My favorite passage in
the book of John is 1:1-18, but today I’ll only focus on: “4 In Him was life [and the
power to bestow life], and the life was the Light of men. 5 The Light shines on in the [c]darkness, and the darkness
did not understand it or overpower it or appropriate
it or absorb it [and is unreceptive to it]. (1:4-5 AMP); “9 There it was—the true Light [the genuine, perfect,
steadfast Light] which, coming into the world, enlightens everyone. 10 He
(Christ) was in the world, and though the world was made through Him, the world
did not recognize Him.” (1:9-10 AMP); and in 3:19, “This is the verdict: Light
has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because
their deeds were evil.” (emphasis mine)
As we
continue reading John we find that Jesus also affirmed this:
"I am the light of the world.
Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light
of life." John 8:12
He had been
teaching at the temple and many people would dispute concerning Him. His
discourses and His miracles had convinced many that he was the Messiah. In
chapter 11:38-44 they even witnessed as Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead; but
they had not the courage to accept it, because they were afraid of the chief
priests and the Pharisees, whom considered Jesus their enemy, and were
continually testing Him.
Later on after
Jesus foretells His death (12:23-28) and declares to his disciples: “ “The one who
believes and trusts in Me does not believe [only] in Me but [also believes] in Him who
sent Me.45 And whoever sees Me sees the One who sent Me. 46 I have come as Light into the world,
so that everyone who believes and trusts in Me [as Savior—all those
who anchor their hope in Me and rely on the truth of My message] will not
continue to live in darkness” (emphasis mine)
Why did
Jesus state that He is the light and whoever would follow Him would
never walk in darkness?
Jesus is
the source of divine light, and because light can only be perceived by
the eye, this is the reason the Jewish people lived in darkness: their
eyes were blinded by their sins and disbelief. This is how many of us were
living in rebellion and our worldly manners; in confusion and fear. Some of us
with a religion, but with the absence of God in our lives. (Eph. 2: 1-10)
The
Messiah had been anticipated as "Light," as the Light of
Gentiles as well as Jews (Isaiah 9:2; 42:6; 49:6; Malachi 4:2; Luke 2:32, where Simeon had caught the spirit of the ancient
prophets (Bible Hub)
I would
like to share the story of a young man who is very dear to our family. When he
was a child, he was accidentally injured on one of his eyes while playing with
a cat. No one at home knew about this, until his vision deteriorated. He was
now infected on both eyes and nearly became blind. Can you imagine?
He could
only perceive blurry images. His heart became filled with sadness, fear, and
anxiety for the outcome of these events. For many years he had to undergo
medical treatments and eye surgeries, while his mother had been earnestly
praying for her son's salvation and for a miracle.
By the
end of his adolescence he was able to partially recuperate his vision (with
the help of intraocular lenses), but there was so much darkness inside of him.
Until one day he gave his life to Christ! This young man decided to “follow Jesus and he would never
walk in darkness again, but he obtained the light of life." (8:12, 12:46) Now he had the Light
of Jesus in him: the source of Power that has given a new meaning and
purpose to his life!
This
young man is now in his mid-thirties. He continually has to have his eyes
checked and uses special drops to clear his vision, but he is actively serving
our Lord and guiding others to walk in the Light of Jesus and continues to be
an amazing testimony of God’s saving grace in his life!
What
about us, how is our spiritual vision? Have we let the worries of this world
distort Jesus’s Light in us? Have we let bitterness deteriorate our spiritual
vision? How do you maintain a clear spiritual vision?
“Beholding in Jesus the glory of the
Father, we learn to obey, love, and trust in him. By daily looking to Him, who
came a Light into the world, we are more and more freed from the darkness of
ignorance, error, sin, and misery; we learn that the command of God our Savior
is everlasting life. But the same word will seal the condemnation of all who
despise it, or neglect it.” M. Henry
Yes, we
must remember who we are in Christ and our responsibility to shine for him:
·
"You
are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither
do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its
stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let
your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify
your Father in heaven. (Mathew 5:14-15)
·
“But you
are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special
possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of
darkness into his wonderful light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you
are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have
received mercy.” (1Peter 2:9-10)
Blessings!
Mari