The Turning Point

I am the light of the world, anyone who follows what I teach will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life. Jesus said these things, while he was standing in the treasury of the temple.
The crowds stood around and listened to the response of the temple leaders, who were threatened by this workman from Galilee who had not been to their religious schools. As this particular session ended Jesus reiterated once again, that nothing he did was self-motivated but that he had been sent by God, whom he called the Father, and was giving the message that God had given him. He went on to say that when they had 'lifted up' the Son of Man (He was referring to the fact that they would kill him by crucifixion, and his work would be completed) then they would understand. Many of the regular people listening to the discussion between Jesus and the teachers and priests chose to believe that Jesus was telling the truth.

What did they believe? that Jesus was the Son of God, and had come with a message directly from God.

Why did the believe? Because they had heard about the things that Jesus did: he healed people, people who had not been able to get healed any other way, people who were close to death, and some who had died, like the little daughter of Jairus. Only by the power of God could these things happen. Also because the message that Jesus delivered was good: about the love of God, his good intentions towards humanity and his promise to keep faith with everyone who believed. They chose to believe that Jesus was telling the truth.

To them Jesus said, if you remain in my word you are my disciples. You shall know the truth, and the truth will make you free. This puzzled them; they began to ask the meaning and Jesus began to explain.

The simple decision they made by deciding that Jesus was God's son and had brought God's message; that was their entry into light. The light had already come, but they had not sought light, preferring the darkness of their own thinking and the safety of accepting what the religious rulers taught. Now by a simple decision they had entered into the same light that enlightens all who believe today.

That was all Jesus asked that day, he simply accepted them as his disciples and instructed them to continue believing the message that he had brought. He didn't say, you will become my disciples, but he said, "You truly are my disciples." The rest was to follow, all the rest of their lives they would experience what it meant to be a disciple of Jesus.

This is still all that Jesus asks; believe that he is the Son of God and has brought God's message to us. There is nothing more to do because he does all the rest. There is nothing more to do, but there is a lot to experience.