The light shines in the darkness
In a local Sydney café, Mark meets regularly with Michael, a Jewish man. There, they eat Israeli food together and talk about life and God.
Michael listens attentively as Mark shares the Good News with him. He has a good understanding of the gospel and can clearly articulate it but has not arrived at the point where he has taken the message to heart. It is only an intellectual understanding. He is also influenced by unbiblical New Age philosophies, which can be an obstacle.
Recently, they were talking about difficulties and trials going on in Michael’s life when Mark decided to turn the conversation to a more uplifting topic. They turned to the passage of Scripture he had prepared to read with Michael. It was John chapter 1, focusing on verses 4 and 5, which say:
‘In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.’
Michael closed his eyes, as he often does to enhance his focus when Mark reads the Scriptures. At that moment, a light suddenly beamed straight through the café window and caught Michael’s face. The timing of the flashes of light coincided with Mark reading: 'The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.'
As they arrived at verse 14 - which explains that the light being referred to is Jesus - Michael expressed sincere appreciation for the passage. Mark is looking forward to telling Michael more about Jesus, the Light of the World, when they next meet.
For your prayers...
Please pray that Michael will reject unbiblical spiritual philosophies and will encounter Jesus - the true Light of the World - as Mark tells him more.
Please pray for Mark and his wife Rahel as they reach out to a Jewish community still mourning after the antisemitic terrorist attack in Bondi at the end of last year.