{"id":8981,"date":"2020-12-24T04:00:16","date_gmt":"2020-12-24T04:00:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.hatfieldroadmethodist.org\/?p=8981"},"modified":"2020-12-24T04:00:16","modified_gmt":"2020-12-24T04:00:16","slug":"advent-2020-reflection-day-twenty-four","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.hatfieldroadmethodist.org\/?p=8981","title":{"rendered":"Advent 2020 Reflection \u2013 Day Twenty-Four"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Day 24 \u2013 John 1 5<\/h3>\n

5\u00a0<\/sup>The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.<\/p>\n

Reflection<\/h3>\n

\"\"<\/a>I wonder if you have ever found yourself looking for something, your glasses or your phone, searching high and low only to have someone point out that your glasses are perched on your head or your phone is in your pocket where it always is. Sometimes even something as obvious as this can be overlooked and missed.<\/p>\n

Today John continues his brief but precise telling of the ministry of Jesus. Although the NIV uses \u201covercome\u201d it also references \u201cunderstood\u201d as an alternative. John is saying in these 13 words that despite the fact that Jesus had fulfilled the prophecies of the prophets, had demonstrated through his ministry his very nature as God, had died and been raised to life, even after all of this God\u2019s chosen people still would not \u201cunderstand\u201d that he was God.<\/p>\n

We can approach these words in any number of ways but today I look at two. We can say to ourselves \u2013 if Jesus could not convince the world that he was the Messiah how are we to have any hope of doing so. Alternatively we can see that there is still work to do, in the power of the Holy Spirit, to find ways and means to demonstrate and explain the love of God. To ourselves become a part of that light shining in the darkness. We need not think that this will be beyond us for we can see the love of God embracing the whole of the world and help those around us to find him in their familiar places. What a glorious commission we have to continue as part of the story of Jesus, the baby, the man, God.<\/p>\n

Silence<\/h3>\n

In our time of silence today we think on times when we had opportunities to point out the obvious about Jesus. Whether we chose to take advantage of the opportunities or chose to let them slip by.<\/p>\n

Carol<\/h3>\n

I have chosen as my carol today Silent Night which is number 217 in Singing the Faith. It is a beautiful carol which gently reveals the purpose of Jesus\u2019 coming into the world.<\/p>\n

Silent night, holy night!
\nSon of God O how bright
\nLove is smiling from your face
\nstrikes for us now the hour of grace
\nJesus Lord, at your birth<\/p>\nhttp:\/\/www.hatfieldroadmethodist.org\/wptest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/Silent-Night.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n

Prayer<\/h3>\n

\"\"<\/a>Loving God we thank you for your coming into the world as our Saviour. We pray for your light to shine into the lives of those we know and love who do not know you as their friend and Saviour. We pray that we will gladly and eagerly accept the opportunities to shine with your light in the world. Help us to see that sometimes simple words and actions are all that is required to show your presence in someones life.<\/p>\n

Lord, we pray for oursleves, help us to always strive to understand you better. Draw us into your presence and purpose and help us to be part of your continual work of salvation in the world. Amen.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Day 24 \u2013 John 1 5 5\u00a0The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. Reflection I wonder if you have ever found yourself looking for something, your glasses or...<\/p>\n

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