THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD
The Gospel of the Apostle John is a little different. First of all, John uses metaphysical descriptions. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (John 1:1) That is metaphysical. John also used the word “light” extensively in his Gospel.
If you read the verses in which John uses this word as if they were one passage, it tells the story of the purpose of Jesus coming to earth.
In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.1 (John the Baptist) came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe. He (John) was not that Light, but [was sent] to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world.2 And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.3 He was the burning and shining lamp, and you were willing for a time to rejoice in his light.4 Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.6 If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. But if one walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.7 A little while longer the light is with you. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you; he who walks in darkness does not know where he is going. While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.8 I have come [as] a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness.9
As I searched for the word “light” in the Gospel of John, I noticed that it suddenly stopped at John 12:46. I thought that I had overlooked something. However, I discovered that chapter 13 begins with, “the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come that He should depart from this world.” At Passover the Light was snuffed out . . . . temporarily.
Then the Beloved Apostle continues his theme of light in the epistle of First John, noting that the darkness is past.
This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanses us from all sin.10 Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shines. He that saith he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness even until now. He that loves his brother abides in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.11
Praise the Lord because He sent Jesus to us, and the darkness is now past if we are walking in the Light. Amen.
Endnotes:
1 - John 1:4-5
2 - John 1:7-9
3 - John 3:19-21
4 - John 5:35
5 - John 8:12
6 - John 9:5
7 - John 11:9-10
8 - John 12:35-36
9 - John 12:46
10 - First John 1:5 & 7
11 - First John 2:8-10