The light has come
by Kathy Matuschka
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This is the verdict: light has come into the world (John 3:19a).
Read John 3:14–21
Today’s reading includes the well-known text, John 3:16. Did you learn John 3:16 as a child? If you did, I hope you have happy memories of teachers who not only told you about God’s love in Jesus but reflected this love by the way they cared for you.
John 3:16 grounds us as we journey in Lent toward Jesus’ death and resurrection. It reminds us of the big picture: that God in love – through Jesus – has rescued us and all humanity from sin. We need not fear the darkness in ourselves and our world because the light has come into the world.
Zooming in a little, our readings this week invite us to focus on Jesus’ earthly ministry and how Jesus shone God’s love into people’s everyday lives.
As our text above says, light has come into the world. But the verse goes on to say: ‘ … but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil’. As people who are simultaneously sinners and saints, each of us is familiar with both darkness and light within ourselves. As St Paul says, we do not do the good we want to do, but rather the evil we don’t want to do (Romans 7:14–20).
Take comfort. Jesus assures us that the light has come into the world. Through our baptism and God’s ongoing work in us, the light has come into our hearts. No matter how things look, no matter how you feel from day to day, light has come into the world.
Dear God, your healing and restoring light has come into the world. Your light reminds my heart that there now is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Because of your light, I have hope that what I see now is not the end of the story – your story. May your light flow freely through me to those I meet today. Amen.
Kathy Matuschka lives in Brisbane with her husband, Mark, and worships at Our Saviour Lutheran Church, Rochedale. This year, Kathy’s ministry journey led her to The Wesley Hospital in Brisbane, where she now serves as a chaplain.
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