Jesus’ comments in today’s Gospel reading were made at the time of his triumphal entry into Jerusalem just before his passion, death, and resurrection. He was surrounded by a large crowd of enthusiastic disciples who each saw him in their own way as a new prophet, a new Davidic king, a political force against the Romans, a great healer, a powerful preacher, or a wise teacher.
Jesus speaks out in a forceful way to clarify who he is. The text even says that he cried out to be heard above all the noise from the crowd. To help those first disciples understand who he was, Jesus speaks of himself a light and of them as children of the light.
Living without Jesus leaves us subject to our most evil, dark, and violent impulses. Even living a pious life based on the moral demands of the times and a rigorous observance of the religious law, left those people in Israel (and us today) subject to a minimalistic, legalistic relationship with God. That relationship is often centered on fear, guilt, abandonment, and hopelessness. If we mix all those experiences together – evil, fear, guilt, abandonment, hopelessness – we end up with a dark and depressive world.
Some of the hopes of those enthusiastic disciples in the crowd grew out of on those dark experiences and were the origin of some “dark” or misguided expectations in reference to the person of Jesus and his mission – revolt, revolution, a moment of healing, a circus full of miracles, a new political party, a passing glimpse of good, or a sudden visionary event. Even the apostles seemed to have a fluctuating understanding of Jesus at that moment in time before the resurrection.
Jesus, to correct the crowd, identifies himself as the light of the world and he calls his disciples children of the light. Christians are called to live in God’s good creation as signs of light, hope and joy. Our incorporation into the resurrection burns out all the dark, depressive, and evil within us. We become a reflection of the light of the risen Christ. Being turned into light is not just for our own good or personal salvation. Being children of the light is also a mission for the salvation of all those around us.
I came into the world as light,
so that everyone who believes in me might not remain in darkness
Image: CANVA CJ Dunn 24April2026 AI generated.