It seems clear at the outset, that the Gospel of John sets about to establish a theme of Light vs. Darkness as he introduces the reader to his best friend—who just happens to be the God of the universe. Yes, yes, I know. We all are trained to say that Jesus is our best friend. This idea is celebrated even in our songs, such as the line in the old hymn, “He will hear you when you call,/He will help you when you fall./O, the best friend to have is Jesus.”
Gary Paterson’s article was excellent. The message presented should resonate beautifully, winsomely, graciously, intellectually within the reaches of the very innermost dark corners of all attentive minds. Reading Paterson, my thoughts turned to the well-known most significant totally apropos anthem written by Clara H. Fiske Scott. [1841-1897] Parenthetically, Scott’s “Royal Anthem Book” was the first volume of anthems published by a woman. Pasted herein is Scott’s thoughtful words.
Open my eyes, that I may see
Glimpses of truth Thou hast for me;
Place in my hands the wonderful key
That shall unclasp and set me free.
Refrain
Silently now I wait for Thee,
Ready my God, Thy will to see,
Open my eyes, illumine me,
Spirit divine!
Open my ears, that I may hear
Voices of truth Thou sendest clear;
And while the wave notes fall on my ear,
Everything false will disappear.
Refrain
Open my mouth, and let me bear,
Gladly the warm truth everywhere;
Open my heart and let me prepare
Love with Thy children thus to share.
Refrain
Lovely, and prophetic. It seems that if someone was unwelcome within the circle of the powerful elite, that person was just the one Jesus trusted and took in. That person was just the one to catch on to Jesus mission the soonest.
This point continues to elude the inattentive and willfully resistant.