Scripture: 1 John 2:8 Series: 2020
A brief children’s/Evensong reflection built on 1 John 2:8 (‘the darkness is passing away and the true light already shines’). Using the shock of absolute darkness in Carlsbad Caverns and Plato’s allegory of the cave, it presents light and darkness as ancient metaphors, then distinguishes a teacher who needs external light from Jesus who IS light. Jesus’ light reaches beyond the horizon of earthly pursuits (death is no longer all-powerful) and also illuminates the present, revealing all creation as miraculous and imbued with God’s love if we have eyes to see. It closes with reassurance: when night closes in, the darkness and brokenness are not your fault; darkness signals not God’s absence but what Jesus came to conquer.
Illustrations: carlsbad-caverns-darkness, platos-cave, two-teachers-in-darkness, horizon-of-earthly-pursuits
Children’s Animals and God’s promise
“On the other hand, I am writing a new commandment to you, which is true in him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true light already shines.” 1 John 2:8 CEB
Carlsbad caverns Absolute darkness is shocking
Darkness and light are old metaphors
Plato’s Cave (παιδεία vs logos)
If you have two teachers in the darkness. One needs external light to guide, the other is light.
There is a horizon of earthly pursuits. What we can see and what we can’t. The light of Jesus goes beyond the horizon of earthly pursuits.
But it is not just beyond the horizon we see here. The light of Jesus illuminates our present. Where we sit. Who we see. Who we love. The darkness recedes from the horizon of our future for death is no longer all powerful. The darkness recedes from the horizon of our present. Life now. All creation is miraculous, imbued with God’s love, and we just need the eyes to see.
And even when darkness seems too much and the night is closing in. God’s light can shine for you. For us. The darkness is not your fault. The brokenness is not your fault. Darkness does not point to an absence of God but what Jesus came to conquer. the darkness is passing away and the true light already shines.”