The Light of Mankind

Lighthouse Illustration. Back in the day Boats use lighthouses as a means to tell them where they are, and where they are going. In the absence of light, we have chaos and utter darkness.

Humans need light. Sometimes we look at instagram and see a chaotic world. We have many people convince themselves of a guide that is not actually the light and they end up crashing. We are completely and utterly blind to what we need and what the world needs. Jesus is the true light, the true guide, the true beacon. Light being the source of life, Jesus is ife.

But for some reason or another, people prefer darkness. They can hide in darkness. Some others, we know the light, we’ve seen it. But darkness is far preferable. Cause we can hide there, darkness is actually more secure.

For Today’s meditation, we will be focusing on Genesis 1 and John 1.

Genesis 1:1–5 NASB 2020

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. And the earth was a formless and desolate emptiness, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters. Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light “day,” and the darkness He called “night.” And there was evening and there was morning, one day.

Some translations word it as a waste. Completely barren. There is no way for this earth to produce life. It is formless, it is chaotic. It is not ordered. There is no way this can make life. Why would God make something like that? Think about that question. In the midst of that, God issued a command. And he said, Let there be Light! Exactly what this formless, desolate world needed.

Did God need to create light? We may reactively just think “oh right God couldn’t see, therefore he made a sun so he can see.” No! That’s not quite it. I want you to consider here, that the sun and the moon were not made until verse 14. Astronomy was created then. So even before God made the sun and put stars in the cosmos, there was light!

What is this light? Even in Science the concept of light is strange. Is it a particle, is it a wave. Even the sun, is not light, it just gives off light. So what exactly was this light? This light is the means for life. It is the Glory of God. It’s his radiance. What he gives off. This Light is very much LIFE. The means for LIFE

So why did God create something like this? Because He Wants to show creation that HE is the answer to barrenness and chaos. His WORD is the source of the LIGHT and LIFE. He acts against darkness and chaos. He is very much the source of Life. This text is what encourages us to recognize, that HE is life. There is no life apart from him. We live in a completely barren and destructive World. A world that is completely upside down. The answer to that is Light. That’s why when Jesus comes into the picture, His statement that I AM THE LIGHT of the World is so profound. Because HE is the answer to the darkness, he is the answer to disorder and chaos. He is the source of life.

Acts 17:28

Acts 17:28 NASB 2020

for in Him we live and move and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we also are His descendants.’

We can’t help but live in God’s world. But we are not just a natural people. The natural can often be a reflection of the Spiritual. Let these passages help us realize, that he is the answer within any darkness. But what is the source of your life. From where do you draw your motivation? Where do you draw your life? What are you growing towards? Everything else that we have decided to make our “light” has left you completely lifeless. You think these things will ultimately make you happy.

I live my life for the weekend. I live my life for the vacations I take. - ultimately lifeless

I live my life for sensual pleasure. Whatever brings me the most optimal happiness. - ultimately lifeless

Does your life orbit around the real life giver?

Let’s go to John 1

John 1:1–5 NASB 2020

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him not even one thing came into being that has come into being. In Him was life, and the life was the Light of mankind. And the Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not grasp it.

Exegetical Comments here: Notice the language “in the beginning, WAS the Word” Even before the Beginning the Word was with God. It is like walking into a room, recognizing that people were there before you, and saying “person x WAS here.” In the same way, even before the beginning, WAS the Word. All things came into being through The Word .

Verse 4. This is the light of all mankind. The life that was in the Word. This is a call back to Genesis, where God created Light as answer to the darkness and disorder of the World. Jesus himself is the life as an answer to the same thing, darkness and disorder. the Light of Mankind. The source of life, the beacon, the true guide.

How do I get my life in Him? Follow Him. Obey Him. Be more like Him. Surrender completely to His Word. In His WORD is life. Realize, that everything you could ever need is in Him. Allow it to guide you, and change you. Our devotion is not to a set of rules, and rituals, and practices, our devotion is to Him.

Why would people resist the light? Why would people want to stay in darkness? Because the light is uncomfortable.

Verse 5. There is no room for darkness in Him. Darkness can never win in light. In a dark room, the presence of a single candle, completely changes everything. There is no room for darkness in the midst of life. What was in darkness is completely exposed.

Light exposes

Ephesians 5:8–16 NASB 2020

for you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), as you try to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. Do not participate in the useless deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them; for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret. But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light. For this reason it says, “Awake, sleeper, And arise from the dead, And Christ will shine on you.” So then, be careful how you walk, not as unwise people but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil.

There is security in darkness. I can hide in the dark. I find the idea of Jesus being light very powerful, because there is nothing hidden in this light. We can pretend to be a Christian, but he peers right through it. He see’s the heart, he sees the sin. That’s why darkness couldn’t comprehend the light.

John 1:6–14 NASB 2020

A man came, one sent from God, and his name was John. He came as a witness, to testify about the Light, so that all might believe through him. He was not the Light, but he came to testify about the Light. This was the true Light that, coming into the world, enlightens every person. He was in the world, and the world came into being through Him, and yet the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own people did not accept Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of a man, but of God. And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us; and we saw His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Light gives Life

Gospel moment. The Light of The World walked like you and Me. The Light of the World became a man!

John 8:12 NASB 2020

Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world; the one who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.”

John 9:5–8 NASB 2020

While I am in the world, I am the Light of the world.” When He had said this, He spit on the ground, and made mud from the saliva, and applied the mud to his eyes, and said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which is translated, Sent). So he left and washed, and came back seeing. So the neighbors, and those who previously saw him as a beggar, were saying, “Is this not the one who used to sit and beg?”

If you suggest to yourself that it is okay. I am a human being, so I can sin. God understands. You are living in willful sin. Why are you looking at yourself? What caused you to cast your vision on yourself and your imperfections? Cast your vision on Him! The Word incarnate in the flesh! The one who has overcome sin and killed death. Look to Him and overcome!

Light Guides

Matthew 6:22–23 NASB 2020

“The eye is the lamp of the body; so then, if your eye is clear, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. So if the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!

Our eyes do not work without light

Notice how God’s Word brings Light. God’s Word itself is light. Jesus himself is the light, he is what brings LIFE. While this truth can be encouarging.

JOhn 1:14-18

John 1:14–18 NASB 2020

And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us; and we saw His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. John testified about Him and called out, saying, “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who is coming after me has proved to be my superior, because He existed before me.’ ” For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace. For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ. No one has seen God at any time; God the only Son, who is in the arms of the Father, He has explained Him.

What is your life really about? What is the light?

There are noble goals. But it needs to be about Jesus. To know God, Be Like Him, and make Him Known.

One thing light does is that it exposes what has been hidden in darkness, including what is in our hearts. Why are we so tempted to remain in darkness rather than letting Christ’s light expose and transform us?

Jesus calls us to step into the light and to walk in the light. How does Jesus do this for us, and how does he empower us to remain in the light? What keeps us from believing that following Jesus is good for our souls?

When Light was shown into the dark places of your heart, how do you respond? What does walking in light look like?

When people would rather stay in darkness, what does God say is the reason?

What does Jesus mean when He says that WE are the light of the World?