 |
||
John 8:12: Then Jesus spoke to them again: "I am the light of the world. Anyone who follows Me will never walk in the darkness but will have the light of life." 9:5: “As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world." Just minding His own business, walking into the temple to worship and on the streets of Jerusalem on two different days, Jesus encountered two situations that were prompted by a question concerning the aftereffects of sin. The one statement, "I am the light of the world” (8:12, 9:5) links both events though  each was initiated by other persons. The first
instance was intended, by the religious leaders, as a trap and the
second was reflective of the misunderstanding bred into the disciples.
Both questions were legal in nature and revolved around judgment on sins
committed. In the first case Jesus was asked to adjudicate an observed
breaking of law. The second asked, who had committed the sin for which,
it was assumed, the son's blindness was both evidence and punishment.
Both issues were rhetorical, as those putting them forward already
believed the answers known. Yet in both instances Jesus surprised the
questioners with an out-of-the-box resolution. He did not address
directly either of the accused innocence, but did instruct both to
redirect their life (“sin no more” and “believe”). John makes of these
two incidents bookends surrounding arguments concerning Jesus' God
nature and the participants' reactions to them.In each instance 'light', moral and physical assaults the participants and instinctively all react to its brightness. In the first case only the accused woman, call her Rahab, could stand the light. Facing truth, Rahab alone remained with Jesus; she knew the truth about herself. Her accusers ran from acknowledging the truth, scurrying away like a nest of insects when the door is opened. (vs 8:10-11) The blind man, call him Gehazi, received his sight, both physical (vs 9:7) and spiritual (vs 9:32-33) and, once apprised of Jesus' identity, (vs 9:36-38) gladly worshiped. Surprisingly Rahab and Gehazi bear striking similarities. They both: brought shame to their families by birth and lifestyle, were ostracized socially and ceremonially, and found themselves betrayed by partners, family, friends and religious leaders. Unjustly both were browbeaten, exposed to community scrutiny and vulnerable to a merciless, uncaring 'justice' that had no thought for the welfare of either of them. Dragged before a tribunal they were denigrated, objectified and de-humanized. Confused as to why they stood alone before men they did not know and who were accusing them of crimes against God, both Rahab and Gehazi were now Temple outcasts. They realized that what future they had is linked to Jesus and its path illuminated by Him. Light, as a concept, appears in many contexts. The most basic concept is that darkness is the absence of light, much as death is the absence of life. We see this in the process of creation. I recall standing several hundred feet below ground in Carlsbad Caverns, when suddenly all lights were turned off. I held my hand an inch from my face and could not see it. “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness covered the surface of the watery depths, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters.” (Genesis 1:1-2 HCSB) Inscribing the same three words, “In the beginning” (John 1:1) to initialize the New Testament, John likens Jesus' birth to the Creation. Only here darkness is an analogy for sin, “And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.” (John 3:19-20 NKJV) With my hand in front of my face the guides turned the lights back on. “Let there be light” (Genesis 1:3), in this first act of creation Elohim touched time's pendulum and started the celestial timepiece swinging. Light and dark, day and night, the most basic of time-pieces came into being, “So the evening and the morning were the first day.” (Genesis 1:4) Jesus' birth establishes a moral circadian rhythm, "I am the light of the world”, My very existence reveals moral darkness and provides energy for the engines of growth. While I am with you, I am daylight. (vs 9:5) During daylight one works and tasks are accomplished, so take advantage of the day, night comes all too quickly. (vs 9:4) During Creation, it is recorded that Elohim 'spoke' and whatever He intoned sprang into being. The spoken word infers a commitment to the deed's accomplishment, a volitional joining with the results of the creative act. The Psalmist amplifies the concept linking the 'word' and light, “How sweet are Your words to my taste, Sweeter than honey to my mouth! Through Your precepts I get understanding; Therefore I hate every false way. Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.” (Psalms 119:103-105 NKJV) Once again, John translates this thought into the New Testament paradigm: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. All things came to be through him, and without him nothing made had being. In him was life, and the life was the light of mankind.” (John 1:1-4 CJB) John tells us that Jesus is the Word of God and that Creation has come into being through Him and more, He maintains and gives substance to all that is. In Jesus, Abba has joined Himself to the created. Light, both moral and physical, is the expression of uncreated Life which Jesus alone possesses. He is the man-wrapped God. Where do we go from here? Rahab is no longer accused and Gehazi is no longer blind. (He's also no longer employed.) Until confronted by Jesus, both Rahab and Gehazi were alone, she behind a veil of shame, he behind sightless eyes. Where their prospects seemed dismal, both Rahab and Gehazi now have the gift of a do-over. When confronted with the shock of Jesus' light, both embraced it and their darkness, moral and physical, was driven out, “And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend [suppress, extinguish, overcome] it.” (John 1:5 NKJV). Rahab stood, facing Jesus when all others scurried away. Gehazi sought the One, he’d never seen and couldn’t identify, and when Jesus found him, he worshiped. The Psalmist prays, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my thoughts, and see if any wicked way is in me; and lead me in the way everlasting.” (Psalms 139:23-24 MKJV) “Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.” (Psalms 51:7 MKJV) When the Spirit shines His light of conviction into the corners of your life how do you react? Do you scurry into hiding or do you stand, embrace Truth's Light and celebrate? “Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by Your generous Spirit.” (Psalms 51:10-12 NKJV) Asides: Sorry, they didn't run with the devotion but, they were too good not to give to you. 1) In a world of total darkness – all are blind. 2) Christian reader, do you know how to tell the difference between 'condemnation' and 'conviction'? The internal response of a believer is key. When confronted by 'condemnation', regardless the source, we tend to hide to want to avoid God's presence. 'Conviction' draws us into Abba's arms, where we know He will make it all better. 3) A comparison may also be built between light/dark and God/Satan. “This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.” (1John 1:5 NKJV) “There is nothing surprising in that, for the Adversary himself masquerades as an angel of light;” (2Corinthians 11:14 CJB) They are absolute opposites, antithetical is every respect. 4) Light and dark are also linked with wisdom and foolishness. Psalms records that, “a fool has said in his heart, 'There is no God” (Psalms 14:1) In Romans, Paul carries this thought a step farther explaining how it is that mankind became foolish, “Therefore, they have no excuse; because, although they know who God is, they do not glorify him as God or thank him. On the contrary, they have become futile in their thinking; and their undiscerning hearts have become darkened. Claiming to be wise, they have become fools!” (Romans 1:20-22 CJB) Counterbalancing this process Paul shows us how we might become wise, “I have not stopped giving thanks to God for you. I remember you in my prayers and ask the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, to give you the Spirit, who will make you wise and reveal God to you, so that you will know him. I ask that your minds may be opened to see his light, so that you will know what is the hope to which he has called you, how rich are the wonderful blessings he promises his people, and how very great is his power at work in us who believe.” (Ephesians 1:16-19 GNB) 5) Once Jesus is gone from where is the light to come? Spirit? Believers? Acts 9:3 As Saul was coming near the city of Damascus, suddenly a light from the sky flashed around him. Matthew 5:14-16 GNB "You are like light for the whole world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. No one lights a lamp and puts it under a bowl; instead it is put on the lampstand, where it gives light for everyone in the house. In the same way your light must shine before people, so that they will see the good things you do and praise your Father in heaven. 1Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; Acts 13:47 For this is the commandment that the Lord has given us: 'I have made you a light for the Gentiles, so that all the world may be saved.' 6) How is it that some walk in the light while others do not perceive it at all? 2Corinthians 4:3-4 ISV So if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are dying. In their case, the god of this world has blinded the minds of those who do not believe to keep them from seeing the light of the glorious gospel of the Messiah, who is the image of God. John 12:40 HCSB He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, so that they would not see with their eyes or understand with their hearts, and be converted, and I would heal them.
|
