From The Pastor's Pen... 12/05/11 - Jesus! The Light Of The World!

“ In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without Him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men” (John 1:1-4 AKJ).

The first four verses of John’s gospel account perfectly illustrate the foundation truth of the light of God’s glorious earthly incarnation in the person of the Son, Christ Jesus, the Living Word. In fact, that creative light, or shekinah glory, was manifested by His person among men upon the earth at the very instant of His birth at Bethlehem. It was, in effect, a divine light both equal to, and an extension of, the light, which His Father spoke into being at the dawn of creation. The Hebrew word for light, “or”, found in Genesis 1:3, appears approximately 120 times in the Old Testament and primarily denotes a diametric opposition to darkness. As such, it carries with it a corresponding significance to the Greek “phos” found in John 1: 7-9.  While the understanding of that concept is vital to the eternal future of all mankind; the scriptures, in their entirety contribute an even more complete picture of His identity when taken as a whole.

You see, the manifestation of that light in Jesus’ earthly life and ministry brought a new dimension of clarity onto the world stage, which pierced the prevailing darkness of both the natural and spiritual realms. Its availability to all during the New Testament Church Age serves to remove any excuses which mankind may devise to justify personal sin and evil.  In the first chapter of his gospel, John clearly connects the illuminating power of that light which Jesus possesses to the ability of man to believe by faith (John 1:7). 

Further, John writes in verse 4 that, the divine life that resides in Messiah Jesus, is the Light of men. Truly, all grace and truth is found in Him, whom the Father gave as a free gift to all, who would, by the drawing power of the Holy Ghost, receive Him, and believe on His name (John 1:12). That is the message of the season…the most valuable gift that anyone could give, has already been given by God the Father to mankind in the person of Jesus Christ the Anointed. Yet, in the hustle and bustle of the modern, commercialized shopping season, even the most committed believers are often in danger of losing sight of its true meaning. May each of us who are called by His name strive to reverse that earthly trend and influence this holiday season and pass the Light along to all!