Sunday, March 19, 2017

Sunday, March 19 - Third Sunday in Lent


Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?” (John 11: 25-26, 40)

John’s Gospel, I believe, is to assure us that eternal life is for everyone who believes. John makes reference to eternal life and life over 30 times in his Gospel making it a central theme. More so, than any other gospel, John seeks to show that John the Baptist came to baptize Jesus and reveal that Jesus was the Son of God. To believe in Jesus is to believe in God. Jesus came from heaven to give life now as well as eternity. What does this “eternal promise of life” mean to me? Since with God all things are possible, the mystery of life after death is yet to be revealed. By faith I can believe in a new life here on earth, and after this part of my journey ends, a continuation of a new and different life with God and Jesus.

I have just finished re-reading our Lenten booklet for 2014 on “Reflections on Resurrection.” What awesome testimonies of “resurrection stories” appear there. I hope you all still have that copy. It is filled with belief, love, faith, and joy. It makes my heart leap for joy to know that so many experience daily “resurrections” in this life. That’s what John is stating over and over again as each story told lets us believe in the life Jesus came to show us with His love. The Samaritan woman believes, a man born blind sees, Lazarus lives, people filled at the wedding feast, sick healed, five thousand fed, an adulteress forgiven; is this not resurrection for those that believed?

Jesus’ message lives on in John:
I am the Bread (John 6:35
-51)
I am the Light (John 8:12; 9:12)
I am the Door (John 10:7)
I am the Good Shepherd (John 10:11)
I am the Resurrection and the Life (John 11:25) I am the Way, the Truth and the Life (John 14:6) I am the True Vine (John 15:1)



I AM THE LIGHT

Light led wise men
To the Light of the world 

And that life was the Light.

John bore witness to the Light
The true Light which gives light to all 

To have the light, believe in the Light.

I am the Light, He said, follow me 
You will not walk in darkness
But have the light of life.



Kaye White
I dedicate this to my mother, Daisy Ward Milleson, (March 19, 1913 – July 13, 1989) who knew and taught me that God’s love is for all who believe. 

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