March 22: Christ’s Final Public Statement
♫ Music:
Day 29 - Wednesday, March 22
Title: CHRIST’S FINAL PUBLIC STATEMENT
Scripture: John 12:37–50
Jesus said all these things, and then went away, out of their sight. But though he had given so many signs, yet they did not believe in him, so that the prophecy of Isaiah was fulfilled, when he said, ‘Lord, who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?’
Thus, they could not believe, and he hardened their heart: ‘He has blinded their eyes and hardened their heart, lest they should see with their eyes and understand with their heart, lest they should turn, so that I should heal them’.
Isaiah said these things because he saw the glory of Christ, and spoke about him. Nevertheless, many even of the authorities did believe in him. But they would not admit it for fear of the Pharisees, in case they should be excommunicated. They were more concerned to have the approval of men than to have the approval of God.
But later, Jesus cried aloud, “Every man who believes in me, is believing in the one who sent me; and every man who sees me is seeing the one who sent me. I have come into the world as light, so that no one who believes in me need remain in the dark. Yet, if anyone hears my sayings and does not keep them, I do not judge him—for I did not come to judge the world but to save it. Every man who rejects me and will not accept my sayings has a judge—at the last day, the very words that I have spoken will be his judge. For I have not spoken on my own authority: the Father who sent me has commanded me what to say and what to speak. And I know that what he commands means eternal life. All that I say I speak only in accordance with what the Father has told me.”
Poetry & Poet:
“Vespers”
by Louise Glück
Even as you appeared to Moses, because
I need you, you appear to me, not
often, however. I live essentially
in darkness. You are perhaps training me to be
responsive to the slightest brightening. Or, like the
poets
are you stimulated by despair, does grief
move you to reveal your nature? This afternoon,
in the physical world to which you commonly
contribute your silence, I climbed
the small hill above the wild blueberries,
metaphysically
descending, as on all my walks: did I go deep enough
for you to pity me, as you have sometimes pitied
others who suffer, favoring those
with theological gifts? As you anticipated,
I did not look up. So you came down to me:
at my feet, not the wax
leaves of the wild blueberry but your fiery self, a
whole
pasture of fire, and beyond, the red sun neither falling
nor rising—
I was not a child; I could take advantage of illusions.
CHRIST’S FINAL PUBLIC STATEMENT
“. . . they could not believe, and he hardened their heart.”
Like Moses before Pharaoh, Jesus stands before a skeptical crowd and speaks to them the word of the Lord. And, like Pharaoh, their hearts are hardened.
More specifically, we are told that God hardened their corporate “heart.”
Moses stood before Pharaoh—the divine representative of the Sun God, Ra—and claimed that an unknown deity that spoke through a burning tumbleweed demanded that Pharaoh release his entire conscripted labor force. And the very suggestion hardened Pharaoh’s heart against such an outrage.
And Jesus stands before the people, speaking of his impending death and entreating them to believe in him, to believe what he is telling them about the intentions and purposes of God. And the very idea that the Messiah would suffer and die causes them to resist him. Jesus’ very presence hardens their hearts.
But in the recognition of their resistance, Jesus does not judge or condemn the people. He cries out to them. He doesn’t simply speak or declare; he cries out as if in anguish. They have not become objects of scorn to him. He doesn’t shake the dust from his feet and leave them to stew in their own negative juices. He cries out to them to believe.
Gerik Parmele’s work The Long Dark Night produces both attraction and resistance in me. I am attracted to this warm, buttery light that seems to invite me into its glow. But at the same time I resist it because it comes to me in the midst of darkness and without a form or shape that I recognize. In my resistance, my heart begins to ossify, and I step back.
I wonder how often Jesus has hardened my heart—not by waving his hand over me and forcing me to resist him, but simply by being who he is, by saying what he says. Perhaps I have heard him speak in such a way that it cuts across my preferences and desires, so I turn away, my heart like a stone. I may have sensed his sorrow when I’ve acted badly, but I want to behave that way so I resist him so that I can justify my behavior.
And then, Jesus cries out. His cry is a lament over my resistance to the God who seeks to heal, restore, forgive, and empower. It is a tragedy when we—like Pharaoh, like the skeptical crowds—resist him to the point of hardening our hearts.
The Lenten season opens up a wonderful opportunity to embrace the truth about ourselves and to confess that truth to the God who knows us. There are times when we do resist Jesus, times when we harden our hearts against him. What do we believe about his response to us? Is it judgment and condemnation? Or do we hear him crying out to us, crying out for us, that we might once again put our trust in him?
When Jesus cries out, he cries out on behalf of his Heavenly Father, who speaks his commands to a hardened people, that they may embrace true life, eternal life.
May it be so among us.
Prayer:
Lord, I confess that I have heard Your voice in prayer, yet plugged my ears. I have seen Your face in the pages but turned away. I have felt Your touch through the hands of another and still pulled away.
Please forgive me.
Amen.
–––from Celtic Daily Prayer, Book Two, p. 1060
Michael McNichols, D.Min.
Pastor and Author
For more information about the artwork, music, and poetry selected for this day, we have provided resources under the “About” tab located next to the “Devotional” tab
About the Translation of the Bible for the 2023 Lent Project:
J.B. Phillips New Testament Translation of the Bible
J.B. Phillips (1906-1982) was well-known within the Church of England for his commitment to making the message of truth relevant to today's world. Phillips' translation of the New Testament brings home the full force of the original message. The New Testament in Modern English was originally written for the benefit of Phillips' youth group; it was later published more widely in response to popular demand. The language is up-to-date and forceful, involving the reader in the dramatic events and powerful teaching of the New Testament. It brings home the message of Good News as it was first heard two thousand years ago.
https://www.biblegateway.com/
About the Artwork:
The Long Dark Night
Gerik Parmele
2012
17.5 x 21 in.
Color digital photograph from iPhone
From the CIVA exhibition entitled Again and Again
Though created for the Advent season, photographer Gerik Parmele’s work is just as powerful for the season of Lent. Regarding his work he explains, “In 2012 I embarked on a personal artistic process that would help me connect on a spiritual level with the liturgical season of Advent. My goal was to capture and process one photo a day during Advent that would embody my feelings toward this season. Various readings, music, prayers, and scripture guided me, including Isaiah 9:2: ‘The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.’ I could really connect with the thought of living in darkness, and then light breaking through. It’s something that touches me on a deep spiritual level. And I can also grasp it on a photographic level, for without light and shadow we would be unable to photograph anything. Those first two words also grabbed me, ‘The people.’ To me, that means all of us—the common, everyday man. So for this project I chose a common everyday tool—an iPhone—to capture and process these abstract photos.”
About the Artist:
Gerik Parmele is an American photojournalist. A graduate of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln School of Journalism, Parmele has worked as a newspaper photographer for the Lincoln Journal Star, The Grand Island Independent, and The Columbia Daily Tribune over the span of seventeen years. During that time he always placed in the top twenty of the distinguished William Randolph Hearst Journalism Awards. The Nebraska News Photographers Association named him the 2001 Photographer of the Year. Currently, Parmele works as the media director for The Crossing, where he produces original video and photography as well as managing social media and directing live multi-camera video programs.
https://gerikparmele.com/
About the Music: “Light of the World” from the album The Father’s Song & Where Angels Fear to Tread
Lyrics:
O, Jesus Son of God
So full of grace and truth
The Father's saving Word
So wonderful are You
The angels longed to see
And prophets searched to find
The glory we have seen revealed
You shone upon the Earth
But who will understand?
You came unto Your own
But who will recognize?
Your birth was prophesied
For You were the Messiah
Who came and walked upon the Earth
Your glory we have seen
The one and only King
And now You're living in our hearts
Light of the world, Light of the world
Light of the world, You shine upon us
Light of the world, Light of the world
Light of the world, You shine upon us
In You all things were made
And nothing without You
In Heaven and on Earth
All things are held in You
And yet You became flesh
Living as one of us
Under the shadow of the cross
Where through the blood You shed
You have made peace again
Peace for the world that God so loves, yeah
Light of the world, Light of the world
Light of the world, You shine upon us
Light of the world, Light of the world
Light of the world, You shine upon us
Light of the world, Light of the world
Light of the world, You shine upon us
So wonderful are You
Light of the world, Light of the world
Light of the world, You shine upon us
And yet You became flesh
Living as one of us
Under the shadow of the cross
Where through the blood You shed
You have made peace again
Peace for the world that God so loves
Light of the world, Light of the world
Light of the world, You shine upon us
Shine it, Lord
Light of the world, Light of the world
Light of the world, You shine upon us
Your glory shines around
Light of the world, Light of the world
Light of the world, You shine upon us
You shine over us, shine
Light of the world, Light of the world
Light of the world, You shine upon us
You shine, You shine
About the Composer/Performer:
Matthew James Redman (b. 1974) is a British worship leader, singer-songwriter, and author. Redman has released sixteen albums, written eight books, and helped start three church plants. He is best known for his Grammy Award–winning single "10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord).” In 1993, Redman helped, alongside his pastor Mike Pilavachi, found Soul Survivor, a global Christian movement and yearly music festival aimed at youth. In 2008, Redman and his family moved to Atlanta, Georgia, to help plant Passion City Church with Louie Giglio and Chris Tomlin. In 2005, Redman co-wrote, with his wife, Beth, the 2005 Dove Award–winning "Blessed Be Your Name." Since then, Matt and Beth have co-created some of Redman's most successful songs, including "You Never Let Go," "Face Down," and "Let My Words Be Few.” Matt has won thirteen Gospel Music Association's Dove Awards. His songs have been covered by a number of contemporary Christian music artists, including Matt Maher, Michael W. Smith, Jeremy Camp, Rebecca St. James, Chris Tomlin, David Crowder Band, and Hillsong United. He has authored and edited multiple books on Christian worship, including The Unquenchable Worshiper and Facedown, which accompanied the album of the same name.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matt_Redman
https://mattredman.com/
About the Poetry and Poet:
Louise Glück (b. 1943) is an American poet and writer. Combining elements of mythology with her own biography, Glück has been critically acclaimed for her work and has won numerous prestigious awards, including the 2020 Nobel Prize for Literature. Widely published in journals and magazines, her poetry collections include The Death of Achilles, The Wild Iris, and the chapbook October, which responds to the events of 9/11.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louise_Gl%C3%BCck
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/louise-gluck
About Devotion Author:
Michael McNichols, D.Min.
Pastor and Author
Mike McNichols is a pastor and served as director of Fuller Seminary’s regional campus in Irvine, California, for over thirteen years. He and his wife, Emily, live in Orange County, California.