We just picked our first home grown mushrooms. It fascinates me the way they grow in the dark. People aren’t meant to be like mushrooms and kept in the dark. Yet often that’s what some of us try and do with our Christian faith. Nicodemus tried to do this at first too, which is why this Pharisee came to Jesus by night. Although he recognized Jesus had come from God and that God was with Jesus, which was more than some of the other Pharisees did, Nicodemus still didn’t want anyone else to know he came to see Jesus, John 3:2.
However, after his talk with Jesus where Jesus confronted him with the need to be ‘born again,’ Nicodemus underwent a change. In John 7:50-51 we see him tentatively sticking up for Jesus against the other Pharisees. By the time of Jesus’ death, Nicodemus was no longing keeping his faith in the dark but came with Joseph of Arimathea to collect the body of Jesus, to prepare Him for burial and then bury Him, John 19:39-40.
Nicodemus no longer kept people in the dark about where he stood. By coming for the body of Jesus and burying him he proclaimed himself a loyal follower of Jesus. How are you proclaiming your faith to your friends, colleagues, family, and work mates? Do they even know you are a follower of Jesus? Are you using opportunities to tell those you meet about Jesus? Are you praying and asking the Lord for opportunities and boldness to do this?
Christmas is a great time to start telling others of Jesus. People seem to be more receptive to the message at this time of year.Here are two simple ways I’ve been part of.
One year we gathered a group of Christians together and went around one of the housing estates to sing Christmas carols. True, a few people turned away and didn’t want to listen. But many more came out of their homes, listened and joined in.
Last Friday night the Sing Australia choir I belong to sang at Huskisson Christmas street party. Although we sang some popular songs we also included a few carols, traditional carols like ‘Away in a Manger’ and ‘Good King Wenceslas’ and Australian carols like ‘The North Wind,’ and ‘Carol of the Birds.’ We ended up with a good group of people standing around, listening and supporting us. My prayer is that some of what they heard will cause them to investigate further about Jesus and the real meaning of Christmas. How can you share the light of Jesus this Christmas? As Christians that’s what we’re called to do and not keep our faith in the dark.
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