John 7:40-44

John 7:40-44
Contemporary English Version (CEV) 

 "The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it."
  Jesus is shining in the world, but the world isn't sure exactly what to do about it.  Some seem to grasp the eternal truth of Jesus' kingship, while others debate just who this man could be.  Some seem ready to follow, while others want certainty before they commit.  Some want to arrest him while others want to worship him.
  It's tempting to want certainty, or to at least hope for some critical mass to form before we commit ourselves to a cause.  It's risky to reach out on a limb, to take something on faith, especially when one might be criticized for such a stance.
  And yet Christian faith calls us to do just that.  The risk is different now than it was 2,000 years ago, but it's still a risk.  What if this isn't true?  What if others mock us for submitting to Christ, for sacrificing, for offering ourselves to a God who often appears distant?
  We are not only called to follow, but to encourage others to follow as well, to cry out in the midst of an uncertain crowd that the light is shining in the darkness and calling them to follow as well.  We aren't simply to be silent, but to form relationships with those around us and call them to reach out in faith as well.