He Is Our Light
This particular Title, Office, and specific characteristic of Jesus Christ, are designated as bringing Light to a forsaken world. Light which gives and preserves life, speaks of God's truths, and guides us in our ways.
Light is one of the most remarkable and valuable blessings of this earth, without which life as we know it could not exist. The Bible mentions light to portray figuratively various spiritual realities. Such as, "God is light," He is, "the Father of lights," and dwells, "in the light unapproachable," Jesus is said to be the light of men."
Light is the figure of holiness and purity, by contrast, darkness is the symbol of sin.
There are 18 words in the Greek for the word "Light." The word under discussion today has to do with Jesus Christ, the "Light of the World."
Light: Lights: Greek is, "phos." It is the idea of "shining, brightness, splendor." Hebrew is, "owr, pronounced, "or," see below.
As past particle, expresses completed action." Generally. Matt.17:2, Speaks of Jesus, "his face did shine as the sun, and His raiment was white as the light," with ver.5, "While He yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them."
Of light in itself,
1. Gen. 1:3, "God said, Let there be light: and there was light," With ver.4, "And God saw the light, that it was good:"
2. 2 Cor.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."
3. John 1:4, "In Him (Jesus) was life; and the life was the light of men," This Light as coming from the Creator Himself.
4. Luke 8:16, "No man, when he lighted a candle, covereth it with a vessel," and. Rev.18:23, "the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee."
5. Rev. 22:5, "There shall be no night there; and they need no candle (Lamp) neither light of the sun. for the Lord God giveth them light."
6. Isa.30:26, "the light of the sun shall be sevenfold, --- in the day that the LORD bindeth up the breach (bruise) of His people, and healeth the stroke of their wound."
7. See Also, Ez.32:7, Isa. 4:5, Hab. 3:11.
John 11:9, "If any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world," as opposed to ver.10, "If a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because there is no light in him."
Common usage: John 3:20, every one that doeth evil hateth the light, Ver. 21, "But he that doeth truth cometh to the light."
In the light openly, publicly, opposed to darkness,
Luke 12:3. Matt.10:27, "What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light,"
Eph.5:13, "all things that are reproved (exposed) are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest in light," as opposed to darkness in ver.11, "no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness."
Of a dazzling light, splendor, glory, which surrounds the throne of God, in which God dwells; 1 Tim.6:15-16, "the King of kings, and Lord of lords; Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto."
Rev.21:23-24, "the city had no need of the sun, -- for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it."
Compare Ps.104:2, "Who coverest thyself (God) with light as with a garment," comp. with, Isa.60:1, "Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee." with Isa.60:19-20, "for the LORD shall be thine everlasting light."
Also as surrounding those who dwell with or come from the Father; such as, the Lord Jesus Christ, as appearing in glory after His ascension. Also, Acts 9:3, "as he (Paul) journeyed, -- suddenly there shined round him = (Paul) a light from heaven."
Acts 22:6-9-11, 26:13, Jesus, "should (would proclaim) shew light unto the people, and to the Gentiles."
Of glorified saints, Col.1:12, "made us meet to be partaker of the inheritance of the saints in light."
A light, a luminous body, such as a lamp or torch. Acts 16:29. Sept. Ps.119:105. A fire. Mark 14:54, "warmed himself at the fire." Luke 22:56. Of the luminaries such as, the sun, moon and stars, James 1:17, "from the Father of lights." Jer.4:23, Gen. 1:16--18.
As a metaphors, the mind, conscience,
Luke 11:35. Matt. 6:23, "If therefore the light that be in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!"
Trope or Metaphor: Light, as in moral and spiritual light and knowledge, which enlightens the mind, soul, conscience; including also the idea of moral goodness, purity and holiness, and of consequent reward and happiness. Light as opposed to darkness. Generally: As of the true knowledge of God and spiritual things. Christian holiness;
John 3:19, "that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil."
John 8:12, Jesus said, "I am the Light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life."
Acts 26:18, "to open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light."
Rom.13:12, "let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light."
2 Cor.6:14, "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: --- what communion hath light with darkness?"
Eph.5: 9, "For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light."
1 John 2:8. As Christians, "the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth."
John 12:36, "While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light."
1 Thes.5:5, "Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, not of darkness."
Eph. 5:8, "ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord:" therefore, "walk as children of light."
1 John 2:9-10. Light as exhibited in the life and teaching of any one; "He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now. He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him."
Matt.5:16, "Let your light so shine before men."
John 5:35. Isa.2:5, "let us walk in the light of the LORD."
Luke 16:8, "children of light."
So where the idea of holiness predominates, as of God and those conformed to Him.
1 John 1:5, "God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all," with ver.7, "But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another."
Where the idea of peace and happiness predominates;
1 Pet. 2:9, "Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvellous light."
Matt.4:16, quoted from Isa.9:1, "The people which sat in darkness saw great light."
Acts 26:23, "and should shew light unto the people, and to the Gentiles."
Ps. 36:9, "For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light."
Isa. 58:8-10, "Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, --- and thy darkness be as the noon day."
A light, such as Jesus being the author, or dispenser of moral and spiritual light, a moral teacher. Generally:
Rom.2:19, "a light of them which are in darkness."
Light as of the apostles,
Matt.5:14, "Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid."
Acts 13:47, quoted from Isa.49:6, "I will give thee for a light to the Gentiles."
Isa. 42:6, "a light of the gentiles."
Especially of Jesus as the great Teacher and Saviour of the world, who brought life and immortality to light in His Gospel,
2 Tim.1:10, "Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel."
Luke 2:32, "A light to lighten the gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel."
John 1:4-5-7-8, 9, "In Him (Jesus) was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended (apprehended it not. ---) That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world."
John 3:19, "that light is come into the world."
John 8:12, Jesus said, "I am the light of the world."
John 9:5, Jesus said, "As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world."
John 12:35-36-46, Jesus said, "Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light. --- While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light. I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness."
Light in the highest sense is always spoken of as the eternal source of truth. Jesus said in,
John 14:6, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."
John 1:4, Speaks of Jesus, "In him was life; and the life was the light of men."
Phillip LaSpino