“The Light of Life”
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whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” “In Him
was life; and the life was the light of men.”
Colossians 2:3
;
John 1:4
.
“He that followeth Me,” said Jesus, “shall not walk in darkness, but
shall have the light of life.”
In the words, “I am the light of the world,” Jesus declared Himself
the Messiah. The aged Simeon, in the temple where Christ was now
teaching, had spoken of Him as “a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the
glory of Thy people Israel.”
Luke 2:32
. In these words he was applying
to Him a prophecy familiar to all Israel. By the prophet Isaiah, the
Holy Spirit had declared, “It is too light a thing that Thou shouldest be
My servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved
of Israel: I will also give Thee for a light to the Gentiles, that Thou
mayest be My salvation unto the end of the earth.”
Isaiah 49:6
, R. V.
This prophecy was generally understood as spoken of the Messiah,
and when Jesus said, “I am the light of the world,” the people could
not fail to recognize His claim to be the Promised One.
To the Pharisees and rulers this claim seemed an arrogant assump-
tion. That a man like themselves should make such pretensions they
could not tolerate. Seeming to ignore His words, they demanded,
“Who art Thou?” They were bent upon forcing Him to declare Himself
the Christ. His appearance and His work were so at variance with
the expectations of the people, that, as His wily enemies believed, a
direct announcement of Himself as the Messiah would cause Him to
be rejected as an impostor.
But to their question, “Who art Thou?” Jesus replied, “Even that
which I have also spoken unto you from the beginning.”
John 8:25
,
R.V. That which had been revealed in His words was revealed also in
His character. He was the embodiment of the truths He taught. “I do
nothing of Myself,” He continued; “but as My Father hath taught Me,
I speak these things. And He that sent Me is with Me: the Father hath
not left Me alone; for I do always those things that please Him.” He
did not attempt to prove His Messianic claim, but showed His unity
with God. If their minds had been open to God’s love, they would
have received Jesus.
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Among His hearers many were drawn to Him in faith, and to them
He said, “if ye continue in My word, then are ye My disciples indeed;
and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”