He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. (Jn.1:13-10).
Another section from the first chapter of John’s gospel gives us another insight into Jesus and our response to him. John begins with an amazing thought. The very creator of the world walked across the face of his creation unrecognized by the very people made in his image. This is even more amazing when you think of who and what did recognize him.
In a sense, the natural world recognized him because it responded to his commands. Water, trees, wind, withered hands, and fish darting about in the Sea of Galilee all bowed to his commands. Even the demons ran to him calling his name and begging for mercy. Satan himself acknowledged who he was by the very temptations he offered in the wilderness. And yet man, the one made in the image of God and the one for whom Christ came to give himself as a sacrifice, was blind to his identity. Even “his own”- the Jews who searched the Torah for every fleeting clue about Messiah and who longed for his coming – missed him. They not only missed him but also eventually killed him.
How could that be? How could they miss the one who taught with authority and performed one undeniable miracle after another? For the most part, I believe they missed him because of their preconceived notions about what he would do and what he would look like. They made the mistake of assuming that God was like them and that Messiah would come as they imagined.
In their world, Messiah would come on a notable day – a feast day or a high Sabbath full of symbolic significance. Undoubtedly he would be born into a family of high standing with wealth, education and influence. Reputable Rabbi’s probably wondered which of them would have the privilege of schooling the young Messiah in their advanced understanding of the Torah. Without question he would give honor to the religious elite of Israel, the Sanhedrin, and, perhaps, ask for their seal of approval as he began to reveal himself publically. Of course, he also would be political as they were and beat the Romans at their own game of governmental intrigues and, eventually, military might to overthrow the oppressors. As this new “reign of David” was established, these honored leaders of Israel would be given influential cabinet posts and governorships. I’m fairly certain they looked for all of those things as signs of the true Messiah in addition to his miracles. They waited for a Messiah made in their image and when he did not fit their mold they were blind to his presence.
Jesus disappointed them. He came into the world as an unknown, born in a stable rather than a noble house. Instead of a family of standing he came questionably into the world from the womb of a backwater girl swearing she had never been with a man. He studied at the feet of some nameless Rabbi and never once asked the Sanhedrin for it’s blessing. He was apolitical and never attempted to raise an army. He didn’t gather Jewish nobility around him but coarse fisherman and former tax collectors. He even let women follow him around including one former prostitute. He didn’t seek wealth or honor the wealthy. Instead, he warned of the toxic dangers of wealth. When they demanded signs to prove who he was, he shrugged them off. In the mind of the Sanhedrin, the High Priest, and the Pharisees, Jesus was no Messiah. He was a scandal.
It is easy to criticize them on this side of the cross and, perhaps, we should. After all, not all were blind, not all missed him. Many did believe and became born- again sons and daughters of God. And yet how often do we miss God because we already have him all figured out? How often do we miss his answers to our prayers because we are looking for him to respond as we would respond if we had his power? How often do we ascribe new moves and manifestations of the Spirit to the devil because we have never seen God work that way before?
If we learn anything from John it should be that God can move among his own while his own totally miss what he is doing. I’m certainly not saying that everything that manifests in the church or that claims to be from God is from God. We must test the spirits. But I am saying that we should be open to God doing new things, even greater things than we have ever seen him do and not to dismiss these things quickly because they don’t fit out preconceptions. I’m saying this because in these last days I believe God will do some amazing things not recorded on the pages of the gospels. They won’t be out of character for God, they will just be new. Prayer, discernment, and the evaluation of the fruit of a thing will be needed. It takes a while to see the fruit. Sometimes it takes a while to hear from God. We should not be gullible but neither should we be hasty.
In our own lives we should be open to God’s creativity and fresh ways of showing himself to us. Even God must get tired of routine. Look at the miracles of Messiah – no formulas there. A little mud here, some spit there, and a finger in the ear. Maybe God likes variety as much as we do. Whenever he comes or however he moves, we don’t want to miss him. We want to receive everything he has for his people. Be open today and see if you experience the Father in fresh and surprising ways. Then be open again tomorrow.
