I love watching Undercover Boss. It's a program where the owner of a business or the a CEO of a corporation dinguses him/herself and interacts with its employees.When I read chapter one of the Book of John today this program came to mind.
The employees of these businesses don't know that they are being observed and are interacting with their ultimate "boss."
When then Undercover Boss program comes to an end, the boss reveals him/herself.
The Apostle John records the unveiling of Jesus. Jesus is not disguising himself. He is not trying to find deficiencies in the world. He knows they already exist. He interacts with those made in his image and they do not recognize him. They continue walking with scales in their eyes unable to see the Creator of the world among them.
"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." (John 1:10-11)
Jesus came just as it was foretold. The enemy of our soul works really hard to make sure we stay blind. Groping around this fallen world, trying to "save" or make a name for ourselves. We are broken and at times disgruntled. Our anger and disillusionment comes from a broken relationship with our Creator. We were designed for fellowship with God.
Born in sin we don't know true Joy & Peace. The Holy Spirit draws us to himself but often we don't recognize his wooing. God loves us! God loves us! He is not trying to play hide and seek. He is not masking himself so that we don't recognize him. On the contrary, he clothed himself in flesh, in human-likeness and came to be with us on earth. He came with a purpose to ransom us back to God.
John writes "Yet to all who did receive 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." (John 1:12-13)
Now that is great news!
The Undercover Boss concludes with their reveal. Those who were disgruntled are encouraged and at times sent for proper training. Most are commended for their efforts and are even rewarded with gifts that promote continued growth and a fine-tuning of their skills and craft. Usually I am in tears by the time the episode is finished.
When our hearts realize our own mess, Jesus doesn't refuse our surrender to him. On the contrary, he calls us sons and daughters. Children born of God.
Just imagine the Lord taking us by the hand and bringing us close to himself. He wipes away tears of brokeness and rebellion. He washes us away filth that has tried to define us. The scales that are off our eyes are tossed away. He begins to teach us and renew our minds. He comes developing gifts that have been in us. There is this sweet tenderness in his words toward us. He loves us! He knows we messed up. He knows our distance from him lured us into all kinds of idolatry. But now he has revealed himself to us! The past is behind and a new road has been set for us. Let the tears flow. He has done a new thing in us. We are new and the old things have passed away!
"The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth." (John 1:14)
The true light that gives light to everyone has come into the world. (v9)
God bless you!~Liz
