Reflections for Holy Week: And It Was Night

WEDNESDAY | Isaiah 50:4–9a, John 13:21–32
By Trudy Summers, Program Manager for the Global Honors Institute

It is Jesus’ last night with his disciples and the darkness deepens. The shadow of treachery is very near. “Who is my adversary, let him come near me.” Judas keeps company with Jesus and Jesus touches him with his hands, washes his feet, feeds him bread. On this night, the Lord is the servant of his enemy. “Behold, the Lord God helps me. Who will declare me guilty?” He leaves his betrayer unfettered. Judas is free to leave, urged to leave, urged to satisfy his intent.

Jesus does not fear the accusations of men. He sets his face “like flint,” because as John says, he knew he had come from God and was going back to God. This is how he can say, in such darkness, “I will be glorified.” He is troubled, surely, but certain of the coming end of shadows, certain of the Father of lights in whom there is no shadow.

This is the glory—the light shining in the darkness, the darkness powerless to stop it. But first . . . it was night.

Read other “Reflections for Holy Week” >

“Reflections for Holy Week”—daily devotionals written by Gordon College faculty and compiled by the Center for Faith and Inquiry (CFI)—was first published in the spring 2018 issue of STILLPOINT magazine. CFI is dedicated to forming thoughtful Christians for global engagement by carrying on valued traditions and innovating new ones—such as the Distinguished Visiting Scholars program, Jeffersonian dinners, the Gordon College Symposium and a variety of publications.