Devo Week 45

Light of the World - Shadows of Christ (Part 1)

God has always been near to us. (Acts 17:22-30) This was the revelation spoken by the Apostle Paul that spread among the Greeks. Carrying this foundational truth in our hearts as we go and serve others is a comforting reminder that we are not taking God to the people, but rather joining Him in the work He has already started and is actively doing among them.

Key Concept: Jesus as the High Priest

My kids always loved shadow slideshows at bedtime. With just your hand and a flashlight, they would be transported to a whole other world. This happened to us cross-culturally as God began to reveal His hand among the Akha, Akeu, Thai, Mpi, Ugong and other nearby unreached people groups. The shadow referred to in Colossians 2:16-17 took on a new meaning for us. We began to see throughout their calendric and new moon celebrations shadows that pointed to the light of Jesus as our high priest.

While Jesus first came to fulfill the Jewish culture and sacrificial system, God has not left Himself without a witness among all nations. (Acts 14:17) Many of the smaller, ancient people groups still follow a sacrificial system at some level. Keeping this in mind makes following Jesus among the nations like a treasure hunt. You simply look to reveal Jesus out of the shadows!

For example, the whole Akha and Akeu calendar is led by the village high priest, not a shaman. Their dzoe ma (meaning "ruling priest") is the central figure in these calendric celebrations. They believe the Creator God gave them this calendar, and their faithful following of it throughout the generations has become known as the Akha Way of life.

For the Akha Village Swing festival, the village high priest oversees the building of the Swing and all of the rituals surrounding it. He is the first to swing as a representative for the village, pronouncing blessing on their crops for harvest. The villagers then follow suit. So, you can imagine how the revelation of Jesus as their high priest brought a significant foundation and grounding to their faith.

This is the Good News: Jesus offered a better covenant for both Jews and Gentiles, becoming a high priest 'in the order of Melchizedek'(Heb. 7:15-28) and the eternal high priest for all nations. Truly, Jesus is the 'light of the world' for all nations. We'll discuss another aspect of this shadow in Devotional 46, Part 2.

Key Word Definition: shadow (noun)

-- a dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface

Excerpt from Devotional 45 with highlighted word:

"Consider the words of the apostle Paul that even 'New Moon celebrations' are 'a shadow of things to come.' Oftentimes these are like shadows – indicators of Christ’s light nearby."

Scripture: Colossians 2:16-17

“Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.”