Life-spark: Remove blinders. John 1:10-12
John the Baptist understood that his primary mission in life was to reflect the radiant Life-light of Jesus Christ. Five times he is called a “witness” in the book. He wanted people to recognize who Jesus was and believe in Him as God’s flesh and blood invitation to aliveness.
John the author had the same purpose. The words “witness,” “judge” and “truth” occur over and over in John’s gospel. John writes to provide evidence that Jesus Himself is life. He knew that light can be reflected or rejected. He wasn’t naïve about Christ’s reception:
He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. John 1:10-11, NIV
Closing my eyes or wearing a blindfold doesn’t convert light to darkness, but it does stop me from seeing the light. Many of Christ’s own creation will close their eyes to the brilliant aliveness of the one who “gave life to everything.” John 1:4, NLT “…the world did not recognize him” and “…his own did not receive him.” John 1:10-11, NIV
Sad words. John 1:10-11. Unaccepted light. Revelation rejected. Thank God for the next verse:
Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God – John 1:12, NIV
When we see the light and believe, we believe “into” new life. We are born into the beginning of our true selves. God’s grace and our faith carry us into God’s forever family and His unstoppable life.
One minute Life-question: If I were taken to court for being a Christ-follower, would a video of my day today contain enough evidence to convict me?