March 2008 – The Dassler Effect

Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.
“Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name!”
Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.” The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him.
Jesus said, “This voice was for your benefit, not mine. Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself.” He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die.
The crowd spoke up, “We have heard from the Law that the Christ 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. The man who walks in the dark does not know where he is going. Put your trust in the light while you have it, so that you may become sons of light.” When he had finished speaking, Jesus left and hid himself from them.
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It may be a little early to reflect on the beauty of resurrection, but in the darkness of Good Friday, remember the light is coming. As we reflect on the death of Christ tonight, may we realize that in that death we too die, our sins are put to death, our old human nature is put to death. And, just as surely, we will be raised to life with Christ, because of Resurrection Sunday. If we are Christians, we are new creations, now.
Even so, while we are on this earth looking forward to that final ressurection, in one sense a Christian’s life is to be characterized by Good Friday every day of our lives. We are, after all, called to carry our cross daily, are we not, to die to ourselves. I forget that so, so, so easily. May we not on this Good Friday night.