The Light of the World (painting)
The Light of the World is an allegorical painting by painter Holman Hunt, which hangs in St. Paul’s Cathedral in London. The painting represents the figure of Jesus preparing to knock on an overgrown and long-unopened door, illustrating Revelation 3:20;
“Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person and they with me.”
This week at Alpha, we explored the question What Does It Mean to Have Faith? Our Table discussed faith in terms of believing without seeing, why we may act in a faithful respectful way prior to admitting to faith, experiencing God’s love so intimately as to reinforce our faith.
Nicky Gumbel spoke to the evidence of being a Christian. He stated that if we asked him how he knows he’s a Christian, he can point to an event in history; the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
On the cross, Jesus took all our wrong-doing on Himself. In the Book of Isaiah, written hundred of years before hand, the prophet foresaw what “the suffering servant” would do for us and said: “We all, like sheep, have got astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all” Isaiah 53:6
We hear in Romans 10:17 “Faith comes from hearing and hearing through the Word of God”. Hearing from the Word of God is hearing from the Bible. We don’t believe because of a feeling or idea but rather on the evidence of Jesus’ life, death and Resurrection.
As we examine our faith journeys, we can reflect on Jesus’ words… He says “If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in.” Not I might come in, I will come in. Jesus is knocking on the door of our hearts and minds, waiting for a response from us. We have to open the door to allow Jesus to come into our life.
We heard last night the idea of Jesus as a friend, of God loving us more than a parent loves their child, more than a husband loves his wife. LISTEN for the KNOCK … for Jesus knocking on the door to your mind and your heart and OPEN the door to Christ! Experience His LOVE and emulate Jesus’s love for us toward others throughout your life!
