‘John was a lamp that burned and gave light, and you chose for a time to enjoy his light.’ John 5:35
John was a man who was sent from God with a specific mission – to prepare the way for the Messiah. He was in the mould of the Old Testament prophets and his ministry attracted a great following, even though it was fiery and focussed on repentance, but John never lost sight of the fact that he was not the Christ. He was happy to point away from himself to Jesus: ‘Behold the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29 and 36)!’ Success did not go to his head, and when the time came for some of his disciples to leave him and attach themselves to his cousin he accepted it with good grace: ‘He must become greater; I must become less (John 3:30).’
Every follower of Jesus is called to be a witness, and like John to shine brightly in the world. There is, however, a cost to shining. The kind of light that Jesus refers to here is either a candle, or more likely, an oil lamp. Either way, the light only shines because something burns and is consumed in the process. It reminds us that if we are to have a good testimony we will have to die to self, particularly to selfish ambition or the desire to be noticed, in order to point away from ourselves to Jesus. Our aim is not to draw attention to ourselves, but to help people to see Jesus.
As a young preacher I gave one of my first talks in a local Methodist chapel. In the pulpit, positioned to catch the eye of the preacher, was a small brass plaque with these words: SIR, WE WOULD SEE JESUS. In forty years of preaching I have never forgotten that golden rule.
Christian ministry, in whatever way it is expressed, is about giving glory to God. Christian witness, however it is demonstrated, puts the attention on Jesus and lets people know how wonderful he is. Wherever he has placed us, our calling is to be like John, a lamp that shines brightly.
Reflection : don’t light a lamp and hide it away; put it on a stand so it gives light all around (Matthew 5:15).
Saturday 7 January 2012
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