Did You See That

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth… No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known. John 1:14-18

On my trip to Kenya, Africa, this past February to work with Tyler and Amy Maxwell’s ministry, I was able to talk with many of the nationals working with them reaching the street children of Nairobi. One man in particular, during a jaunt from one part of Nairobi to another, shared his journey to Jesus. Essentially, having been an active Muslim, upon reading the Bible, he was amazed that God was his Father, he could call him thus, and that God was incarnated into his creation! This concept led him to step over the threshold of faith and become a Kingdom dweller!

While coming to the understanding God was available without encumbrances to even him, this man’s experience was finalized by the fact that Jesus was incarnated among his creation, ultimately to die an undeserved death of redemption for that same creation. Anyone who would do this, go to this length to understand human experiences firsthand, and then purposely lay himself on the cross to die an agonizing death, gripped him at the root of his heart and drew him to the Kingdom.

This view, or perspective, was new and refreshing to me. I’ve been steeped in Western Protestant tradition all my life and this understanding of Jesus and God was different. Hearing this man’s view caused me to step back and see Jesus and God in a new light. Perspective is very important. Interactions with differing cultures and how they see and perceive God and Jesus help my vision of them to grow in breadth and depth.

Being completely transparent and honest with yourself, take some time and compare your perspective between God and Jesus. Reflect on these differences between God and Jesus, and why you believe they might have these differences.

By Rich Obrecht

Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name,he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. John 1:12-13

What are your rights? As citizens of a country, you acquire a set of rights that are defined by the society and its government. The question is, what rights do you have in God’s kingdom? The short answer is, well, it depends.

Here in the opening pages of his gospel, John paints a cosmic picture of Jesus. He reminds us that Jesus IS God and that he always has been.. He is setting us up to be shocked by the reality that much of humanity rejected Jesus when he arrived on the pages of history. The creator meets the creation, and the creation rejects him. But the news is not all bad. John goes on to tell us in verse 12, “Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—.”

Those who embrace Jesus as Savior, acquire a citizenship that carries with it a beautiful set of rights. The one mentioned here is the right to be called Children of God. Adoption into God’s family is a right to those who receive Jesus. What are your rights in God’s kingdom? If you receive Jesus, your rights are that of a beloved child. I want you to think about that. When you are in moments of discouragement or shame, you are a child of God.

The word “right” in this text carries with it the idea of authority and power. Child of God is not just a title, it’s a position of authority in God’s world to enact the Father’s will. This too is what it means to receive Jesus. Receiving Jesus involves receiving his plan for creation and leveraging your newfound authority to bring his plan into reality. Take a moment and listen to the song “Run To The Father.” Contemplate the beautiful gift it is to have God as Father.

By Aaron Bjorklund

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

But then the year ends, and that class leaves my care. They go down the hall to other teachers, then out the door to other schools, states, and careers. Every now and again, while I’m out grocery shopping or picking up a gift for a friend, I will bump into a student I had years ago. Often, I will recognize them and remember their name. But, I’m embarrassed to say, there are always a few I don’t recognize or remember. How on earth could I forget a child that I spent an entire year with?! I’ll pass by this student completely oblivious, until they call my name. Then after some nervous laughter and a somewhat awkward conversation, where my memory is jogged, I continue on my way.

It’s embarrassing when you don’t recognize someone you should clearly know, but what’s far worse is what’s happening here in John 1:10-11. God Himself came into the world—the very world He created, but no one recognized Him. Worse still, His own people, whom He rescued from bondage repeatedly, flat-out rejected Him. They took one look at Jesus, and walked the other way.

It would be easy to condemn at this point, were it not for the sticky fact that we do the exact same thing with Jesus. For many of us, our first brush with Jesus was that of rejection. We didn’t want Him or His brand of change. For others of us, maybe we accepted Him, but when He comes knocking on the doors of forbidden areas of our hearts, we aren’t so sure we want Him there, though His way is best.

Take a moment to think back on your journey. When Jesus was first introduced to you, what was your first impression and how’s it changed since? Converse with God about how you’ve seen Him throughout your story.

By Sheila Rennau

There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so through him all men might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world. John 1:6-8 NIV

At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you  among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!”  Luke 1:39-45 NIV

John the Baptist began his ministry – giving testimony about Jesus being the Son of God – when he was 6 months in gestation in his mother’s womb. Mary, the mother of Jesus visited her cousin Elizabeth, and Luke’s gospel tells us the baby inside of Elizabeth leapt for joy at the sound of Mary’s voice. All of John’s life he spoke to people telling them to repent, be baptized, for the Kingdom of God was near. He pointed the people to Jesus. John the Baptist said, “A man can receive only what is given him from heaven. You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Christ, but am sent ahead of him.’ The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete. He must become greater; I must become less,” John 3:27b-30.

John the Baptist was the forerunner, the Elijah, the prophet whose job it was to prepare the way for Jesus. Isaiah told us about him, “A voice of one calling: ‘In the desert prepare the way for the Lord; make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God,’” Isaiah 40:3. The words witnessed and testified to, evoke pictures of a courtroom and the witness stand. A witness testifies in court to what he knows, has seen, or has heard. Luke 3:2 tells us the word of the Lord came to John the Baptist in the desert. He testified to the people who came out to him, he baptized them, and when they wondered if he was the Messiah they were all hoping for, he answered them, “I baptize you with water. But one more powerful than I will come, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire,” Luke 3:16. John the Baptist shined the spotlight on Jesus, he was not the light, he was a witness to the light.

We are also called to shine the light on Jesus, to point people to him, to show others that he is the light of the world, he is the solution to our problems. Listen to this song by Avalon called Testify to Love. Perhaps there is someone in your life you can point to Jesus this week.

By Grace Hunter