THE LIGHT OF LIFE
John 8:12 ¶ Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
Our Lord speaks of himself as being two different kinds of light in this verse. But what a vast treasure is seen as we follow the blessed Holy Spirit into these revelations. Psalm 119:130 The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.
He first speaks of himself as “the light of the world.” But then afterward relates to, not the vastness of the universe, but to one single individual of faith who follows after him. In this he refers to himself as “The Light of Life.” Let us see what we can know about our glorious Savior in these revelations.
As “the light of the world,” we know him to be that light who was introduced to the act of the physical creation in Genesis 1:3. And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. 4 And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness. We know that this could not be the creation of the sun, moon and stars for they were not created until the fourth day. See Genesis 1:14-19. Hebrews 11:3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, and we know that the Lord Christ is that Word who was in the beginning with God and who was God.
We take careful notice that he was not said to be created, just called forth, for he eternally existed! He is the great “I AM!” For his eternality consists in what he is being, and not just in what he was doing! Exodus 3:14 And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you. John 8:58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.
And he is the only Person of the Trinity who became flesh and dwelt among us. John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men. 14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
Job inquired as to how wisdom came to be within man’s anatomy. Job 38:36 Who hath put wisdom in the inward parts? or who hath given understanding to the heart? And in that John 1:4 verse, (just listed) we see that the Life of the Word is the light of men. And we read in John 1:9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. That is, he is the source of every human’s intelligence. 1 John 5:20 specifically refers to born-again believers, but it reveals that along with the receiving of the Son of God, comes “an understanding.” And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.
1 Corinthians 1:30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: 31 That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. 2 Corinthians 1:12 For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward.
We should be careful not to miss the instruction given us in Genesis 1:4 immediately after God said, “Let there be light.” For it informs us that it was God alone who could see the light. And it was God alone who declared that light to be good, and therefore divided the light from the darkness. We learn of this exclusive fellowship with God the Father and God the Son in a passage of chapter eight of the Book of Proverbs. Proverbs 8:22 The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old. 23 I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was. 30 Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him;
And also the Son speaks of this in his prayer as recorded in John chapter seventeen. John 17:24 Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.
And then our Lord also speaks of himself as “the Light of Life” in the second portion of our John 8:12 text. Yet here he does not speak of the vastness of his relation to the world, but to his graciousness to that of a single individual. And he speaks of that individual as following Himself also as one single person to whom he would then manifest Himself as the “light of life.” Therefore He who was introduced as previously existing, and not created, into the beginning of the creation of the universe, is the same Person who can be followed in obedient faith by any individual to receive Him as eternal life!
The Apostle Paul refers to this in his writing to the church of Corinth. 2 Corinthians 4:6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. And being enabled to see (that is, become spiritually aware of), what God alone previously saw of the glory of the Eternal Son, changes one forever! 2 Corinthians 3:18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. John 6:40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.
And as it is in seeing the Son by faith changes one from the darkness of sin into the light of life in regenerating grace, so it will be in physically seeing the Son in his eternal glory which shall change this same one into a glorified state! 1 John 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
“Turn your eyes upon Jesus;
Look full into His wonderful face;
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim;
In the light of his glory and grace.”
Philippians 3:20 For our conversation (manner of life) is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: 21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.
It is also interesting to notice that before every human received regenerating grace he was said to be darkness. – Not that he was IN darkness, but that he WAS darkness! Ephesians 5:8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:
But once they are brought into redeeming grace they are then said to be “children of light.” 1 Thessalonians 5:5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. But those who are never said to be following the Lord by faith are then to face the awful sentence of being consigned to the eternal “outer darkness.” Matthew 22:13 Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Let us now consider that the glory of Christ is the very light of the true, spiritual, redeemed church. For that is the purpose of all this. We are to be brought to the spiritual understanding that His life truly is the life-giving light of redeemed men! John 1:4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
Revelation 21:23 And the city (that is, the true church) had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. 24 And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it. 25 And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there. 26 And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it. 27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.
Revelation 22:5 And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.
Those who now join him in redeeming faith follow him into the eternal Light of Life. For they will one eternal day progress into that eternal light as they join him into the beginning of “God as all in all.” Ephesians 1:7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; 10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:
1 Corinthians 15:28 And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all. And “God all in all” includes the Father, the Son, the Holy Ghost, and the church! For all which ‘telescoped’ out of God (see Ephesians 1:3-4), and came to the purifying cross, (see Philippians 2:8-11), shall retract back into the fulness of God all in all. (Refer to that Ephesians 1:10 verse, just listed.)
Pastor Gene Breed
August 31, 2023
