As I read through John 1 this morning I was struck by the declarations of who Jesus is:
Jesus is "the Word" (v1-4)
Jesus is "the light" (v4-9)
Jesus is "the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world" (v29,36)
Jesus is "the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit" (v33)
Jesus is "the Son of God - the King of Israel" (v49)
As I seek to know God more intimately over these next couple of months I pray that Jesus would give me a deeper revelation of who he really is. For example, I can say the words, "Jesus is the light" but I want to experience the reality of this truth more deeply in my life. As I walk into places where Jesus is not known and people are walking in darkness I want to experience the power of this true light shattering the darkness and bringing life and freedom to everyone (v9)... or at least one or two :)
Over to you...
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An eight week journey of seeking God as we read.think.pray.live our way through the gospel of John
An Invitation
Please join us during this lead up to Christmas 2009 by doing the four things listed below. Anyone can join at any time throughout this 8 week period although obviously it would be best if you can begin with us on the first of November 2009.
Requirements:
1. Commit to seeking God EVERY DAY in Nov & Dec '09 in a way that is more radical than anything you have ever done before.
2. Read.think.pray.live your way through the Gospel of John in seven weeks (3 chapters each week) and then 1 John, 2 John, 3 John in the final week.
3. Listen to the Holy Spirit and obey whatever he says to do!!
4. Contribute your insights and experiences to this blog.
May we all continue to seek the Kingdom of God before anything else!
Requirements:
1. Commit to seeking God EVERY DAY in Nov & Dec '09 in a way that is more radical than anything you have ever done before.
2. Read.think.pray.live your way through the Gospel of John in seven weeks (3 chapters each week) and then 1 John, 2 John, 3 John in the final week.
3. Listen to the Holy Spirit and obey whatever he says to do!!
4. Contribute your insights and experiences to this blog.
May we all continue to seek the Kingdom of God before anything else!
7 comments:
I have always found Jesus is the light confronting. Is it Jesus is the source of hope; is it Jesus the one in whom darkness cannot be found; Is is both? Is He meant to be both my source of hope and the one who encourages me to leave all darkness behind.
I also find Jesus being the light is confronting - but from the perspective that he sees everything in me.
There is nothing hidden, no dark corners.
He does not demand an open relationship, but being the light - that is the only relationship that is possible.
Andrew started out with a simple faith - "we have found the Messiah". Most of us do. But it is when we experience the reality of God that the Faith turns into irrefutable Knowing.
I have been reminded to write down and review those times when God has miraculously and supernaturally acted in my life! It seems incredible that they can fade from my memory - but that does sometimes happen. These are the things I need to remind myself and our children of. The REAL things He has done.
"Thank you God - that while we start with faith, along the way You give us real experiences of You!"
I was talking with Andrew this morning about his experience at the engagement party, and not splitting the spiritual from the secular, and I mentioned an interesting phenomenon here at work.
Some of my colleagues who are into Buddhism see it as a way of life coming from within and continuous with their secular activities; however they see Christianity as a set of rules that are impossed from outside ("top down")- the Ten Commandments are their prime example - and therefore easy to comparmentalize (and compromise).
A "Catholic" friend of mine told me that her religion was great; she could sin, go to Confession and recieve Absolution, and go back to her way of life to start over again!
I'd like to think her an extreme example, but there seems to be a log in my eye! I like Andrew's approach of always carrying on a conversation with God - one without ceasing - to integrate our Christian beliefs into a way of life, and break down the secular/spiritual barrier.
Jim Blanchard
When John wrote the opening words to his Gospel, it would have had an amazing resonance with those Jews who heard it -“En archae...”
They are the same words found in Gen 1 in their Bible, the Septuagint (the Greek version of the Old Testament).
John is letting people know that a new beginning (“archaeology”, the study of beginnings) has happened; a new Creation has come into being into which we have to be “born again”.
And just as physical light (“phos”) came into the world because ‘darkness covered the earth’ (Gen1:2-3), so the “Phos” has come to a creation that is still covered in spiritual darkness...despite Moses and the Prophets and all that has passed before.
Richard, when you were talking about the light (“I have always found Jesus is the light confronting.”) I got the image of us dodging a searchlight, like prisoners trying to break out of a POW camp! I am comforted that while Jesus the “Phos” might light us up, Jesus the “Logos” is there to guide us.
In using these words, and bringing to the mind of first century believers this imagery from Scripture, John is giving his Gospel the authority to carry its words into the hearts of people of all times.
Jim Blanchard
Verse 5 jumped out at me as I read John 1 tonight. 'The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it'. It doesn't say the darkness cannot see it, or that the darkness refuses to acknowledge it, but it seems to me that the darkness wants to learn more about it, but just doesn't get it. The image that came to me was how much we have studied the human body, but how much it continues to surprise us with the ways it can survive things it shouldn't. The genome project...me and cars...the examples we could use just go on.
The second verse to jump out was verse 10, and the image I got was of being at a work function, where you know your immediate boss, but what you didn't know was that the big boss from overseas was there (you had never met them and hadn't been told they would be there). You start having a conversation with them, and then you say something stupid, put your foot in it and later learn that who they were. Sometimes I feel like that and as we grow in Christ, we look back and see how many feet we have managed to fit into our mouths, not knowing who Jesus really is.
Long post, sorry, but they just jumped out at me.
Cheers, Sara
Another perspective - Jesus is the light showing us the way - HIS way. I have an image of Jesus walking ahead of me, holding up a lantern, lighting my way, turning occasionally to encourage me. So Jesus is guidance.
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