Read John 1.1-18
Last season we saw God’s people fall from grace and find themselves in need of a Saviour. A Saviour was promised – a descendant of Eve, a firstborn son, a perfect man without fault, a son of the gods. But up until this point no Saviour has come. The people have waited, and waited, and waited. They have strayed in the waiting, and God has continually scooped them up and set them back on their feet. He has sent renewed messages of love and care. Until now. Yesterday we read from the last book of the Old Testament, and after that there was silence from God for 400 years.
How long do you wait in the queue at Starbucks (other coffee shops are available) before you become impatient? Could you wait four minutes? It doesn’t sound like a long time, but would you struggle to put on your stopwatch and wait for four minutes now? I would certainly find it challenging. Everything in my culture today is about maximum output in minimum time. I am conditioned to feel good when going a hundred miles an hour, and so deeply uncomfortable when I am waiting that I need a portable device to amuse me. There are some incredible benefits about this culture, but am I in danger of letting what’s of vital importance pass me by?
After thousands of years of waiting, the words that come to God’s people are incredible. Or should I say the Word that comes for John writes of the ‘Word’. The Word is a man, who was with God and yet also God. The Word has been about since the beginning, and created everything around us, including life itself. The Word is light, light which shines in the darkness and cannot be overcome.
For twenty days we’ve read of darkness. Of assault, racism, power struggles, betrayal and death. And now here is a light whom the darkness cannot overcome. How can that be? If this light is the overcomer, how can we live in a world where all these things still exist and not discern his presence?
We read that he came to the world as a man, and yet the world did not recognise him. The world refused to receive him.
Is it possible that he could be right next to you now and you might miss him? Could you be going so fast, or be so preoccupied?
Or perhaps you have seen him, but you don’t want to slow down to receive him. Maybe you like things just as they are.
Maybe you long for change but cannot bear to hope on him and risk being let down. Again.
Or could it be that the light he brings isn’t the kind of light you expected? I’m looking for dazzling brilliance in a million 1000W bulbs. Blow the darkness away. Not a hint left. And I haven’t received it. It’s still pretty dark quite a lot of the time. But there is light. Sometimes it’s hard to discern, and much harder if I insist on looking in the other direction, but it’s there.
And it won’t ever be extinguished.
Reflect
What glimmers of light might you be missing in your life just now?
What gets in your way of perceiving the light: busyness, contentment with life without God, fear of trusting him?
Susie lives in NE Fife and works in ministry. She loves being with friends, feeding people and half finished creative projects.
