Walking with Jesus - Wednesday

And it was night...

Somehow, I don't think John is making note of the time of day. It's a reference to the despair of night.

So who's in the dark?

The disciples are in the dark. Even though Jesus clearly identifies Judas as the betrayer, the disciples don't understand why he's leaving the Passover Seder.

Judas is in the dark. He's about the commit the act that seals Jesus' fate. Why did he do it? John tells us that Satan entered him after he received the piece of bread. So, at least in part, the betrayal is a predetermined battle of the great cosmic war Satan is waging on God. We know how Judas responds after he sees the impact of his actions. For Judas, this is surely one dark night.

But what about Jesus? If anyone should be in despair, it's him. Instead, he's talking about the Father's glory. He knows what Judas, one of his closest friends, is doing. He knows what will happen to him in a few hours. And he knows how the story ends. I guess that's the key to it all. Jesus knows how the story ends. He knows that the agony that is in front of him is temporary. He knows that glory waits on the other side. He knows that the "dark night" will become day, and so he trusts the Father to take him through the night, into the day.

So, how about me? Do I see the "dark night" moments as times to fear, or times for God to bring Himself glory? I suspect the former is true far more often than the latter.

Lord, forgive me for my unbelief. It's easy to glorify You when things are going well. But it's so much harder to keep my eyes on You when "dark night" moments come. Strengthen my faith so that I may see your glory as the goal of every experience of life, the joyful and the agonizing. Amen