Dear John...

Dear John,

You had a BIG job!  Were you nervous?  Did you bite your nails?  Did you get on your camel and do donuts in the marketplace?  I can't imagine the responsibility of being the first person to introduce Jesus to the world. Gulp.  I have to think that you also felt incredibly privileged and honored to have been picked for this part.  I think I would have.  Why me? 

I am so glad that God led you into the wilderness to prepare you and talk to you before you introduced Jesus.  I think God does that with us.  Before we make decisions, life changes, when we need wisdom, or when God needs to get through our thick heads, He isolates us and gets us right where He wants us to be...dependent, vulnerable, alone, clear.  I bet you had a very intimate time with God out there.  I wish I could have been there eavesdropping on your process.  I am so glad our Sonshine staff are spending time with God because a life change is upon us this summer.  Lord, get us right where You want us. 

This whole bit about introducing Jesus to the world has got me thinking as to how I introduce Jesus to my coworkers, students, family, friends, and strangers.  Do I say "Look!  The Lamb of God!  every day to them?  How will our Sonshine drivers and Barneys introduce Christ to their campers?  You did a great job, John.  You knew that it wasn't about you.  You always pointed to Him. "Behold!"

I am so glad that you said that Jesus takes away the sin of the world.  The whole world! Yes, Jesus switched the whole of the human race back into a right relationship with God.  This guy, Oswold Chambers once wrote, "The Cross did not happen to Jesus:  He came on purpose for it.  He is the lamb slain from the foundation of the world....The Incarnation was for the purpose of Redemption.  God became incarnate for the purpose of putting away sin; not for the purpose of self-realization." 
He did this for everyone.

One last thought.  Because the lamb takes away sin, Darrell Johnson writes, "It is possible to change."  Oh, that is good news!!  How often we hear that people cannot change, people don't change, people are incapable of change.  Yes, we have deeply rooted habits that have strongholds on us, but we do not have to yield to sin anymore. The sins do not need to stay.  "This is hope," says Darrell.  Wow!  Tell this to an addict who has given up because addiction has devoured his/her life.  Tell this to the alcoholic whose family has left because of the stronghold. Tell this to the camper who is so "bad" in their own mind they feel unworthy of being cared for our loved.  Tell this to ourselves who have a hard time forgiving ourselves and face our own sin daily and want to give up.  It is no longer our battle.  We can yield to His victory. 

John, thanks for pointing not only the religious leaders of that time to Jesus, but us, the staff of Sonshine, to Him.  You set a really good example for us. 

Partners in Christ,
Nina