All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed.  John 3:20 NLT

Though scripture doesn’t fill in the blanks of Jesus’ childhood, I can safely assume a few things because of who Jesus is.  His light would expose darkness ~ whether child, adolescent, or adult.  Jesus was always the Light of the world. Even as a baby. He did not become more holy as he grew older. He was holy at conception. And light, by its very nature, exposes. I wonder how that manifested in His home.

Scripture does not tell us, but we can safely imagine. His sinlessness was not emotionally neutral to the people around Him. Mary and Joseph loved Him, but they were still fallen people. His brothers were fallen. Jesus would have seen through pretense before anyone noticed. He would have known when someone was defensive, jealous, dishonest, or hiding. His light would have divided child’s play.  It would have challenged the rabbis in the temple.  It would have pierced conversations at family gatherings.  

I affirm my worship of the Light of the world and know that my own sin is exposed, moment by moment, by the Spirit of God.  The presence of the Spirit in me will also cause others to feel exposed.  My reaction to them needs to resemble Jesus’ response to me.  I’m a truth teller and I’m also one to point others to a merciful Christ.

I know this from my own life with Him. There are moments when I love His light because it comforts me, and other moments when I want to pull the curtains. His Spirit convicts me of motives I would rather defend than own. He shows me where my love for Him is corrupted and where pride is hiding under what I thought was respectable.

Since His Spirit lives in me, His light will also affect the people around me. Some may feel comforted by it. Others may feel exposed and uncomfortable. That does not make me their judge. It makes me responsible for how I carry and communicate the truth. I want to be clear but gracious, discerning but not suspicious, and honest without using truth as a weapon. Jesus was the Light of the world, but He was also the most humble servant of all.

I’m such a novice at being a Light-bearer. Teach me.  Amen