Year 8, Day 264: John 16

Theological Commentary: Click Here

There is a great image in the Bible that most of us would rather not contemplate: the valley of the shadow of death.  It is a dark and scary place.  It is a place where we are convinced that life has come to its lowest point.  It is a place where we can see not hope.  We feel alone, abandoned, and helpless.  None of us like going there, much less thinking about it.

That being said, it is a prominent image in the teachings of the Bible.  Naturally, it is strongly spoken about in the 23^rd Psalm.  “Yea, though I walk through the Valley of the Shadow of Death, I will fear no evil…”  There are other places where the Valley of the Shadow of Death rears its head.  There is the barrenness of Sarai.  There is the Hebrew oppression in Egypt.  There is the 40 years in the wilderness.  There is the religious heresy of the Temple under the evil kings in Israel and often under the kings of Judah. There is the imprisonment of Jeremiah.  There is the Babylonian captivity.  There are many places of darkness in the Bible, even more than I have listed here.

In John 16, Jesus tells His disciples that another period of darkness is coming.  He hints at the coming crucifixion.  There is a time when they will be scattered.  There is a time when Jesus will be taken away and we will not be able to see Him face to face.  From this perspective, there are dark days ahead for His disciples.

However, Psalm 23 does not stop with the valley.  It continues that we will not fear because the Lord is with us and His rod and staff comfort us.  Jesus mirrors these exact words.  He tells the disciples that the dark times ahead are actually a good thing because If Jesus does not go away then the Spirit cannot come!  Remember the post a few days ago?  In the moment, Jesus is presently and physically with the disciples.  The disciples cannot know what it is like to have God dwell within them, though.  It is good to be in the presence of Jesus, but is it not better to dwell with His Spirit?

What is the natural conclusion to passing through the Valley of the Shadow of Death?  God will anoint us.  God will fill us with goodness and mercy.  We will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.  Doesn’t that sound like the coming of the Holy Spirit and eternal life?

Nobody like the Valley of the Shadow of Death.  I’m certain Jesus didn’t like being crucified and abandoned.  But, I know that it is worth it.  The anointing of the Spirit is phenomenal.  God’s grace and mercy are unlike anything else.  The promise of dwelling in the house of the Lord is immeasurable.

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