When and Whom to Correct

Scripture: The crowd spoke up, "We have heard from the Law that the Messiah will remain forever, so how can you say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’? Who is this ‘Son of Man’?" Then Jesus told them, "You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. Whoever walks in the dark does not know where they are going." John 12:34-35

Observation: Jesus is met by many, many questions throughout his ministry, and seems to have three different ways of responding to such questions. With the Pharisees - the devoutly 'religious' - he responds with criticism to their own thinking, but rarely a comprehensive answer. To those seeking faith and true understanding, he responds with both correction and guidance toward the truth. However, to those who are simply 'lost', he often just responds with a continued conversation about the nature of God, including love, mercy, and grace.

That is the case here, where a crowd is questioning what Jesus is saying out of their limited understanding of Messiah. They do not believe Jesus is the Messiah, because they even ask who is the Son of Man. They are just the lost ... those who may be seeking faith, but are not yet pursuing a belief in Jesus. And Jesus doesn't answer their questions, but instead provides them with an answer that encourages them to seek deeper.

Jesus almost never "corrects" the lost seekers. It isn't until a person first engages with Jesus as the Messiah - either in faith or in contempt - that Jesus engages in such a way.

Application: I have again been thinking of the 'debate' surrounding Jesus ... thinking of ways to logically discuss the truth about Jesus with others. Jesus himself never did this. He simply discussed the truth, which is that God - the creator of the universe - loves everyone and has provided a way to eternal life by forgiveness of all sins, received as a gift through faith and belief in God's son. It is a way to find good, joy, and life. However, it isn't until someone actually wants this eternal life and therefore is prepared to pursue faith in Jesus that he ever engages in any learning.

Who do I know whom I would consider debating with, yet they likely aren't even seeking faith yet? I start ticking off names in my head ... and it's already half of everyone around me on a daily basis at work, and that's just the 'obvious' ones. This clarifies my daily activity, which would be not to directly engage in deep conversations, but to work God's love and grace into my daily language.

Prayer: Lord, may I have both the clarity of thought and conviction of hearts to talk of you every day. I sing of your love and mercy regularly. May I speak of it as well, even in the darkness. Amen.