John 4

Chapter 4. Light in the Gospel of JohnThis is another word which is very prominent and significant in the Gospel of John, and one of the keynotes of its deeper teaching. We may trace it through almost the entire gospel. The Word

1. Christ is the Word, or primeval Light, manifesting and revealing God (John 1:1). The very expression, “Word,” suggests the idea of light. It is primarily the revealing of the thought of God. Christ is essentially light, inasmuch as He is God’s expression to the universe of what He is Himself. The Epistle to the Hebrews calls Him “the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being” (John 1:3). The Creator
2. Christ is the Creator of nature and reason (John 1:4). Physical light is the work of His hand. God said, “‘Let there be light,’ and there was light” (Genesis 1:3). This was the first act of the creating Word. So, also, the light of reason in man has all come from Him. “That life was the light of men” (John 1:4). The power of human thought, the understanding which men have used to deny God and dishonor Him, is a ray of divine intelligence. Old Testament Light
3. Christ is the Light that shines in the Old Testament. “He was in the world” (John 1:10); “the light shines in the darkness” (John 1:5). All the light of ancient revelation was but the radiance of the Son of Righteousness. It was He who spoke to Abraham and Moses, and He was the Angel of the covenant in all the preparatory dispensations. Incarnate Light
4. Christ has become the Light of the world through His incarnation (John 1:14-18). In this glorious person we behold the Father’s face and His beneficent character and purposes of grace toward sinful men. He is truly a “light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel” (Luke 2:32). Inner Light
5. Christ is the Light of those who receive Him, dispelling their doubts and bringing to their hearts the light of faith and joy (John 1:38-49). How beautifully we see this illustrated in the first disciples that followed Jesus. How promptly He answers their questions. How tenderly He receives them, instructs them and leads them to cry in glad assurance, “We have found the Messiah…. Rabbi… you are the King of Israel” (John 1:41, John 1:49). This is the light which brings its own evidence. It is enough to say to the questioning world, “Come and see” (John 1:46). This Christ is the Light foreshadowed by the ancient types and prophecies. They could say of Him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph” (John 1:45); and He Himself could personally apply the glorious vision of Jacob’s ladder and claim its fulfillment in His intercession which has opened heaven and restored men to fellowship with God. The Revealer
6. Christ is the only Revealer of true heavenly light. I tell you the truth, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man. (John 3:11-13) He, alone, had been in heaven and could bring to men the secrets of the unseen and unfold the will and love of His Father. Even as He spoke He could say of Himself, “the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man” (John 3:13). And what wondrous light He did reveal upon the character and love of God, lighting up the midnight interview with Nicodemus with a glory which has shone on millions of hearts and will continue to all eternity. That one sentence, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16), is worth a million times more than all the literature of the ages. Conviction of Sin
7. Christ is the Light that reveals sin. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God. (John 3:19-21) The only reason, therefore, that people reject Him is because the light of His teaching condemns all sin and hidden evil that will not come to the light. It exposes their sin, only that it may lead them to the fount of cleansing which takes it all away. Searches the Heart
8. Christ is the Light that searches and reveals the human heart. “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Christ?” (John 4:29). Thus He searched this woman’s heart and made her feel His omniscience and divinity, and this drew her to Him for salvation. So still, His word is the mirror of human nature and makes every convicted heart conscious of the searching eye of the holy God. “Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account” (Hebrews 4:12), and yet amid all the searching light we need not shrink from His eye, for He searches only to save. Interpreter of the Scriptures
9. Christ is the Light which explains the Scriptures. “You diligendy study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me” (John 5:39). The key to the Bible is Jesus. Its pages are obscure and dim until we learn to search in every part for His face of love and suffering, and when we see Jesus we have the key to all mystery and all knowledge. The Only Light
10. Christ is the only true Light. Well might they ask, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life” (John 6:68). There is no other name by which we must be saved. “No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). Satisfying
11. Again, Christ brings the light of conviction and of consciousness to every obedient heart. “If anyone chooses to do God’s will, he will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own” (John 7:17). This is the divine criterion of truth, and the remedy for doubt. True-hearted obedience will always bring satisfying light and certain conviction that the teachings of Jesus are true and divine. They must, however, be proved and practiced to be absolutely known. The Testimony of His Enemies
12. Christ is the Light that transcends all human teachers; even in the judgment of His enemies. This was the testimony of the rude men who came without a thought of seriousness, to fulfill their official functions as officers of the law; but they were captivated by the Savior’s wisdom and eloquence, and said, “No one ever spoke the way this man does” (John 7:46). The Lamps in the Temple
13. Christ is the Light of the world symbolized by the lamps of the temple, and shedding on the path of human life the direction and instruction required for all our practical needs. He is the Light of life, not only that which leads to life beyond the grave, but also of our present life in all its perplexities and perils. Light and Liberty
14. Christ is the Light that liberates us from the fetters of ignorance and sin. “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32). Slavery is often the result of mental degradation. Education and moral elevation often rescue the oppressed from human bondage, and spiritual light sets the soul free from the heavier bonds of sin and Satan. When we know our rights in Christ, and that Satan is a conquered foe, we spring into liberty and claim our true place as sons of God and freeborn citizens of the kingdom of heaven. Sight
15. Christ is the Light that brings us vision as well as truth, sight as well as light (John 9:1-7). This was beautifully illustrated by the healing of the blind man at Jerusalem. It was intended and used to emphasize the spiritual illumination He came to bring to benighted hearts, but which in their blind self-conceit the Pharisees refused to receive, and so remained in deeper darkness (John 9:39-41). Guidance
16. Christ is the Light of personal guidance, step by step, in our daily life (John 10:3-5, John 10:14-15). This is the light of His personal guidance; not merely a way-mark, but a hand to lead the trusting disciple, and a voice that he cannot mistake if he is willing to be led. This is the light of which the psalmist sang, “I will counsel you and watch over you” (Psalms 32:8). Light Beyond the Grave
17. Christ is the only Light which shines beyond the grave. “Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?’” (John 11:25-26). Through this blessed promise the Lord has brought life and immortality to light through His own open grave. He has left the windows of glory forever open to the vision of faith and to the souls of His departing saints. Transient Light
18. Christ is a transient Light which will soon pass away (John 12:36). Touchingly is added this beautiful expression, “Jesus left and hid himself from them” (John 12:36). And so from those who reject Him the light has at length gone. The spirit of grace ceases to plead, and the soul does not have even light to know the meaning of its darkness and sorrow. Therefore, while we have the light, “put your trust in the light,” and walk in the light, and be “sons of light” (John 12:36). The Light of Judgment
19. Christ’s word is the searching light which will judge us in the last day (John 12:46-48). The gospel of Jesus Christ and the words which He has spoken are to be the standard of future judgment, and the manner in which we receive and obey them will determine our eternal destiny. The word which He has spoken to us, the same word will judge us in the last day (John 12:48). The very lamps of the throne are let down to shine upon our earthly path, and in the hour of the last assize they shall reveal our life and character. In some sense, therefore, every man may pass through His judgment here, and may receive the conscious witness of the very authority which is at last to decide his fate. The Holy Spirit
20. Christ has left us the light of the Holy Spirit to continue and complete the teachings of His own personal life and work. It is deeply interesting to trace the revelation of the Holy Spirit in the Gospel of John. We see Him as He rests upon Jesus, the inspiration of all His teachings, and the agent in all His supernatural works (John 1:33). We see Him as the author of conversion in the individual soul. “No one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit” (John 3:5). We see Him as the indwelling fullness and overflowing life of the believer (John 7:38-39). This, however, was an experience that was not to be fully realized until after Christ’s resurrection, for we are told that the Spirit was not yet given because Jesus was not glorified. We see Him revealed by Jesus as the Comforter who was to succeed Him, and complete His redeeming work in the hearts of His people and in the history of the Church. a. The name by which He is revealed is beautifully expressive. It means “one called to us,” or one on whom we may call in every emergency for instant and perfect help. b. He was to be the substitute for Jesus, and at this stage of our experience to be even more to us than Jesus could be, for it was expedient for Christ to go away, in order that the Spirit might come again. The physical presence of Christ could not be as internal and omnipresent as the Holy Spirit, who brings His actual life and presence into the depths of our being and to all the myriads of His people irrespective of place or time. c. He was to come in the name of Jesus, that is, the same Spirit that had dwelt in Jesus and who still was to bring His personal presence, and to be the medium of His indwelling life and personal revelation to the soul; so that when we have the Holy Spirit, we also have the presence of Christ. d. He was to bring to their remembrance all things that Christ had said of Him, and thus preserve and perpetuate the Master’s teachings. e. He was to reveal to them new truths which Jesus had not yet imparted, because they were not yet able to receive them, but the Spirit would lead them into all truth (John 16:12-13). f. He was to be more than a teacher—also a personal Guide, not only teaching, but leading, disciplining and educating with a mother’s tenderness the life and character of the disciples of Christ. g. He was to unveil the future and complete the prophetic vision of the coming ages and the glorious appearing of the Lord Jesus in the end of the dispensation (John 16:13). h. Above all else, He was to reveal Christ and testify to the person and character of Jesus Himself. “He will testify about me…. He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you” (John 15:26; John 16:14). i. He was to convict the world of sin, of righteousness and of judgment, using disciples as instruments and witnesses of the truth, but being Himself the effectual power by which the barriers of unbelief and sin were to be broken down, and sinners convicted, comforted and led to Christ. Such was the glorious light that Jesus left behind Him as He passed within the veil; a light which still shines in this dark world “until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts” (2 Peter 1:19). Once more we trace the revelation of the Spirit in this gospel (John 20:22), as imparted by the risen Lord through the touch of His own living breath. He breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit” (John 20:22), so that this blessed Spirit comes to us, not merely in His absolute deity, but with the warm breath of Christ’s living love, softened and humanized, if we may so speak, by passing through the medium of the Savior’s own heart and flesh. It is only as we get near enough to Jesus to feel the touch of His lips and the very kiss of His love, that we can receive the fullness of the Spirit’s power. The impartation here described was for service, and accompanied by the great commission, “As the Father has sent me, I am sending you” (John 20:21). Though it was not fully realized until the day of Pentecost, it was in anticipation of that day that the words were spoken. But since Pentecost the Holy Spirit is already come, and each of us must receive His touch of fire and His enduing presence, from the very lips and breath of our ascended Lord.