In preparation for our mission (from Jesus to Vancouver) we are going to spend time reading and reflecting on the gospel of John. This book shows Jesus as a radical/revolutionary who turned the world on its perverbial ear.

John 1:1-5

The beginning of the gospel of John starts with a quick description of the creation of the universe, but it really quickly turns to the spiritual realities instead of the physical creation. There is these huge word turns that happen within the Scripture, but I think the overtone that is in these first five verses comesin verse 5. Light = life, then darkenss = death. So when it says that the light shines in the darkness, it means the life shines in the death, but the death has not understood it.

What on earth does that mean?

I think it means that things that are dead don't desire life. Like once you're dead you cannot fight to live any longer. You no longer even desire to live. You are dead.

I think that speaks tons aobut how God loved us while we were still sinners (read:dead). Before knowing that light/life exists, dead/dark people don't even have a desire for it. For us, this should prompt us to praise and worship to a Savior who came to us way before we came to Him. Jesus chose us long before we chose Him. Jesus believed in you (and me) way before you (and I) beleived in Him.

If you aren't feeling warm and fuzzy by now.....

Also, this has implications for us on the mission. We will be the bearers of light to many people who don't even know that this light/life exists. As stunning to some of you as that may be, many of the people we will meet don't even know Jesus as a swearword. They have no concept of Him. No concept of life.

Reflect: How is the light shinning in? How is the light getting rid of your dark spaces? How is your light doing the same for the world around you?

¶ 2:33 PM

11 people talking:

 T said...
James makes a point- light=light=Jesus...which is something that isn't new to me, still I'm finding out the truth of it more and more. And if you do the whole, "dark=death" thing, then I certainly hope there's nothing dead in me... including me- if that makes any sense. Hmm...good perspective on that set of verses.  

 Anonymous said...
Aaron

I think those were some confusing verses at first but i think i got what its really saying now. I think that its great. I think that the light shinning in me is showin me really what i need to change about the darkness i do have dark things in me and i need the light to take them over. I know that it can be done i just need to work on them. I think that ppl like us that have light need to go and tell to the ones who are dark about God so that they know why we shine. So they may start to glow with us as our brothers.  

 Anonymous said...
The light is shinning in me more and more everyday as I walk closer and closer to God. And as I'm getting closer the dark is disappearing.

The world around me ....hmmm....
Probably by being the one some people turn to for help, and just showing the light to them through that. The blog seems to be impacting some people too, although the ones who read it are usually Christians.  

 M@ndy said...
What scares me about the Death=Dark thing is...I know there is something dead in me. I feel it everyday. I still resent God for taking my dad from me. Now I know most of you will jump down my back and feel sorry for me but don't. I've tried to "forgive and forget" but I can always feel it(**Satan maybe**) at the back of my mind saying it's God's fault for my Dad's death. The scary part is if I can't forgive God, how can I help others who don't even know him?  

 Anonymous said...
I like how James explains it when he says life is light and death is dark. I guess i never realized that the bible uses color to describe life. But i do like how James put it. It amazes me how God shows us things every day that we sometimes don't always catch, like how he says we reject him sometimes and we don't even know it.  

 Anonymous said...
I like the whole idea of light=life. I think that when you have light, you have life, and in your life you are supposed to give other people life or light. You need to spread the word to the non-christians and give them the light that we all have. When darkness comes and people die, they no longer have life, but may have lived life to the fullest.

Kayla  

 Anonymous said...
Brianna

I think the whole light=life and dark=death thing really makes sense. Jesus calls us to be the light of the earth and calls us to go into the darkness and spread the light/life. I think that the way I spread the light around, I am doing things for Jesus and for other people. I am not very good at showing my faith through words. I show it through my actions.  

 Anonymous said...
once you put it like that it makes perfect sence. everyone has death inside them and god shines into those spots in your life and helps you change to become more like the way he wants you.im not too good at shinning gods light but i think he will show me the way that works best for me.the way i can understand and am good at doing.i think this is a good chance for god to test my abilitys.  

 Anonymous said...
that last one is mine
luke  

 Anonymous said...
To read what James said about the people in Vancouver having no concept of Jesus..EVER, Is really, really amazing to me. I've grown up with Jesus in my entire life, and to live without Him seems like no life at all.  

 Anonymous said...
the light lately has been cleaning some really dusty spots in me. it shines in through reading an amazing verse somewhere or just knowing that God's gonna take care of everything. I think the light is shinning in on the world a lot more than christians imagine. the world just doesn't want to acknowlegde it.

Cassie  

Post a Comment