Light
Jesus answered them, "I am the Light of the world. If you follow Me, you won't be stumbling through the darkness, because you will have the Light that leads to life...I have come as a light to shine in this dark world, so that all who put their trust in Me will no longer remain in the darkness" (John 8:12; 12:46) and "Believe in the light while there is still time; then you will become children of the light" (John 12:36).
I wonder if Jesus was comparing Himself to the rising sun. There is no way of knowing, at least this side of heaven. But, if He was, this would of meant He was once again claiming to be God, for to the Jew, the sun was a symbol of Jehovah God (Psalm 84:11; Malachi 4:2). As we all know, there is for our universe, only one sun; and it is the center and the source of life. Likewise, there is but one God who is the center of all and the source of all life (John 1:4). "God is light" (1 John 1:5); and wherever the light shines, it reveals man's wickedness (Ephesians 5:8-14).
To "follow" the Lord Jesus means to believe on Him, to trust Him; and the results are life and light for the believer. The unsaved are walking in darkness because they love darkness. One of the major messages in John's Gospel is that the spiritual light is now shining, but people cannot comprehend it...and, they try to put it out (John 1:4-5).
The Jewish leaders were upset at Jesus. They accused Him of bearing witness to Himself by claiming to the Light of the world. It is my understanding the Jewish courts would not permit a person to bear witness to himself. But, think about it everyone. Light has to bear witness to itself! The only people who cannot see the light are blind people!
The Light was shining directly on the people while Jesus was here on earth. It is still shining since He has not returned. There is still time to take advantage of the opportunity to be saved. By a simple step of faith, people can pass out of spiritual darkness and into the light of salvation.
When a person starts to resist the Light, something begins to change within them; and they come to a place where they cannot believe. There is a "judicial blindness" that God permits to come over the eyes of people who do not take the truth seriously. (See Matthew 13:14-15; Mark 4:12; Luke 8:10; Acts 28:25-27; Romans 11:8.) It is a serious thing to treat God's truth lightly.
Jesus is the Light of the world; His words are the very words of God; faith in Him brings salvation; to reject Him is to face eternal judgement. In fact, the very Word that He spoke will judge those who have rejected it and Him! It is an awesome thought that the unbeliever will face at the judgement every bit of Scripture he has ever read or heard. The very Word that he rejects becomes his judge! Why? Because the written Word points to the Living Word, Jesus Christ (John 1:4). Jesus did not come to judge; He came to save (John 3:18; 8:15). But if the sinner will not trust the Saviour, the Saviour must become the Judge. The sinner is actually passing judgment on himself, not on the Lord!
"While you have the Light, believe in the Light, so that you may become sons of Light" (John 12:36).
I wonder if Jesus was comparing Himself to the rising sun. There is no way of knowing, at least this side of heaven. But, if He was, this would of meant He was once again claiming to be God, for to the Jew, the sun was a symbol of Jehovah God (Psalm 84:11; Malachi 4:2). As we all know, there is for our universe, only one sun; and it is the center and the source of life. Likewise, there is but one God who is the center of all and the source of all life (John 1:4). "God is light" (1 John 1:5); and wherever the light shines, it reveals man's wickedness (Ephesians 5:8-14).
To "follow" the Lord Jesus means to believe on Him, to trust Him; and the results are life and light for the believer. The unsaved are walking in darkness because they love darkness. One of the major messages in John's Gospel is that the spiritual light is now shining, but people cannot comprehend it...and, they try to put it out (John 1:4-5).
The Jewish leaders were upset at Jesus. They accused Him of bearing witness to Himself by claiming to the Light of the world. It is my understanding the Jewish courts would not permit a person to bear witness to himself. But, think about it everyone. Light has to bear witness to itself! The only people who cannot see the light are blind people!
The Light was shining directly on the people while Jesus was here on earth. It is still shining since He has not returned. There is still time to take advantage of the opportunity to be saved. By a simple step of faith, people can pass out of spiritual darkness and into the light of salvation.
When a person starts to resist the Light, something begins to change within them; and they come to a place where they cannot believe. There is a "judicial blindness" that God permits to come over the eyes of people who do not take the truth seriously. (See Matthew 13:14-15; Mark 4:12; Luke 8:10; Acts 28:25-27; Romans 11:8.) It is a serious thing to treat God's truth lightly.
Jesus is the Light of the world; His words are the very words of God; faith in Him brings salvation; to reject Him is to face eternal judgement. In fact, the very Word that He spoke will judge those who have rejected it and Him! It is an awesome thought that the unbeliever will face at the judgement every bit of Scripture he has ever read or heard. The very Word that he rejects becomes his judge! Why? Because the written Word points to the Living Word, Jesus Christ (John 1:4). Jesus did not come to judge; He came to save (John 3:18; 8:15). But if the sinner will not trust the Saviour, the Saviour must become the Judge. The sinner is actually passing judgment on himself, not on the Lord!
"While you have the Light, believe in the Light, so that you may become sons of Light" (John 12:36).
posted by Pilot Mom at
9:31 AM
4 Comments:
Okay...two quick things before I go into my meeting for the day:
"The only people who cannot see the light are blind people!"
GREAT LINE!!! How poetic! I never thought about it like that before but how true!
Next, and here's something I thought of once and always wondered...if a Christian is saved but never reads the bible, does that mean judgment day will be easier or harder on them? (Easier because they never read the word and you are held accountable for what you know OR harder because they never would have grown as much because they never read the "road map" before they got there. Any ideas on that one?)
By
HeyJules, at 8:21 AM
Amen Claire!
Jules, wouldn't a true believer read His word...at least some? Or at least be in the position of hearing the Word?
By
Andrea, at 9:27 AM
Jules, I must say, girl, you come up with some good ones! Questions, that is.
I think the hunger for God, the desire to know Him through His word, comes from the promptings of His Holy Spirit. I mean, we could go through the mechanics of reading the Bible so we can check it off on our 'to do' list, I suppose. Certainly God can speak to us through that, but the real hunger comes from Him. Does that make sense?
And then there's the command:
Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth. 2 Tim 2:15
And 2 Tim 3:16 - All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.
I think the more we practice the Christian disciplines, be that reading, studying, fasting, praying, etc, the more opportunity we give God to 'land on us.' So naturally, it is good to do those things.
As far as Christians giving an account for how much they read the Bible, I don't know. I don't think Scripture speaks to that exact scenario. (somebody correct me, if I'm wrong)
My stepfather was graciously saved by the Father four weeks before he died. And in that four weeks, he was too sick to even pick up a Bible, much less read one. I'm sure he's not the only one who was saved that way. So who's to say?????
OK, that's about enough for now...
By
Anonymous, at 10:06 AM
Thank you, Gayla, for your response. You are right on. It's been a zoo again today. Everyone arrives tomorrow so I am home (for once) doing laundry and last minute cooking. My sister is over with MOm. This is my first day home w/o having to "go" anywhere since her fall on August 20th. Anyway, you may or may not hear much out of me! ;)
By
Pilot Mom, at 12:28 PM
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