The True Light
by Bryan Matthew Dockens
Among other illustrious descriptions, our Lord Jesus Christ is called "the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world" (John 1:9).
When Jesus Was Born a Star a Star Appeared
"Now after Jesus was born… behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, 'Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him'" (Matthew 2:1-2).
The Savior's entrance into the world was marked by the appearance of that star, and with His arrival on earth came illumination unto salvation, as well. When Joseph and Mary went to the temple to present the Divine Child to the Lord, they were met by Simeon who blessed Him, saying, "Lord… my eyes have seen Your salvation which You have prepared before the face of all peoples, a light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of Your people Israel" (Luke 2:22-32). More than once, Jesus claimed, "I am the light of the world" (John 8:12; 9:5). And, He wants to share His light: "He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life" (John 8:12).
When Jesus Was Dying the Sun Disappeared
While the Savior was hanging from the cross, "from the sixth hour until the ninth hour there was darkness over all the land" (Matthew 27:45) because "the sun was darkened" (Luke 23:44). The day the sinless Son of God was murdered was the darkest day the world has ever known. The entire ordeal from His betrayal to His crucifixion was dark indeed. Addressing the mob that had come to arrest Him, Jesus said, "This is your hour, and the power of darkness" (Luke 22:53).
All sin is characterized as darkness. "This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all" (I John 1:5). Christians are a people who have left the darkness behind in order to enter the light (Ephesians 5:8; I Thessalonians 5:5; I Peter 2:9). Though the light is shining, some allow Satan to blind them from it (II Corinthians 4:3-6).
Darkness eternal is the just recompense for sin. "For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to hell and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved for judgment… then the Lord knows how to… reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment" (I Peter 2:4, 9).
When Jesus Returns He Becomes Its Sun
Of the New Jerusalem it is written, "The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light" (Revelation 21:23).
For the faithful, there is a promise of similar glory. "The righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father" (Matthew 13:43).
With Jesus there is light. He is "the Bright and Morning Star" (Revelation 22:16), "the Dayspring from on high" (Luke 1:78), and "the Sun of Righteousness" (Malachi 4:2).
