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Thursday, October 18, 2018

Jesus our Light (John 11:1-12:50)



My favorite passage in the book of John is 1:1-18, but today I’ll only focus on: “In Him was life [and the power to bestow life], and the life was the Light of men. 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); “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; 42:649:6; Malachi 4:2Luke 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