading.  Again, we note that it is the beginning of Passion Week.  Jesus has announced that it is His hour.  The people, many of whom are even from outside of Israel, proselytes to Judaism, are all curious about Him and speak about Him.  He's been welcomed as the coming King by the crowds in His Triumphal Entry.  Here He alludes to the fact that He is not with them for long.

But although He had done so many signs before them, they did not believe in Him, that the word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spoke:  "Lord, who has believed our report?  And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?"  Isaiah the Prophet gives us the words of Scripture, prophesying what is to come, and teaching us something about ourselves.  When spiritual revelation comes, when grace intervenes and reveals something to us of spiritual truth, how do we hear?  How do we perceive?  What do we do with it?

Therefore they could not believe, because Isaiah said again:  "He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, lest they should see with their eyes, lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, so that I should heal them."   What is the purpose of grace?  Isaiah teaches us again, and we should listen to him:  the purpose of grace is healing.  My study bible says, "Failure to believe in Jesus as the Incarnate Word, despite His many miracles, is due to willful spiritual blindness of people.  They did not become blind because Isaiah spoke, but rather Isaiah spoke because he foresaw their blindness."  A refusal of grace is a refusal for healing.

These things Isaiah said when he saw His glory and spoke of Him.  My study bible tells us:  "In about 700 B.C., Isaiah reports that in a vision, 'I saw the Lord' (Is. 6:1).  He saw the glory of the Son of God and spoke of Him."

Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.  Again, there is a note:  "Nicodemus was one of these rulers, a 'hidden' disciple during Christ's ministry."   That they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God is something we must remember for our own lives, as the Evangelist points out for us.  In the Greek, this word translated as praise means "glory."

So what does it mean to care more for the "glory" of God than for the glory of men?  For the praise of God more than the praise of men?  First of all, let me point out that in the Greek, this word for "men" implies all human beings, so this applies to everyone, male and female.  (There is another word that would specify "men" alone, and it's not used here.)   When we think of glory or praise we're talking about things that are truly worth something, truly of value.  So where would this praise come from?  We can talk all we want about the great glory of some human achievement, but in the end, we're called upon to discern something more, bigger, higher, something that transcends the perception of human achievement alone and its limited point of view.  There is the glory of God that can be reflected in the world, through grace, through witnessing, through living our lives in service to that glory.  It's like an exchange of one set of values for one that surpasses our limited point of view.  Hence, it's tied up to our failure to perceive the things of God, to have ears to hear and eyes to see, as Isaiah puts it.  In the great economy of salvation, we have Isaiah the Prophet, writing about 700 B.C., telling us about the things of God.  He's witnessing what's been revealed to him in an act of grace, for us and for our healing.  The dispensation of God's very Son comes to us in Christ, in Jesus.  But who can see and hear?  And who will witness?  Who will confess?  Grace taps on our shoulder, and knocks on the door.  Through the Spirit, grace is active and fills all things.  So much depends on what we can see and hear and understand with our hearts - and how we choose to respond.  What glory fills and reflects itself in your life?