With thousands of others, I stood among the masses to witness the arrival of the Olympic torch to Squamish. What became readily apparent to me at the celebration at Brennan Park was our desire as human beings to be a part of something big – much bigger than ourselves. If you were there, you remember all the hype about making Canada a better place and the celebration as the world comes to us for this very special occasion.

We spend much of our lives focused on ourselves – where we will go to school, what profession or recreation we will pursue, eating right and exercising. Our days are permeated with concern for self. And it is in the rare moments that we gaze at majestic mountains, or contemplate creative artwork, or celebrate an event that involves people from around the world that we are able to forget about ourselves and wonder about great and significant things.

This month we celebrate the diversity of God’s created beings. We will compete and celebrate with people of different color and different culture – just as God designed. History will culminate with a great gathering of much the same. The Bible concludes with the Book of Revelation where the Apostle John records that, “a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne…” This, too, will be the ultimate occasion where we lose sight of ourselves and focus on greater things. In this case, those who have trusted in Jesus Christ will behold his presence along with numerous others from all ages and all nations. I can’t help but ponder this glorious sight as we host so many people to our small part of the world.

Pastor Jonathan
Squamish Baptist Church

These words may mean nothing to you and perhaps they are confusing. This statement comes from the Gospel of John in the New Testament in the Bible (John 1:14). And in these brief few words, I would like to attempt to explain what this means and why you should care.

If you were to investigate the life and ministry of Jesus, you would find that there are many different responses to his claims and his actions. Ironically, the majority of those who believed in him were those you might least expect – the physically ill and deformed, prostitutes, and “tax-collectors and sinners.” And those who largely rejected him were considered “spiritual” or “religious.” These rejected Jesus because they misunderstood him. They expected a political entity and did not realize that the One who would be born as a baby was coming humbly to free people from their sin.

Those who have lived in Squamish for any time have witnessed the many people who come to Brackendale in the winter to view the eagles. Almost without fail, I notice the many observers with their high powered binoculars and cameras viewing the eagles at a distance across the river. And they signal to friends and families the birds that they have acquired in their lenses. I often chuckle because they often miss the birds that are directly behind them in the trees.

I believe the same is true for those looking in the wrong places to find meaning and “spirituality.” Christianity is not an obscure teaching about a distant God. When John wrote that the “Word became flesh and dwelt among us,” he is referring to Jesus, the Son of God who became a human being. And though he is the Creator of all things, he is not distant. He chose to come to us in our need.

A few verses prior to our opening statement, John indicated that “He [Jesus] was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” I implore you to investigate Jesus be numbered among those who receive him and become a child of God! - and not be one of those “who did not know him.”

Love,
Pastor Jonathan
Squamish Baptist Church