Bowling Green Covenant Church

Friday 23 March 2007

“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” – John 8.12

Mordecai, merchant in Jerusalem

To Bartholomew, my beloved brother and merchant in Bethsaida,

Greetings in the Name of the He who is blessed forever, the LORD, the Almighty, the Maker of heaven and earth. I hope you and your family is well. We are blessed, despite the hard times. The LORD, blessed be His Name, is good and His steadfast love endures forever.

Since I received your letter about your experience in Capernaum, I have been paying close attention for any news about Jesus the son of Joseph, the carpenter from Nazareth, who claims to be the bread of life.

Well, my brother, Jesus has been in Jerusalem and he caused no small disturbance by his presence here. For days rumors buzzed like flies as to whether or not Jesus would show his face during the Feast of the Tabernacles. Some were saying he is a good man. Others said he is a deceiver. I had read your letter, but I kept my thoughts to myself and said nothing. As you know it is not good to take sides in such matters—it’s bad for business.

About halfway through the Feast Jesus came to Jerusalem. He went up to the Temple courts and began to teach. You are right, Bartholomew, the man speaks with an authority that compels you to listen. And some of the things he says are hard to understand. Still, when he spoke and it was as if time stopped. “My teaching is not my own,” he said, “It comes from him who sent me.” On and on he taught until someone asked, “Isn’t this the man they are trying to kill?” This was news I had not heard. But he kept right on teaching. It was as if he knew the people who wanted to kill him could not touch him.

“I am with you for only a short time,” he continued, “and then I go to the one who sent me. You will look for me, but you will not find me; and where I am, you cannot come.” This was a hard saying. No one had any idea what Jesus meant when he said, “You will look for me, but you will not find me,” and “Where I am, you cannot come.”

Then on the last day of the Feast, Jesus said something that left us completely dumbfounded. “If a man is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.” Do you have any idea what that means, Bartholomew? This statement ignited another round of discussion about Jesus. Some said, “Surely this man is the Prophet.” Others went even further and said, “He is the Messiah.”

You should have seen the faces of the Pharisees, Bartholomew. They were as red as the sun setting in the west. Meanwhile the people’s faces shone with hope. Their hope burst into sunrise when Jesus spoke again. He said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” So not only does Jesus claim to be the bread of life, he also claims to be the light of the world. What do you think of that, my brother?

Here is what I think and this I will confide to you, my brother. When a man says “I am the bread of life,” and “I am the light of the world,” he is either a deceiver, or he is possessed by a demon, or he is telling the truth. I know some believe he is a deceiver. Certainly the Pharisees believe he is possessed by a demon, but what if Jesus is telling the truth? Suppose he is the bread of life and the light of the world? Why would Jesus say he is the bread of life if it were not true? Can a deceiver be the Messiah? Would not Jesus know people would think him a madman for saying such a thing? Can a madman be the Messiah? I have heard he even casts out demons. Can a man possessed by demons cast out demons? And then there is the incident you describe at the end of your letter where one of his men called him the Holy One of God. Bartholomew, what if Jesus truly is the Holy One of God?

If by such talk I surprise you, my brother, let me remind you Bethsaida is a long way from Jerusalem. Do you know how the Romans despise us? Have you been bitten by the wolf-like greed of the tax collectors—our own people—who eagerly join the Romans in stealing our livelihood through taxes? We are Jews, Bartholomew, but God has promised we shall not always suffer at the hands of the Gentiles. We will be delivered. Messiah will come.

If Jesus is telling the truth then Messiah may already be here. The days are not so strange that with faith we may see our hope fulfilled. For without faith, my brother, we are lost. Without hope we cannot endure. I have not yet made up my mind about this Jesus. He is not the first man whom our people have hailed as Messiah. However, who knows, with the help of the LORD who is blessed forever, he may be the last. He may be the Messiah.

We shall see.

Write when you have occasion. And I will do the same.

Shalom.