Advent Series, Week 1: Faith

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1v14

For the past few weeks, I have had the privilege of going into two different prisons helping deliver our Sycamore Tree Restorative Justice course. I love doing this. I love the honest conversations I get to have with those I meet in prison as I get a glimpse of their world and as they open up about their lives and often about their struggles and regrets. But I have to be honest, although I make every effort to actively listen and to be empathetic, I know I can never fully understand all they are going through.

At Advent we have the opportunity to remember how Jesus entered our world, but not as someone who doesn’t know us or understand us, but as someone who knows the very core of our being (Psalm 139). Throughout Scottish prisons, men and women meet together every week to explore what faith can mean to them. Sometimes we get to hear stories of how these men and women have chosen to follow Christ and how their fellow inmates and also prison officers and other staff see this and comment on the difference in their lives. 

Advent is a reminder that we have the opportunity to point people to Jesus, the one who entered our world and understands fully all we go through, offering unconditionally to be “Emmanuel - God with us” through all of life's challenges.  As we once again approach Christmas let's give thanks for Jesus, full of grace and truth who continues to reach out and touch the lives of all those who open their hearts to him.

John Nonhebel, Director of Prison Fellowship Scotland