The Light of the World

KEY VERSE: “I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” —John 8:12

SELECTED SCRIPTURE: John 1:4-10; 12:44-50

LIGHT is the symbol of truth. The Scriptures tell us that “God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.” “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” (I John 1:5; James 1:17) God himself is the source of all light or truth. In the past, before the first advent of Jesus, God revealed something of himself and his truth to his servants so that they, by faith, might be able to accomplish the special work he had for them to do. The Apostle Paul states that this information came in fragments: “God, who of old spoke to our forefathers in many fragments and by various methods through the prophets” (Heb. 1:1, Weymouth), but that now God has spoken to us through his Son who, as the Logos, created all things and is destined to be the King of earth.—Heb. 1:2

The real force of the illustration of light is not appreciated until we realize that the whole world is stated to be engulfed in gross darkness because of Satan. (Isa. 60:2) But Jesus, when he came into the world, came as the Heavenly Father’s emissary, speaking his words, holding forth the light of truth to mankind who dwell in darkness. Jesus said: “He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me. And he that seeth me seeth him that sent me. I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness. And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.”—John 12:44-47

It was not the Lord’s design that all should hear and believe at this time. Jesus, when speaking to the scribes and Pharisees, said, “He that is of God heareth God’s words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.” (John 8:47) But Jesus said to his disciples: “Blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear. For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.”—Matt. 13:16,17

How then is this wonderful Light who was sent from God going to save the world? We believe the Apostle Paul, in speaking to Timothy, gives a concise answer to our question when he states, “Be thou partaker of the afflictions of the Gospel according to the power of God; who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, but is now made manifest by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel.”—II Tim. 1:8-10

It was God’s purpose that Jesus should come to earth and give himself a ransom for Adam. (Matt. 20:28) But the merit of his sacrifice was not immediately applied for Adam and his progeny; in fact, it has not yet been applied and it is almost 2000 years later. The Bible teaches that it was God’s purpose first to use the merit of that sacrifice in a very special way. It was to be applied on behalf of the footstep followers of Jesus down through the Gospel Age. This is what Paul meant when he said that God had “saved” us—that is, justified the footstep followers from Adamic condemnation and made them acceptable as a sacrifice. The apostle states that those who are faithful in laying their lives down in sacrifice with Jesus will be rewarded with glory, honor, and immortality, and will be privileged to reign with Christ in the kingdom.—Acts 15:14; Rom. 2:7; 8:13-17

After this great work of the Gospel Age is completed, then the merit of Christ’s sacrifice can be released to be applied on behalf of Adam and his progeny. The work of restoring mankind, both the living and the dead, back to life will be accomplished through the operation of the New Covenant, which will be administered by Christ and his glorified church.

This is the message that Jesus as the light of the world carried forth through the Gospel.

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