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 in the gospel of John he is called a “witness”. He wanted people to recognize that Jesus was 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 is life and light. He knew that light can be reflected or rejected. Speaking of Jesus, John said this:
“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)
Those are sad words: Unaccepted light. Rejected revelation. 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.
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?