Walk in the Light
6th Sunday of Easter
Rev 21:10, 22 – 22:5 and John 14:23-29
We have been walking since Palm Sunday when Jesus began his walk into Jerusalem to begin the most horrific week of his life during Holy Week.
This walk included a feast with our Lord in what became known as the Last Supper, followed by his betrayal, his crucifixion, his death, and a joyous resurrection.
We began the first Sunday after Easter with a Holy Spirit Walk, then a Christ Walk, we found ourselves walking in the Temple, and last Sunday walking in love.
Today, we will walk in the Light as we approach Thursday’s 40th day following Easter or the Ascension of our Lord. We will talk more about this next week.
However, today, there are very important last instructions that Jesus leaves with the disciples before his departure into Heaven.
There are three things by which they will be known:
(1) Their ability to obey God which would result in an ever-increasing love; (2) Their ability to understand and apply God’s truth which would be dependent on the Holy Spirit; and
(3) They would be comforted by a peace of heart that only God can provide or a sense of well-being that is offered by the world, but is never completely accomplished.
The disciples are probably paying attention, as they did before Jesus’ crucifixion. They are hearing the words being said without fully understanding their meaning.
Let’s face it, their time with Jesus has been a roller coaster ride with the ups and downs of expected triumphs and what looked like defeat, followed by rejoicing in the resurrection, and now looking at another departure of this man they have come to know and love, their Savior.
It’s easy for us to stand on this side of the Bible and understand the full meaning of what Jesus is telling them about his coming departure, his final departure from earth.
We have years of hearing it, and knowing it, and expecting it as the next story; however, they are hearing it for the first time. They are trying to wrap their minds around the words, while not wanting to let go of the person they love.
For us, though, we still have the knowledge of history and what is to come, while the disciples are learning this for the first time. Sure it was prophesied, but having someone tell you something and seeing it come to fruition are two very different experiences.
So, what does this have to do with walking in the Light? Don’t worry, I’m getting there.
Jesus re-enforces with the disciples their important task of obeying God. It is through their obedience they show their love and dedication to the one that provides and heals.
It is by the example of Jesus in his love and obedience of the Father God, passed down through the disciples and the generations that we continue to be led by the Spirit to show this same obedience and love to others.
It’s sort of hard to put into words, isn’t it. It’s what we feel with every ounce of our being, and sometimes the only way we know how to express it is through our words and actions.
However, it’s very important that our words align with our actions which bring authenticity. When these two things are out of alignment, we begin to wonder are we doing this because we think we are “supposed to,” or are we doing it because we “want to” because it brings glory to God. It expresses our love and obedience and gratitude for God for the blessings we have received..
Now Jesus knows that we are unable to accomplish these things on our own, because simply put, our humanness gets in the way. We are unable to understand the complexity of our living without the Divine, and the Father God has once again provided for our needs.
Jesus explains that God the Father will send the Advocate, the Holy Spirit to guide us. In fact, Jesus tells them, don’t be concerned or afraid when I leave you again, you will be okay because the Holy Spirit ‘will teach you everything, AND remind you of all that I have said to you.’
I can just see the disciples hanging on to every word as they listen intently to what Jesus is saying. They are probably thinking, “An Advocate will be good, but why is he talking about leaving again? Will he be back again in three days?”
How deeply are they pondering what Jesus is telling them?
Have you ever found yourself in a situation, and you are being told something you really don’t understand, but you are trusting what is being said, and you are going with it, and it is not until later that you have a true understanding of what just happened.
This is where the disciples are at this moment. And yes, we are getting to the part where we walk in the Light…just stay with me.
Jesus gives them the third important detail they will need to know, and I find this so comforting and tender hearted when Jesus is essentially giving them his final good-bye, his final words on earth of his love for them, and they are beautiful.
“Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you.” What a gift! I could just say those words over and over and over. “My peace I give to you.”
Say it with me, “My peace I give to you.”
Talk about a balm in Gilead.
All those times we struggle with grief and depression, illness and anxiety, and all the disruptive things in our lives that the world brings to our door. If we could just remember that one phrase, “My peace I give to you.”
We need to write it on our mirrors so we see it every morning. We need a bumper sticker so others can read it while driving down the road, “Jesus gave me peace today!” Wouldn’t that be awesome!
So, let’s talk about the Light, which is described so beautifully in our Revelations scripture.
When we obey God, understand his truth by allowing ourselves to be guided by the Holy Spirit, and fully understand the peace provided by Jesus through all the chaos, we walk in the Light.
The Light of God and the Lamb which are the Temple, not a stone structure, but the very throne of Heaven. It is the Light that shines forth that sustains us, that lives in us and that brings peace.
We are able to understand this because of the Holy Spirit, our Advocate sent by God the Father to bring clarity to confusion. We will talk more about the Holy Spirit in the next couple of weeks, but for now, walk in the Light.