Our Identity in John’s Gospel Part VI: Unmasking Darkness

Last updated on: October 10, 2009 at 4:14 pm by missionchrist

Our Identity in John’s Gospel Part VI: Unmasking Darkness 2009-10-10T16:14:00-04:00 missionchrist

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I do desire to walk in the light of Jesus, at least I do sometimes. When I read the gospels I want to stand up and declare that I will obey Jesus wherever I go, but obedience is a hard thing in John, and in life. Jesus doesn’t just shatter the teachers, the leaders, and the Samaritans. He even confronts those closest to him. Peter boasts he will lay down his life for Christ, but when that looks like it might become a reality he denies with words completely antithetical to the “I am statements.” In John 18:17 we read “You are not one of his disciples, are you?” the girl at the door asked Peter. He replied, “I am not.”

My life, in all its bravado, often feels like one testimony of “I am not” after another. I can wield a term like “born-again” like a sword cutting off the ears of all those pretenders and offenders of Jesus, but Jesus simply replies “put away your sword, shall I not drink the cup My Father has given Me?” How can we be identified with Christ and not just His religion? How does one identify with something other than oneself at all? How can a person be united in light if even their highest ambitions are simply masks that cover deceit? How do we love a God?
In John fifteen Jesus says, “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love (NIV).” If we are to obey Jesus just as he obeyed the Father it get’s scary. Wasn’t his crucifixion a “cup” his father had given him? John tells us Jesus’ love is complete in pouring himself out, not even for the Father but rather for the ones the Father loved. I was all on board with doing great things for God, but being despised and rejected by those I don’t even like! STOP THE BUS! My heart is racing, I can’t do it, I’m sorry I just can’t. Let me out.
But then again:

“When the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews,
Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!”… As the Father
has sent me, I am sending you.” And with that he breathed on them and said,
“Receive the Holy Spirit. ” -John 19-21 NIV

I don’t have to do it alone…

“Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus
asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things;
you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. I tell you the
truth, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but
when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress
you and lead you where you do not want to go.” Jesus said this to indicate the
kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow
me!” – John 21:17-19 NIV

I don’t have to do it alone…

“I do nothing on my
own but speak just what the Father has taught me. The one who sent me is with
me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him.” –John 8:29
NIV

I don’t have to do it alone…

“I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you
forever” –John 14:16 NIV

I don’t have to do it alone…

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