[+] Easter: A Season When All Things Become New

"Whoever believes in me believes not in me but in God who sent me. And whoever sees me sees the God who sent me. I have come as light into the world, so that everyone who believes in me should not remain in the darkness. I do not judge anyone who hears my words and does not keep them, for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.”
(John 12:44-47)

What is Jesus saying here? “I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.” Not to judge this world? Think of that in the light of recent world events. Is there anyone who has not judged the sorry state of the world in this past month of bombing, killing, taking of prisoners, maiming of children, looting, shooting and asking questions later?

In the midst of all this evil (not limited to any group of nations, or to any political party), we are asked to take as our role model the Jesus who said, “I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.” Remember, this is the Jesus who lived in the time of the biggest and most powerful empire the world has ever known – at least until now. He was not unaware of the evil and cruelty in the world around him. Isaiah (and Handel’s “Messiah”) tells us, “He was despised… and acquainted with grief.” He lived and died for his beliefs and vision for the world, for his intention to save it, but he did not judge it.

How can we emulate Jesus’ point of view -- or follow his leading even if can’t bring ourselves to share his point of view? What is the message we need to hear and heed today?

Just this: “Whoever believes in me believes not in me but in God who sent me.” Jesus’ life and vision for humanity came from the God of love he believed in. His power and his appeal came not from himself but from God’s loving grace and wisdom. Thus he was able to view the world -- with its long, long history of merciless morbidity – and to reject the temptation to judge it. He just kept on doing God’s work to redeem and save it.

The truth of reality ultimately prevails, and the truth is that God has given us Good News.

“I have come as light into the world, so that everyone who believes in me should not remain in the darkness.” We need not remain in darkness. But what if we are not able to hear and follow Jesus’ words and example? Jesus tells us, “I do not judge anyone who hears my words and does not keep them…” Even when we choose to not believe and act on what we have heard, God continues to work to save and make us whole again. So it is with God’s care for all the world. In this season of Easter, God can make all things new.

-- Revrickm