Nougat 27

How does it feel to be somewhere that you ought to be, and find that you are ignored and unrecognized? It wasn’t fun for me, and I wanted to leave the place, and shake the very dust off my feet. I didn’t leave, but that sense of being displaced colored the experience. Today’s Holy Nougat tells us we are not alone.

“He came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him. He came to his own people, and even they rejected him.” ‭‭John‬ ‭1‬:‭10‬-‭11‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Do You Know Him

One very painful aspect of the Christmas story is the reality of our Nougat. In those days some 2,000+ years ago, Jesus wasn’t recognized by those around Him. Not by those who had no room during the census; not by Herod’s officials, since no spy had brought him news, and not by Herod, whose kingdom was threatened by Jesus’ incarnation.

Yet, He was recognized by others. Firstly, Mary recognized Him, and agreed to bear the Christ-child. Despite his initial shock, Joseph recognized Jesus, and respected God’s wishes, lending support to Mary, taking care to provide his name and prevent a stoning. Elizabeth and the baby in her womb recognized and received Him as the Messiah also before Jesus’ birth.

In the first years, others recognized and visited Jesus. The shepherds, folks in the vicinity of the shepherds, Anna and Simeon, the out-of-town astrologers. Not only did they recognize Jesus but they also each honored Him in their own ways.

It is easy to assume that the same holds today as much of the world celebrate Christmas. Celebrating isn’t always recognizing and believing. Many observers are interested in gifts and festivities only, and remain immune to the impact of Jesus, our Messiah.

For recognizing Him includes acceptance and receiving Jesus as the Son of God and as Savior of the world. No quibbles, no doubt. And, having recognized Him, from infancy through to ascension, fully anticipating the moment when Faith becomes sight and we finally meet Jesus in all His Glory.

Hence, the question for us is simply this, ‘Do you know Him?’

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May all we seek be found in Christ