A friend sent me some notes, a "devotional" (which frankly, I am not certain WHAT this means) on a Bible passage about light. It was written by a well known pastor, so maybe it was his thoughts on the matter at hand. At any rate, it began with a passage thought from John 3:10 that says, "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. " It provoked me into thinking.... and writing, and photographing things... and so, here I am.
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| Acts 17:27God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. |
I was thinking about some other Bible passages.
This is especially since my friend and I were recently discussing issues of the Christian faith, including some of the topics the little devotional addressed, lie the Pharisees, benefits of "light," and how Jesus made the claim to be the "light of the world. "
The devotion said, "The Pharisees did not doubt Jesus because they merely disagreed with Him; they doubted Jesus because they were hardened against him. "
.........................Funny, we are all a little hardened. But I have to say that after simply reading the passage given I was not clear as to how the "Pharisees" got into the discussion. I was simply reading about light and darkness and all of a sudden, the pharisee's appeared. My guess is that the chapter deals with Jesus and the response of the Pharisees to him.
The devotional goes on to say, "Doubt is a matter of the mind. Even Christians have moments of doubt. We don't always understand what God is doing or why He is doing it. Unbelief, in contrast, is a matter of the will. It is a choice we make. "
............ so I wonder.. Were the pharisees in doubt, or unbelief?
The writer of this devotoional says, "The Pharisees were full of unbelief." I cannot help but note that the Bible verse quoted was not about "unbelief." although it might be safe to claim the Pharisees did not believe a word Jesus said or was saying. Apparently, this man named Jesus was getting way too much attention for their comfort that is, if the people listening to JEsus were to support their expert leadership in spiritual and religious affairs and follow their prescribed way of life and faith. The passage was actually about being in darkness.... moreso, being in love with darkness, and HATING the light. This is more than unbelief.; it is pride and pride before God, who created man, and who rescued him from sin and death, is sin.
The author goes on, and makes the point that : "They (those Pharisees) did not reject Jesus for lack of evidence or because He was not consistent with what He said. The fact is that Jesus was the perfect example. Even Pontius Pilate, who had examined countless people, said, "I find no fault in this Man" (Luke 23:4), and "I am innocent of the blood of this just Person" (Matthew 27:24). Judas Iscariot, who spent three, concentrated years with Jesus and even betrayed Him said, "I have sinned by betraying innocent blood" (Matthew 27:4). So Jesus clearly was a model of everything that He said. "
......... more importantly, (after reading the book of John through chapter 8, I can tell you that he, Jesus, was a model of everything that he himself said, but more than this, he was a man who represented God the father and who did everything, just as God THE FATHER said.
The devotion continues, "The Pharisees rejected Jesus because it interfered with the way they wanted to live. And that is why people reject Him today. Jesus said, "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" (John 3:19–20). People don't reject Jesus because they have carefully examined the evidence and have determined that it is not convincing enough. They don't reject Him because they have read through the Scriptures and have found some apparent contradiction. They don't reject Him because of the so-called hypocrisy of some in the church. They reject Him because He interferes with the way they want to live."
Interesting. JEsus offers forgiveness of sin, eternal life... and he is considered an "interruption." Tis is rather ironic.
IT is easy to understand that the worldly reject the godly and that those in darkness, who love their lives in this world or who love their sin more than God, reject JEsus. With this topic in mind, another verse I think about is Issiah 9:2... the one that says, " The people who walked in darkness Have seen a great light"
YEs, we have... the whole world has seen this light... even the pharisees.... but they would not follow. ( IF people haven't believed in the Son, they have, at least, seen and felt the Sun, marveled at the works of His hands!.) Those who did not, would not harken unto JEsus' who would not follow him, would not come into the light that was shining so prightly, speaking directly to them, face to face. They hated the light that was shining, why? Because the loved other things... not God, but you can bet that they had a form of "godliness." These men were always in the temple.... in fact holding up God's law.
Thinking more about "light..." JEsus said, "As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world." (John 9:5)
and then again, in John 8:12... When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."
JEsus is the "light." True light, Light from Light... in Him is no darkness at all!
But back to Isaiah, which a little further into the text, reads..." Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, upon them a light has shined." (KJV)
(That would be us... those dwelling in the shadow of death.... and Jesus, HE is the light that has shined....
Further on in verse 6 it reads, (and we have all read in a Christmas greeting...)
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| For unto us a Child is born... |
And the government will be upon His (JESUS's) shoulder.
And His (JESUS's) )name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, (because "Jesus is God")
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (all are relative to JESUS who himself is the prince of peace that passes understanding)
7 Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end,
Upon the throne of David ( (JESUS is "Lord") and over His kingdom, (King of kings too!)
To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever."
Wow, that was a lot of information.
I guess it is one thing to reject Jesus and do your own thing... continue in darkness, go your own way... and it is another to come out of darkness, into the light. God is light. God is love.
"Christians" walk in God's light and in love. They are children of the promise, His promise, His Word.. made good in Christ Jesus, and it is that which is sure, true, right and good, full of mercy and good fruit.
"Anyone who loves their brother and sister lives in the light, and there is nothing in them to make them stumble.." (1 John 2:10) ,
"But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin." 1 John 1:7
It reflects to us the idea that walking in the light... the light of God's word, the light of Jesus Christ...as He is in the light, is the Christian life of fellowship with God and with one another. Additionally, it is essential for purification from sin.
Matthew 6:( 22-----23 ish) says,
"The light
of the body
is the eye:
if therefore
thine eye be
single,
thy whole
body shall
be full of light.
But
if thine eye be evil,
But
if thine eye be evil,
thy whole body
shall be full of darkness.
If therefore
the light
that is in thee be
darkness,
how great
is that
darkness!
darkness!
No man
can serve two masters:
can serve two masters:
for either
he will hate
the one,
and love the other;
or else he will hold to the one,
and despise
the other.
Ye cannot
serve
serve
God
and
mammon.
And so... it all leaves me marveling at the benefits of "light" and the things that Jesus said.
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