448. JOH 1:4. CHRIST THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD

Joh_1:4. Christ The Light Of The World

"The light of men."’97Joh_1:4.

One of the most wonderful and beautiful creatures in the world is light. It is one of the most striking emblems of the Deity. "God is light," &c. He is described as the father of lights. From him all light emanates. He is the light both of heaven and earth. The great moral sun of the universe, whose radiant beams fill heaven with glory, and earth with his benignity and love. Jesus, in whom dwelt all the fulness of the Godhead bodily, is represented in the text as "the light of men," and in another place, he spake of himself as "the light of the world." It is the province of light to illumine and thus make manifest, and it is doubtless in this sense that Jesus is spoken of as "the light of men." Consider,

I. The Subjects which Jesus has made manifest.

Some things were accessible to human investigation, irrespective of Christ’s advent and mission. Such were the works of nature, the wonderful phenomena of the material world. These were studied by men who had no written revelation, and therefore were not dire;tly enlightened by the Saviour. So it is still; many laborious and successful philosophers have been unfavorably disposed towards the Christian religion, and it is obvious that a man may be a student of the works of nature, and yet ignorant of the doctrines of the gospel. Neither did Jesus shed any light on literature, or the arts; on jurisprudence, or political economy. He pronounced no opinion as to forms of governments, but declared that his kingdom or administration was "not of this world."

1. Jesus made manifest the true character of God.

"No man hath seen God at any time the only-begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him," Joh_1:18. Moses and the prophets had given men revelations of the divine character. But theirs was exceedingly limited, only partial manifestation of God. Jesus shed his illustrious beams over all the perfections of the divine nature. He placed Deity before men in all his graciousness, and greatness, and glory. He placed the Father before men, in the boundlessness of his mercy, and in the unspeakable depths of his goodness and compassion. He also gave brighter views of his purity, justice, and truth, than had ever been revealed before. He made known his heavenly Father, as reconciled to the world, and as the friend of the guilty and perishing sinner. See Joh_3:14-18.

2. Jesus made manifest the true condition of the sinner.

He shed light over the dreary valley of dry bones, and opened to observation the miserable state of a world without God. He revealed the depravity of human nature, the deceitfulness of the human heart. The extreme evil of sin. The helplessness of man. And the wrath to which his sins had justly exposed him. He gave a full and searching view of man’s lost estate and miserable condition.

3. He made manifest the way of man’s recovery and salvation.

He revealed himself as the way to heaven. He declared that he came expressly to seek and to save that which was lost. That he came to give his life for the world. That his sufferings, and death, and resurrection, were necessary to the remission of sins and acceptance with God. He repeatedly set himself forth as the one object of saving faith, and the only mediator or advocate with the Father.

4. He made manifest the nature and necessity of holiness.

He laid the basis of holiness in the regeneration of the soul. "Ye must be born again." "Except a man be born of water and the Spirit," &c. He demanded for God supreme love and obedience, and universal righteousness, goodness, and mercy, towards mankind. And he exhibited the gracious truths of his word, and the influences of the Spirit, as the divine means of renewing, sanctifying, and keeping the heart. He insisted on holiness as essential to the enjoyment of the glory and face of God in heaven.

5. He made manifest the high calling and glorious privileges of his disciples.

He spoke of them as the sons of God. The objects of the Father’s peculiar love. As his own friends. And as co-sharers in all the blessings and immunities of his kingdom. He made over to them the rich bequests of unspeakable peace. He gave them as their guide and comforter, the Holy Ghost. And he left all the promises of his love to be the solace of their souls, and the rejoicings of their hearts.

6. He made manifest their future blessedness and glory.

He brought life and immortality to light. He described heaven as his Father’s house, and promised to receive them into those mansions of light and felicity, that they might be with him forever and ever. He engaged the bestowment to his disciples of a crown and kingdom that should never pass away. "Fear not, little flock," &c. Then shall the king say, "Come ye blessed," &c. Such are the subjects which Jesus made manifest as "the light of men." Observe,

II. How he communicates himself as the Light of Men.

He does so,

1. By the radiant beams of his word.

His glory gilds the hallowed pages of revelation. He is the light of the glorious gospel of the blessed God. His divine mind and will are revealed in and by the oracles of truth. The scriptures are full of the knowledge of Jesus, and they testify of him,

2. By the brightness of his divine example.

He arose upon our world as the sun of righteousness, and in his spirit and conversation, and in his holy and benevolent life, he gave mankind an exhibition of heavenly goodness and purity, and left an illuminated path to glory and eternal life. "He hath left us an example," &c. Practical godliness consists in hearing his voice and following him.

3. By the illuminating rays of his Spirit.

The Holy Spirit takes of the things of Jesus, and applies them to the mind. He is the spirit of light, and sheds abroad the beams of day and joy in the soul. Thus Jesus is the light of men. He is too the light of the world by his gospel. The light of the church by his spiritual residence in it. The light of the believer’s soul, as the hope of glory. The light of heaven by the resplendent beams of his divine countenance.

Application

1. Have we all partaken of that spiritual and gracious light which he diffuses? Are we the children of the light and the day? If so we shall reflect the light we have received, and diffuse it abroad to others.

2. Invite the benighted sinner to receive Christ and to walk in him.

Autor: JABEZ BURNS