Shadow of Light

John 1:1-18
Christ's entrance into the world at this time brought with it some incredible things that meant a significant and sometimes controversial change to the order of things.  The light and truth that he brought meant freedom for the people of that day who were religiously laboring under a law-driven religious system that was bondage and darkness (Galations 3:13, 23-25).  Of course it was also freedom for those who were under no system and in darkness of soul (lost).  Ever since Moses had been given the law, the people were kept captive under it, as a form of guard (Galations 3:24) until Christ could come.  The problem was that instead of treating it as such, they had embraced it as life, as the means to God and holiness, which was never its intention (Hebrews 10:4).  A whole religious system was formed around this, leading people astray, laying heavy burdens on them that they could not possibly fulfill (Matthew 23:4).  The leaders of this religion (Pharisees) lorded it over them and constantly subjected them to bondage and slavery to this law-driven system.  Although the law is in itself good (Romans 7:12), it was never meant to bring life, as they were intending it (John 5:39).  The problem is that they only had a copy of life, a shadow of things to come (Hebrews 8:5, 10:1), a form of a hight priest, fallible and fallen (Hebrews 8:6).  This entire system was based on man's ability to do and to follow and to fulfill, all the while coming up woefully short of atonement (Hebrews 7:27-28, 10:4).  And since they looked to the law for life, they were now under a curse, obligated to fulfill the entire law (Galations 3:10).  The copy of heavenly things, the shadow given to them was abused to the point of being embraced as life, so that when true life did come, it was overlooked and unrecognized (1:10-11).  But for those who did hear his voice and did recognize the light, it was a burden lifting, soul quenching truth that truly set them free to serve the living God instead of statutes (Hebrews 9:14).  Some of the impact of this eludes us today.  We do not see ourselves as in bondage as they did during their day, for we already "have" Christ.  So the "freedom" that Christ offers us, the light shining in the darkness, is not as bright and freeing.  But in this we are deceived.  The bondage we naively think is absent is still there, just in different forms.  Do we not also have lists of rules that we place on people when they "come to Christ"?  Do we not immediately begin to tell them what their life should look like and how they should be involved and what steps should be taken next to ensure spiritual growth?  We place burdens on them just the same, only ours are more modern.  We are content to have them stand in beams of light instead of driving them to the source of light.  We are nothing more than modern-day Moses's.  What God has started in setting them free, we snuff out in chaining them to modern expectations and appearances that should characterize a "Christian".  Why else do we so often confess how tired and weary we are in living this life?  Why do we so often burn out quickly and just need to get away?  This is not the life that Jesus provides (Matthew 11:30; Isaiah 40:30-31; I John 5:3).  So what is it?  Nothing more than updated, modernized bondage, law-keeping, slavery to rules and regulations and expectations.  We are expected to conform to these present-day standards to appear like all other Christians, and it in no way requires Jesus to do it, just simple will-power and dedication.  In fact, almost anyone can do it, with or without Jesus.  Do we not see this as a problem?  We claim Christ, but a veil still remains (II Corinthians 3:14).  We must turn to Christ, to the true light of men, to the true life-giver and bestower of grace and easy yokes and light burdens.  We have trouble understanding and appreciating the freedom he brings because we have not yet experienced it.  If we would but turn to him he would lift our burdens and remove the veil and truly set us free, and then life would truly be experienced, the life that Jesus said he brings (John 10:10), for grace is another gift he offers (1:17).