“You’ll be disappointed when you uncover that candle and realize there was never a flame there” or “Only the Son can’t be put out, so let’s get rid of all these psuedo-lights”

As I walked alone after sundown the other night, I watched cars passing by.  For a moment, I thought about the possibility of the drivers not seeing me.  When crossing the street, I thought about how light works. Despite the darkness, the headlights force the drivers to be aware of me in the street.  Human eyes focus on where light shines. In darkness, a light behind an object that is directly in front of you will only allow you to see a silhouette.  This is despite the fact that the object is closer and in the foreground.  I think that God is teaching us some things.

While on Earth, with the Roman Empire’s strong-handed oppression crushing Israel, eyes started to focus on Jesus.  Even with all of the forced pain and suffering, people started to see past the immediate silhouette of Roman oppression and unto the bright light, thus dominating darkness.  “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” (John 1:5).  Even death couldn’t own Jesus.  The world’s effort to put out Jesus failed.

We should remember that light really shines in darkness.  There is a reason why Jesus spent time with the people he did. Pharisees asked the disciples about this behavior in Luke 5 and Jesus said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.”  We must not be like the Pharisees.  All too often we sit on our high horse behind our four walls of christianity, completely disconnected from others.  Have you ever covered a lit candle in a jar?  It’s the preferred method to snuff it out.  You won’t even smell the smoke.