Day 142

2 Samuel 1:1–2:11; John 12:20-50; Psalm 118:19-29; Proverbs 15:27-28

“YOUR PRIDE AND joy, O Israel, lies dead on the hills!” David lamented. “Oh, how the mighty heroes have fallen!” (2 Samuel 1:19).

As we began the second book of Samuel today, our attention turned toward David as he grieved for a lost king and father-in-law who wanted nothing more than to kill him. David’s humble posture in leadership contrasts starkly with Saul’s, and this will become more apparent and compelling as we move further into the story.

Saul’s death did not immediately install David as Israel’s king. David moved to the city of Hebron, where he was made king of the tribe of Judah from which he came. Meanwhile, one of Saul’s remaining heirs —Ishbosheth —was proclaimed king of Israel.

In John’s Gospel, we moved further into the story of Jesus’ final days, and we witnessed the reality of the situation descending on Him. “Now my soul is deeply troubled,” Jesus said. “Should I pray, ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But this is the very reason I came! Father, bring glory to your name” (John 12:27-28).

To the very end, confusion swirled around Jesus. Although His words awakened the souls of His hearers and His ministry confirmed that He was truly sent from God, the traditions were so deeply ingrained that they were nearly impossible to penetrate. Ironically, Jesus’ ambition was not to destroy the traditions. He was living within and fulfilling them. He was also critiquing them in the process. Most of the people didn’t understand. And into this confusion, Jesus spoke:

My light will shine for you just a little longer. Walk in the light while you can, so the darkness will not overtake you. Those who walk in the darkness cannot see where they are going. Put your trust in the light while there is still time; then you will become children of the light.

The issues confronting Jesus remain with us now. A gospel has been handed down over millennia, but over that time, people have created new traditions. While our rich heritage and faith traditions have enormous value, the ceilings we place on those traditions do not. When we think we’ve got the whole formula perfect and indestructible, Jesus often comes to tear down our ceilings. The Father will never conform to what we think we know, and when we are stretched in our faith to the point of doubt, we aren’t doing something wrong. We are simply reaching beyond the ceilings, because they are not enough.

As we consider our doubt, fear, and assumptions about our faith, let’s consider whether we are any less confused than the people hearing Jesus. This forces us to face whether what we’ve been told is actually true. We are then compelled to reach beyond ourselves to God alone.

“I have come as a light to shine in this dark world,” Jesus told the confused crowd, “so that all who put their trust in me will no longer remain in the dark” (John 12:46).

This offer is for everyone. But it will require us to reach beyond the ceiling we’ve placed on our faith. It will confront us with the realization that there is no ceiling.

MEDITATION:

The stone that the builders rejected has now become the cornerstone. This is the LORD’s doing, and it is wonderful to see. This is the day the LORD has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it.