WHO’S YOUR ONE? Day 20

The Blindness of Unbelievers

“In their case, the god of this age has blinded the minds of the unbelievers to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For we are not proclaiming ourselves but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’s sake. For God who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of God’s glory in the face of Jesus Christ.”
‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭4:4-6‬ ‭CSB‬‬

The way we live as Christians looks like foolishness to the unbeliever. They are prevented from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, and consequently, the things of Christ appear strange and foreign. They are prevented from seeing and being in an intimate relationship with God Himself. As we share the gospel with our one, we do not share in such a way as to make ourselves look great. We proclaim Christ as servant messengers who are praying God would use us to shine light into the darkness of the lives of unbelievers. May this light give knowledge to those we share the good news with each day.

Pray God would give “the light of the knowledge of God’s glory” to your one. (From “Who’s Your One?” Devotional, NAMB)

THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD REJECTED

So many reject the Light because of an obstinate darkness.

“The Pharisees therefore said to Him, ‘You bear witness of Yourself; Your witness is not true.’ Jesus answered and said to them, ‘Even if I bear witness of Myself, My witness is true, for I know where I came from and where I am going; but you do not know where I come from and where I am going. You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one. And yet if I do judge, My judgment is true; for I am not alone, but I am with the Father who sent Me. It is also written in your law that the testimony of two men is true. I am One who bears witness of Myself, and the Father who sent Me bears witness of Me.’ Then they said to Him, ‘Where is Your Father?’ Jesus answered, ‘You know neither Me nor My Father. If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also.’” (John 8:13-19).

The darkness of unbelief is a stubborn thing.

 “And He said to them, ‘You are from beneath; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.’” (‭‭John‬ ‭8:23-24‬)

 At last, these who spurned the Light and sought the darkness committed the sin for which there is no forgiveness. ‘Then the Jews answered and said to Him, “Do we not say rightly that You are a Samaritan and have a demon?’” (John‬ ‭8:48‬)

Christ offered Himself as their King, and they would cry, “We have no king but Caesar!” (19:15).  Jesus demonstrated the credibility of His claims by the miracles He performed, but they attributed it to the power of Satan.  Their obstinate darkness would take them into outer darkness.  That is how Jesus described hell—a dark pit of torment where the light of life is shut off—a second death; a place where the light of love is shut out—away from God’s gracious presence.

I beg you—don’t reject the Light of the World!

THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD RECEIVED

“Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, ‘I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.’” (John‬ ‭8:12‬‬).

Consider the context of John 8:12.  

As the Kingdom of God is defined by light, the kingdom of Satan is dominated by darkness.  The previous verses (v.1-11) tell the story of a woman caught in the act of adultery, but the light of Christ shone upon her and changed her life forever.  The dominion of sin was overthrown. Jesus also exposed the self-righteous in His light, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.” (v.7‬). They all had to drop their rocks. The only One sinless who could have condemned her, chose to forgive her (v.11) and called her to a life of walking in the light.

In the next chapter, we read of a man blind from birth (9:1ff).  The Kingdom of God is defined by life, while the kingdom of Satan is dominated by death. That is the spiritual condition of all in this world by virtue of their physical birth who need a spiritual birth to open their eyes to the light of truth and life (see John 1:4-13).  We dwell in a shadowland of sin, spiritually dead in trespasses and sins. When the blind man received Christ, he became a new person.  Christ can break the bondage of darkness in your life and bring you into new life in Him!  It is the dawn of a new day.

“For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light” (Eph.‭5:8‬).

THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD

Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”  (John 8:12)

One tremendous theme threads its way through the Gospel of John—the deity of Christ.  John wants us to know Jesus is more than a carpenter, greater than even the greatest of men, that He is indeed the Son of God.  Three wonderful words are woven into the text—light, life, and love.  Each one describes the essence of the Father and the Son.  Seven supernatural signs are selected by the writer to stress Christ’s deity.  Then, we have seven sublime statements where Jesus used the phrase, “I am,” which the Jews understood as the name of God, as He revealed Himself to Moses—thus, Jesus was claiming to be God Incarnate.  One of those statements is, “I am the light of the world.”

First, we consider THE LIGHT AS IT WAS REVEALED.  The purpose of light is to reveal—to shine out and to show up a thing.  Christ shines out the person of God.  When He claims to be the Light, He claims to be God.  Is He a liar, lunatic, or Lord?  Those are the only options.  He is either a deceiver, delusional or Deity.  John was an eyewitness to His glory revealed on the Mt. of Transfiguration.  Paul saw that Light and said He is the image of the invisible God (Col.1:15), and Hebrews 1:3 speaks of, “the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person….”  Christ shows up the path to God.  As the glory cloud led the Israelites through the wilderness, so Christ is the Light of the world to guide us to God (see 2 Cor.4:6).

Next, we note THE LIGHT AS IT WAS RECEIVED.  Consider the context.  As the Kingdom of God is branded by brightness, the kingdom of Satan is dominated by darkness.  The previous verses tell the story of a woman caught in the act of adultery, but the light of Christ shone upon her and changed her life forever.  In the next chapter, we read of a man blind from birth.  That is the spiritual condition of all in this world by virtue of their physical birth who need a spiritual birth to open their eyes to the light of truth and life (see John 1:4-13).  When the blind man received Christ, he became a new person.  Christ can break the bondage of darkness in your life and bring you into new life in Him!  It is the dawn of a new day.

Sadly, we find THE LIGHT AS IT WAS REJECTED.  So many reject the Light because of an obstinate darkness (John 8:13-19).  The darkness of unbelief is a stubborn thing (v.23-24).  At last, these who spurned the Light and sought the darkness committed the sin for which there is no forgiveness (8:48).  Christ offered Himself as their King, and they would cry, “We have no king but Caesar!” (19:15).  Jesus demonstrated the credibility of His claims by the miracles He performed, but they attributed it to the power of Satan.  Their obstinate darkness would take them into outer darkness.  That is how Jesus described hell—a dark pit of torment where the light of life is shut off—a second death; a place where the light of love is shut out—away from God’s gracious presence.

None have to go there.  The hymn beckons, “Come to the light, ’tis shining for thee....”  Have you?  Will you?