Light or Darkness

Light, Truth, Freedom!

In the seventh month of the Jewish ceremonial calendar (which is the first month of the civic or agricultural calendar), several important events took place for the people of Israel. They included the first day of the new year (civic calendar), the Day of Atonement (which, on years of Liberty, also signaled the restoration of inheritance and fulfillment of debt), and the Feast of Booths (sometimes referred to as the Feast of Ingathering).

Tradition suggests that the Feast of Booths was the largest celebration for the people of Israel; it was both a commemoration of their time of travel and wandering under God’s provision and protection after their exodus; along with the celebration of the harvest of grapes and corn and fruit. The feast lasted a week; from the 15^thto the 21^st of Ethanim (see Lev.23:39ff).

As the Feast of Booths was about to begin (likely at the beginning of Jesus’ second or third years after His manifestation), Jesus half-brothers question Him for staying in Galilee. (Jesus has previously been to Jerusalem for feasts but, as His time progresses, so too does the discord between Him and the religious leaders.) Their comments, as reported by John, seem a bit caustic – at the end of the conversation Jesus commends them to go on down for the feast, but His time had not yet come.

Jesus, in the midst of the week, shows up and enters the temple and begins to teach. The net result was a division of the people regarding His authority and the signs He had performed on the one hand and near unanimity on the part of the Pharisees about needing to seize Him on the other (“near” in that Nicodemus was trying to run a bit of interference on Jesus’ behalf).

What happens after the famous story of the woman caught in adultery, is followed by Jesus making the following proclamation:

Then (the word clearly indicates that this was the result of the aforementioned occurrence) Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.” John 8:12

We are then told that, in the same sequence of events, it came about when He was speaking specifically to “those Jews who had believed Him”, that He said,

“If you continue in My word, you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” John 8:31-32

(The tie-in of Truth with Light will be brought back forward in other passages – but the allusion, here is strong and its implications are worth noting, as I believe we will see.)

When those “who believed Him” (seemingly) took offense to the suggestion that they, as descendants of Abraham (who just happened to be subservient to Rome), needed to become free, Jesus answers them with a very critical revelation:

“Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son does remain forever. So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.” John 8:34-36

Light or darkness; Truth or deceit; Freedom or captivity and slavery.

Jesus is making a point that even those who claimed to believe Him were unwilling to embrace: no matter who their ancestors happen to be, they are sinners and sinners are slaves! And that He, as the Son – the One Who inherits the “house” – is from Whom true freedom can be granted. This conversation continued to escalate until the Jews “picked up stones to throw at Him, but Jesus was hidden” from them and He went out of the temple.

As He “passed by” (so, as He was leaving the area of the temple), He saw a man who was blind from birth. His followers asked a question that reveals what often motivates our responses to unfortunate circumstances: “who sinned, this man or his parents?”

“Neither this man sinned, nor his parents; but so that the works of God might be displayed in him. We must work the works of Him Who sent Me as long as it is day; night is coming when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the Light of the world. John 9:3-5

(There is a doctrine in Jesus’ statement that, at some point, deserves attention – we will forego that endeavor today, however.)

Jesus proceeded to heal the blind man, which of course created a whole other controversy that we can look into another time; suffice to say: it was unheard of that a man born blind could ever be healed!

The main message here, not to be overlooked, is found in Jesus’ declaration regarding us (note, Jesus didn’t say “I must do…” but “We must do…” the works of Him) doing the works of the Father while it is still day. That last phrase, I believe, should be taken to mean that He is the Light of the world (kosmos). Not only while He was here in the flesh – prior to His ascension – but that whenever we, as His followers, exalt Him as Lord and King, His Light will shine in this world and through us.

There is one more passage (a trinity of declarations) of His being the “Light of the world”.

We have moved to the week before the Passover when He will become, within the passing of time, what He committed to being in the Eternity Before: the Lamb Slain – Who will overcome sin and death.

In what will be His final time of teaching the crowds, before He is arrested, Jesus calls out to the Father:

“Father, glorify Your name.” Then a voice came out of heaven” “I have both glorified it; and will glorify it again.” John 12:28

After telling the crowd that He would be lifted up, indicating that He would die by crucifixion:

The crowd then answered Him, “We have heard out of the Law that Messiah is to remain forever; and how can You say, “The Son of Man must be lifted up?”

So Jesus said to them, “For a little while longer the Light is among you. Walk while you have the Light, so that darkness will not overtake you; he who walks in the darkness does not know where he goes. While you have the Light, believe in the Light, so that you may become sons of Light.” John 12:34-36

Again, the message speaks both to those who will choose to “walk in the Light” – for whom the Light will become a part of their heritage – and those who will lose the Light after He departs because they have chosen to walk in darkness.

Light and darkness. Themes spoken of by Jesus, especially as the end drew near; the time leading up to His sacrifice.

But, of course, light and darkness have been a part of the plan of God from, well, the beginning.

Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light.” Gen.1:3

In the Beginning, God had created (“bara”) space (heavens) and matter (earth) at the fundamental levels. And with that, we were told, was found a darkness shaped over the surging mass of matter and space (matter and space that would best be likened to a fluid, since it has yet to be structured into anything). But space and matter without energy, without the power of light. So, for that moment, it was the raw material that would be further formed and shaped.

Something other than God had come into being; and God desired for us to understand the progression of its manifestation – and so we went from the Beginning to the evening and the morning – day, the first.

The next first order of creation, God’s work for “day the first” was light – and oh what a wonder that is. Even our beginning understanding of the power and energy associated with light itself, apart from its source (if that is possible), is breathtaking!

Behold!

God introduces quantum particles on the first day! Light, with its wave-particle duality that is detectable by the eye! We now have space and matter in their most basic expression and we have light (energy), which God saw and declared as being good.

God’s separating light from darkness as a distinct action must also be seen either from the depths of the fundamentals of physics (or more rightly of quantum mechanics) OR as a more or less metaphysical event (though possibly both). If photons, the smallest particles of light, that present no mass and so are not technically matter, can be separated from the darkness; that would suggest that the darkness would be absent of all that light is and all that light does.

In the beginning, darkness is separate from the void or emptiness of space, and now, on day the first, it is separate from light. If this is something more at the quantum level, it is beyond my understanding – so we will carry on with the more practical expression that God uses.

God called the light (“or”) day, and the darkness (“choshek”) He called night. And there was evening and morning, first day. (Gen.1:5)

---

In John’s first epistle, he brings forward this truth:

“This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him and walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.” 1John 1:5-7

God is Light and in Him there is no darkness at all! And that truth impacts our relationship not only with just Him, but with one another as well. And as far as sin that makes us slaves – it is taken care of by the blood of Jesus!

God spoke light into existence and then, at the level of “first order” He separates darkness from the light – making it so that darkness is merely and exactly that which is absent Light. And so absent of He Who is Light. (It is helpful to consider “darkness” a noun as opposed to an adjective in this context.)

Peter talks a bit about that in his second epistle – in his warning against false teachers:

These are springs without water and mists driven by a storm, for whom the blackness of darkness has been reserved. For speaking arrogantly of vanity they entice by fleshly desires, by sensuality, those who barely escape from the ones who live in error, promising them freedom while they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by what a man is overcome, by this he is enslaved. 2Peter2:17-19

The “blackness of darkness” has been reserved for those who deceive (the Greek word that is translated “deceive” means “to make to wander as one lost from the way”) and entice by sensual (not just sexual – but those things that appeal to our base nature) offerings. They (the false teachers) speak as if following them will lead to freedom; all the while they themselves are slaves to sin – just as Jesus said.

Paul brings some very important insight on the subject as well. As he explains the wonders of the Eternal Plan of God – Who, though knowing all things (and therefore sharing, at times, what things will happen even before the event is experienced within the confines of time) does not make all things happen.

Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them; for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light (for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. Do not participate in the unfruitful 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.”

Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil. So then do not be foolish but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father; and be subject to one another in the fear of Christ. Eph.5:6-21

Once again we find Light and Truth inter-related. (And by inference: darkness and deceit.) What Paul gives us here are directions for living a life that honors all that Jesus has done for each of us. As Jesus pointed out, the only true freedom comes when we are no longer a slave to sin. The only way for that to be accomplished is to accept His offer to be our atonement – to take our sins upon Himself and to cover them with His sinless blood.

As we set our hearts and minds on walking in the Light as children of Light, still actively and constantly needing His covering, we avail ourselves of the filling of the Spirit! Singing, giving thanks, and being submitted and responsive to one another.

Darkness (and deceit) are not just nonproductive; they are in direct and distinct opposition to the purposes of God in our lives. And that is as true for me, as one who has accepted His ransom, as it is for the one who has yet to do so.

---

In his letter to Colossae, likely the last letter Paul wrote to a gathering of believers, he reminds them in his opening comments that he has not ceased to: “pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding.” Doing so, being so filled, he goes on to say, will enable them to walk in a way that is worthy of the Lord’s name – pleasing Him and showing respect for all that He has done for us.

He then points out that it is the Father Who has:

…qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light. For He rescued us from the authority of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in Whom we have the release by way of the ransom paid, for the forgiveness of sins. Col.1:9-14 (excerpted)

Light, Truth, Freedom!

Back to the letter to his friends in Ephesus, Paul makes it very clear:

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the ancient one, against the powers, against the rulers of this order of darkness, against spiritual wickedness in the heavenlies. Eph.6:12

Paul also speaks to them of the weapons of our warfare (which, by the way, include Truth) and the spiritual armor we should don in order to succeed in the battlefield. But he is clearly letting them (and us) know that just because we don’t see the enemy, it should not be assumed that they are not constantly on the attack!

---

There is a bit more said regarding the separation of Light and darkness in the messages from Jesus.

We first hear from Him on the subject while He is sharing on the Korazim Plateau, what we know as the sermon on the mount. To those listening He says:

You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden; nor a burning lamp put under the meal-tub but on a stand, and it shines to all in the house. Like that your light shines before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father Who is in heaven. Matt.5:14-16

This is a bold declaration – one that is clearly a statement of acknowledging the purpose and plan God had assigned to Abram and his descendants (it was they who were listening to this early sermon from Jesus). Jesus then declares how this should impact the world around them. The simile seems a bit odd, though the setting may have helped induce it. His point however is clear – they (by descendancy) and we (as His disciples), are to give off the light of our Lord (as the moon reflects the sun) so that those in the world can see our good deeds solely and purely to give glory to the Father.

(It reminds one of the reaction of the elders around the throne when they cast their “stephanos” before the Lord – their crowns of victory – in recognition that whatever victories they achieved during their lives were on account of the Lord God to Whom they declare:

“Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they were and were created.” Rev.4:10-11)

A little later in His message, Jesus comes back to the importance of having “clear vision” in order for His light to fill us.

“The eye is the lamp of the body; therefore if your eye is single-focused, your whole body is bright. But if your eye is hurtful (evil), your whole body will be dark. If then the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness?” Matt. 6:22-23

Here, it seems, Jesus is actually providing the basis by which we (His disciples) might become “light-bearers” who reflect His Light. We must have a steady focus on Him and His principles.

In the sequence of this sermon, the very next topic, after speaking of the importance of being single-eyed, ends with His central Truth:

“But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all things will be added to you.” Matt.6:33

Seek His kingdom, the kingdom of His Son, the Light of the world – and do so singularly. In doing so we are able to then reflect His Light – for it will burn within us as we remember to give thanks to God and to constantly pray for the infilling of His Spirit. But, we are told, this will not be easy. There are those who are filled with deceit and who are wanting to entice us into the darkness. And we need to remember, there is an adversary of God – the one who was a liar from the beginning; he will make constant, slanderous accusations against God, against His Word, against His people, and against ourselves. Even appearing as a messenger of light in his attempts to bring darkness, deception, and endless captivity.

We know God wins; but it is His desire that we all participate in that victory!

So: Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all that we need will be provided!