Advent Challenge Day 10

He was in the world and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognise him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.  John 1:10-11

Last week I didn't recognise a woman who is the mother of one of my son's friends.  I introduced myself to her, saying 'Hi, I'm Jenny.  Nice to meet you'.   She said, 'Oh! I talked to you for ages at your son's party in June'.  Um, awkward. Recognising people is not always easy.  

Why didn't the world recognise Jesus?  He certainly wasn't what the Jews, God's own chosen people, had been hoping for.  He was born as a baby.  He died on a cross, a humiliating and shameful death. His lifestyle wasn't something we'd all aspire to.  He challenged people to give up things they liked.   

Tim Chester writes, 'Light has come into the darkness, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil' (John 3:19).  People love darkness.  They don't want to let go of their sin-they don't want to recognise the Word and they don't want to receive their King. Why?  Because people fear exposure. They don't want to admit their sin or give up their self-rule'.

Darkness is attractive because we like to think that we can behave in a way that can't be seen.  But when light shines into the dark places of our lives it can be shameful.

When Jesus, the true light, shines light into the darkness, he shows up our shame, but he also offers a light for our path.  A light that takes us away from the darkness to a place of forgiveness and hope. How?  By trusting in Jesus' sacrifice for our guilt and shame.  That we can be forgiven. That the one who made us and knows us best, will accept us, despite all the shame of the darkness. 

The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world  John 1: 9

Catch up on the rest of the series here.