The Light of the World

Jesus is the true light and the living expression of God, and this light brings life and salvation to men and women of every nation.

Life is found in the “Word,” the ‘Logos.’ This life is the “Light of men,” and it is “shining in the darkness.” However, the darkness is incapable of “comprehending the light.” The ‘Logos’ became the living and life-giving word in Jesus of Nazareth. In him alone, the glory, life and nature of God are manifested for all men to see - (John 1:1-14).

The Church of Jesus is called to testify to the light in this dark world. Many competitors compete for our attention, voices that claim to be the light, the source of illumination, even the “shining city on the hill.”

In truth, the “darkness is passing away, and the true light is shining” already in Jesus Christ. The darkness was eclipsed and overcome through the Death and Resurrection of the Son of God.

[Sun Beams - Photo by Ben Vaughn on Unsplash]

Moreover, the light must triumph over the darkness since “God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.” And so, ever since the arrival of the Messiah, the institutions of the world order have been in the process of decay. This will culminate when Jesus next appears. Whatever remains of the existing structures of this age will vanish forever on that day. Light and darkness cannot coexist – (1 John 1:5, 2:8).

• “And this I say, brethren, the season has been shortened, <…> for the forms of this world are passing away” – (1 Corinthians 7:29-31).

• “Then comes the end, when he will deliver up the kingdom to God, even the Father, when he will abolish all rule and all authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy that will be abolished is death” – (1 Corinthians 15:24-26. Note the verbal allusion to Psalm 110:1).

All competing claims have failed to bring light, peace and prosperity to the nations. The conquest and elimination of death remain beyond the abilities of human government and science, rendering their claims of superior power and knowledge hollow. Only Jesus will grant everlasting life to his people. As he promised:

• “I am the light of the world. He who follows me will not walk in the darkness, but he will have the light of life” – (John 8:12).

• “I have come a light into the world, that whoever believes in me may not remain in the darkness” – (John 12:46).

As his followers, we become lights – lamps - reflecting the life and words of Christ in this dark world, and we do so whenever we bear witness to Jesus, proclaim his words, and imitate his example of self-sacrificial service for others:

• “Even so. let your light shine before men; that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” – (Matthew 5:16).

• “But you are an elect race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession, that you may show forth the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light” – (1 Peter 2:9. Compare Exodus 19:4-6).

THE MANIFESTATION OF GOD

The Gospel of John begins by declaring that God created all things through His Word, the ‘Logos’ (λογος). Light and Life are found only in this Word, and it is now embodied in Jesus of Nazareth forevermore.

• “And the Word became flesh and tabernacled among us. And we beheld his glory, glory as of the only born from the Father, full of grace and truth” – (John 1:14).

• “That which was from the beginning, that which we have heard, that which we have seen with our eyes, that which we beheld, and our hands handled, concerning the Word of life. And the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare unto you the life, the everlasting life, which was with the Father, and was manifested to us” – (1 John 1:1-2).

And so, the Nazarene is the living expression of God, the source of light and life. Moreover, the Father can only be found and understood through His Son. Only Jesus has seen the invisible God; therefore, he alone is qualified to reveal the Creator to humanity:

• “No man has seen God at any time. The only born Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he has revealed him” – (John 1:18).

• “I am the way, and the truth, and the life: no one comes to the Father, but through me. If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on, you know him and have seen him” – (John 14:6-7).

• “Seeing it is God who said, Out of darkness light will shine, who illuminated our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” – (2 Corinthians 4:6. Citation of Genesis 1:3).

Jesus is the Word of Life that is manifested to men and women as his Church proclaims the Gospel and his name. Because the life of God has entered the world through His Son, the darkness must recede wherever this light is shining. The day is coming when darkness will cease altogether throughout the Cosmos:

• “And there will be no curse any longer. And the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. And they will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. And there will be night no more, and they need no light of lamp, neither light of sun, for the Lord God will give them light, and they will reign forever and ever” -– (Revelation 22:3-5).

In a very dark world, Jesus is the light that radiates God’s life, truth, salvation, and hope for all men and women to see, and there is no other source of light. God’s “grace and truth” are found only in His Son, Jesus of Nazareth.

[NOTE: Text printed in small capital letters represents quotations and allusions of Old Testament passages]

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SEE ALSO:

• One New Man - (Through his Death and Resurrection, Jesus founded one new covenant community, One New Man, to whom we are united by faith – Ephesians 2:11-22)

• Ekklésia - The Assembly of God - (The use of the English term ‘church’ or ‘ekklésia’ is derived from the “assembly of Yahweh” gathered for worship in the Hebrew Bible)

• His Name is Jesus! - (Jesus means ‘Yahweh saves.’ In this Man of Nazareth, the Salvation promised by the God of Abraham and Israel has arrived for humanity)

• A luz do mundo - (Jesus é a verdadeira luz e a expressão viva de Deus, e essa luz traz vida e salvação aos homens e mulheres de todas as nações)