Encountering Jesus III

Christmas Day was the beginning of the end. We don't like to think of it that way, but Jesus' coming was a catalyzing event that would ultimately divide the entire world into two opposing camps. 

What do we do about Jesus? The Gospel of John is all about the reactions of people as they encounter Him for the first time. John contains several discourses, during which Jesus explains Himself; the first was to Nicodemus. 

In John 3:14-21, Jesus says to Nicodemus, "Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God.”

I find John 3:16 so much more interesting in context. And I find this passage very challenging in light of Christmas. A few days ago I wrote about light, and quoted Isaiah 9:2: "The people walking in darkness have seen a great light." Jesus tells Nicodemus, "Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of the light . . ."

What do you do about Jesus? It's more than just an intellectual question; it's a choice whether to live or die. Ever since the creation of the world, all of history has been about the mighty cosmic struggle for control of the souls of men. Jesus's birth was the point where victory became inevitable for those who love God. 

The evil that we live with is Satan's desperate attempt to stave off disaster. Our own encounter with Jesus will determine whether or not we go down with Him.

Jesus came once, and died. He will come again, and rule. So this question is one everyone on earth will answer, no matter how they try to avoid it now.