Episode 824
Crisis and Light: Understanding Jesus' Message | Ep 824
This podcast episode delves into the profound theme of "light in crisis," as articulated in the Gospel of John, chapter 12, verses 27 through 40. The central assertion is that, amidst turmoil, one can discern transformative opportunities rather than succumb to despair. We engage in a meticulous examination of Jesus's teachings, particularly his assertion that crises may serve as pivotal moments for decision and change. Through this discourse, we explore the dual connotations of being "lifted up," which encapsulates both the crucifixion and exaltation of Christ, thereby suggesting that true strength may often manifest in unexpected forms. We invite listeners to engage in introspection regarding their own perceptions and to seek out signs of hope and power within their respective crises, ultimately fostering a deeper understanding of the light that can emerge from darkness.
The "Daily Bible Refresh" is presented each day by Rev. Dr. Brad Miller who has a goal of speaking a bit of the bible into two million ears (one million people) in three years (2025-2028).
He is the author of "The A, B, C-1,2,3 Bible Study Guide" Free to you by clicking HERE.
Brad served as a local church pastor for forty years and has a background in radio and podcasting. Moreover, he is a life-long student of The Bible.
He believes in the words of Jesus that “scripture is fulfilled in your hearing” (Luke 4:21)
The "Daily Bible Refresh" is available seven days a week by 6:00 am ET. The episodes are no longer than ten minutes long and are...
- Understandable: A reading from the New Testament (usually the Gospel) selected from the Revised Common Lectionary using "The Message" translation.
- Relatable: You will have a couple of "points to ponder" from the text which will relate to your life
- Applicable: Every episode includes a way you can take action based on the reading
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- A prayer for your day.
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The podcast presents a comprehensive examination of the scriptural passage John 12:27-40, focusing on the interplay of light and crisis as articulated by Jesus. The speaker asserts that Jesus's acknowledgment of a crisis within the world is not merely an expression of impending doom but rather signifies a crucial juncture for potential transformation. This perspective is particularly relevant to contemporary societal challenges, which encompass ecological, social, and political crises. The speaker invites the audience to reconceptualize these adversities as opportunities for significant change, suggesting that crises can serve as catalysts for personal and collective transformation rather than signals of hopelessness. This interpretation encourages listeners to seek out the light that can emerge even amidst turmoil, fostering a sense of hope and purpose.
The podcast further explores the multifaceted implications of Jesus's statement regarding being 'lifted up.' This expression carries a dual significance, referencing both his impending crucifixion and his exaltation. The speaker emphasizes that true power often exists in forms that defy conventional expectations, particularly in marginalized communities where grassroots movements can instigate profound change. By recognizing the potential for transformative power in what may appear as weakness, the podcast challenges the audience to rethink their understanding of authority and influence within societal structures. This reframing serves as an invitation to support and uplift those voices that are often overlooked or dismissed, thereby enriching the discourse on empowerment and justice.
Moreover, the podcast addresses the theme of perception, distinguishing between mere physical sight and a deeper understanding of spiritual truths. The discussion critiques the crowd's inability to comprehend Jesus's message, attributing this blindness to their entrenchment in existing power dynamics rather than a lack of insight. The speaker encourages listeners to examine their own blind spots, particularly those informed by privilege and tradition, that may obscure their perception of necessary truths. The podcast concludes by offering practical steps for action, urging individuals to actively seek transformative narratives within the crises they encounter, thereby embodying the light and hope that Jesus exemplifies, and fostering a more profound engagement with the challenges of contemporary life.
Takeaways:
- In times of crisis, we should perceive these moments as opportunities for transformation and breakthrough rather than despair.
- Jesus' teachings about light during crises encourage us to seek transformative power in unexpected places, particularly within marginalized communities.
- The concept of sight and blindness extends beyond physical perception, urging us to examine our own biases and blind spots in understanding reality.
- We must actively choose to identify signs of hope and transformative action amidst the crises we encounter in our communities.
- The notion of crisis in the biblical context represents a pivotal moment for decision-making and change within society.
- To foster personal growth, we are encouraged to practice alternative seeing, challenging our perspectives on seemingly hopeless situations.
Links referenced in this episode:
Companies mentioned in this episode:
- voiceofgoddaily.com
Transcript
Light in Crisis Seeing Things Differently A study of John 12, verses 27 through 40 on the Daily Bible refresh with Dr.
Speaker A:Brad Miller.
Speaker A:Hello good people.
Speaker A:Welcome to Daily Bible Refresh.
Speaker A:This is where we impart to you, share with you audibly the voice of God through the reading of the New Testament.
Speaker A:We do that by reading the New Testament.
Speaker A:We take the selective verse for this very day we use the Revised Common Lectionary.
Speaker A:We're in Year C and we're in the Lenten season and we give you a reading of the Gospel that is understandable because we take just the New Testament reading only.
Speaker A:We're reading from the message version of the Bible, relatable by giving you a couple of points to ponder, applicable by giving you an action step.
Speaker A:We have a prayer.
Speaker A:We do all of that in under 10 minutes.
Speaker A:Everything is brought to you by our website, voiceofgoddaily.com the home of the ABC 1, 2, 3 Bible study method.
Speaker A:Let's get into our reading for the day.
Speaker A:It's from the gospel of John 12, verses 27 through 40.
Speaker A:Reading for the message right now I am shaken.
Speaker A:What am I going to say?
Speaker A:Father, get me out of this.
Speaker A:No, this is why I came in the first place.
Speaker A:I'll say, father, put your glory on display.
Speaker A:A voice came out of the sky.
Speaker A:I have glorified it and I'll glorify it again.
Speaker A:And the listening crowd said, thunder.
Speaker A:Others said an angel spoke to him.
Speaker A:Jesus said, the voice didn't come for me, but for you.
Speaker A:At this moment the world is in crisis.
Speaker A:Now Satan, the ruler of this world, will be thrown out.
Speaker A:And I, as I am lifted up from the earth, will attract everyone to me and gather them around me.
Speaker A:He put it this way to show how he was going to be put to death.
Speaker A:And voices from the crowd answered.
Speaker A:We heard from God's law that the Messiah lasts forever.
Speaker A:How can it be necessary, as you put it, that the Son of Man be lifted up?
Speaker A:Who is this Son of Man?
Speaker A:Jesus said, for a brief time still the light is among you.
Speaker A:Walk by the light.
Speaker A:So you have, so you have.
Speaker A:So darkness doesn't destroy you.
Speaker A:If you walk in darkness, you don't know where you're going.
Speaker A:As you have the light, believe in the light.
Speaker A:Then the light will be within you and shining through your lives.
Speaker A:You'll be children of light.
Speaker A:Their eyes are blinded.
Speaker A:Jesus said all of this and then he went into hiding.
Speaker A:All these God signs he had given them and they still didn't get it, still wouldn't trust him.
Speaker A:This proved that the prophet Isaiah was right.
Speaker A:God who believed what was preached, who recognized God's arm outstretched and ready to act.
Speaker A:First they wouldn't believe, then they couldn't again, just as Isaiah had said, their eyes are blinded, their hearts are hardened, so they wouldn't see with their eyes, yet perceive with their hearts and turn to me, God, so I could heal them.
Speaker A:Wow, profound passage of scripture.
Speaker A:And let's get into it here in our points to ponder.
Speaker A:This is really about the light in a time of crisis, or how we can see things differently.
Speaker A:And this is a great reflection to explore Jesus's profound teachings about light and crisis and transformation.
Speaker A:So let me offer you a few points to ponder.
Speaker A:The first one has to do about the crisis of transformation.
Speaker A:When Jesus says the world is in crisis, he's not speaking of doom, but of breakthrough.
Speaker A:The Greek word for crisis means a moment of decision or a turning point.
Speaker A:And that really speaks in our contemporary context, I believe, where we have multiple crises going on, don't we?
Speaker A:We have the ecological crisis, we have social.
Speaker A:Certainly we have political crisis going on.
Speaker A:Wars might actually these things be birth pangs of necessary transformation?
Speaker A:What if our current crises are invitations to radically change rather than signs of hopeless despair or collapse?
Speaker A:A second thing is alternative power structures.
Speaker A:Jesus speaks of lifted up, which is a powerful which has a powerful double meaning, referencing both crucifixion and exaltation.
Speaker A:This suggests that true power often looks like weakness to an empire.
Speaker A:But in our context, this might mean recognizing power in marginalized communities, grassroots movements, and what is apparently powerless actions for justice, where they could really be powerful opportunities will receive transformative power in unexpected places.
Speaker A:One more point to ponder.
Speaker A:It's about having a going beyond a binary vision.
Speaker A:The text discussion here of sight and blindness isn't about physical vision, but about ways that we see reality.
Speaker A:The crowd's inability to quote get it wasn't about an intellectual understanding, but about their attachment to existing power structures and traditional interpretations.
Speaker A:And I would just invite you to see how this challenges us to examine our own blind spots, particularly where privilege or tradition or comfort might be preventing us from seeing necessary truth.
Speaker A:Let's talk about an action step this week.
Speaker A:Practice alternate seeing, that is, choose a situation that you've labeled as hopeless or negative or just in a place of despair.
Speaker A:Perhaps it's some social justice issue or political matter, or some issue about war or some community problem, and intentionally look for signs of transformative power even within that crisis.
Speaker A:Identify a grassroots movement or a marginalized voice which is speaking to this issue and working on it and find a way to understand more or to support that vision.
Speaker A:Remember, light often comes from unexpected places, so this is one way you can take action.
Speaker A:We're going to pray here.
Speaker A:Just a moment.
Speaker A:One action I would really love for you to take is to go over to voiceofgoddaily.com and pick up our free resource.
Speaker A:It's a daily Bible study guide called the ABC 1, 2, 3 Bible Study Guide and you can use it in coordination with the Daily Bible Refresh to have your own time of Bible study.
Speaker A:And it really makes your Bible study just straightforward and is abc123.
Speaker A:It's completely free.
Speaker A:Go over to voiceofgoddaily.com and pick it up.
Speaker A:Our closing prayer for the day.
Speaker A:Oh God, you are a God of divine light.
Speaker A:And in moments when everything else seems to be falling apart, help us recognize the possibility of a breakthrough when we're tempted to look away from crisis, give us courage to see differently.
Speaker A:Where we become attached to old ways of seeing.
Speaker A:Soften our hardened hearts in our moments of being shaken.
Speaker A:Remind us that transformation often feels like crisis.
Speaker A:And help us to recognize your light in these moments, in these unexpected places and faces in moments we might have overlooked.
Speaker A:And voices we may have been trained to ignore.
Speaker A:Make us children of light, not by blinding us in darkness, but by teaching us to see hope in the midst of struggle, power in apparent weakness and possibility in times of crisis.
Speaker A:Amen.
Speaker A: million people by the end of: Speaker A:You can help us to do that by inviting your friend, your neighbor, your person in your life to join us at Voice of God daily, every day.
Speaker A:That is the daily Bible refresh@voiceofgoddaily.com so please join us there.
Speaker A:Until then, My name is Dr.
Speaker A:Brad Miller.
Speaker A:Remember that God's loyal love doesn't run out.
Speaker A:His merciful love hasn't dried up, it's created new.
Speaker A:Every morning, Sa.
