While God created light by simply speaking it into existence (He is God, you know!), it took mankind thousands of years to simply display that light from within a ‘luminari‘, i.e. the light bulb. Light bulbs have three main parts: the glass bulb on the outside, the thin filament wire which carries electricity (the heat of which glows and makes the light), and the metal base which connects to the actual source of the electricity. Do you see any interesting similarities to mankind’s relationship with God? Or more specifically, to a believer’s relationship with His Father?
(If you haven’t read the first part of this series, please take a moment and do so before continuing.)
Throughout the book of John Jesus is revealed as the Son of God. Like Father-Like Son. Jesus was, and is, the radiance of God’s Glory. (Hebrews 1:3) Jesus is the ‘apaugasma’ of God’s Glory. He beams forth His Father’s Glory! Like Father-Like Son. Jesus is the exact representation of God’s nature. (Hebrews 1:3) Jesus is the ‘charakter’ of the substance of God. Jesus is the perfect copy of His Father!
John 1:1 “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God.” The Word existed in the beginning right along with God, in fact, the Word was God! The Word, ‘logos’ means an expression as in a statement or a message. Could it be that God has a message for His creation? Ohhh, yes!
John 1:2 “He was in the beginning with God.” The Word, referred to in verse one, is revealed as a ‘being’, a ‘He’, in verse 2 and is further revealed as taking on flesh and becoming man in John 1:14. “And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His Glory, Glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.” Jesus, the radiance of God’s Glory, became man, the Son of God, and showed the world the Glory of His Father! Jesus, the perfect copy of His Father, let the world see and understand the Father’s Glory by bringing that Glory to the earth! Jesus was, and is, the expression of God. Jesus, the Son, was sent to us by His Father. God, the Father, had (and has) a message for His creation and the first and foremost part of that message is to show the world Who God is!
John 1:3 ‘All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.” Jesus was not unaware of this message, nor of Creation, to whom He would bring the message; Jesus Himself was intricately involved in creating Creation! God has always been in existence and He has always been Glorious. He is worthy of all Glory! God did not create Creation because He was lonely--God is self-existent and self-sufficient, He does not need anything or anyone. He created Creation for His pleasure, because of His will, simply so His Glory could be seen! (Revelation 4:11)
John 1:4 “In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men.” In Jesus was life, sort of like the metal base of the light bulb. God is the source of all life (electricity in this analogy). When man (glass part of light bulb) is ‘in Jesus’ (metal base) he is connected to that source, and is able to bring God Glory by showing the world Who God is. The light bulb (man) is the lamp, or light-bearer, or carrier of the light. What is the wire filament? The Holy Spirit of God, Who is given to any man Who would believe (true biblical belief) in Jesus as the Promised One, the Messiah, the Christ.
Jesus was given the Holy Spirit by the Father upon successful completion of His work on the earth. What was that work? To give His life as a ransom for many. Jesus did that perfectly, and the Father accepted Jesus’ perfect life-blood as payment for the many. The Father exalted Jesus and gave Him what had been promised, and Jesus poured forth that promise (the Holy Spirit) on the day of Pentecost. (Acts 2:33)
John 1:5 “The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.” Interesting thing about light--it always wins in any contest between light and darkness. Light shines right into darkness, consuming it and making room for greater and brighter light. Light shines--and the darkness that won’t repent retreats into further darkness (waiting for the final showdown, I might add).
John 1:12-13 “But as many as received Him to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His Name, who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” In order to be like the Father, you must become His son. To become His son, you must receive His Son! Receive God’s Son and you are given the incomprehensible privilege of being God’s child!
God’s Son, Jesus, is THE SEED that was promised in Genesis 3:15, the One Who would come and bring Life! He did come, and THE SEED ‘reproduces’ Himself whenever a person believes the Truth so as to be saved and is born again as a child of God. John 12:23-28 “And Jesus answered them, saying, ‘The hour as come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.” Jesus is the ‘grain of wheat’ that fell into the earth and died. Jesus is no longer alone as God’s Son, because He died and is risen again, and He bears much fruit (many brothers).
Like produces like. Jesus ‘produces’ much fruit, many others who are conformed into the image of Jesus, Who is the exact image of God and the radiance of His Glory. Romans 8:29 “For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren.” Colossians 1:27 “...Christ in you, the hope of Glory.” Jesus, the Christ, showed the world the Father, and now, just as a light bulb brings forth light, so Christians bring forth the Light of Jesus within them and show all people the Son, and by necessity, the Father.
In Jerusalem, during one of the Feasts of the Lord, Jesus cried out and said, “He who believes in Me, does not believe in Me but in Him who sent me. He who sees Me sees the One Who sent Me. I have come as Light into the world, so that everyone who believes in Me will not remain in darkness.” John 12:44-46
If you think you are born again, a Christian, a believer, or a saint, ask yourself the simple question posed by the image at the top of this blog. Which light bulb are you? If you are truly saved, then you are no longer in darkness. If you are truly His child, then you are showing the world Who God is by the things you say and do. (John 12:44-46) You will not speak on your own initiative, but your Father, the One Who has given you life, has given you a commandment as to what to say and speak. Do you know that His commandment is eternal life? It is! Therefore, speak just as the Father has told you in His Word. (John 12:49-50) Then you will truly bring Him the Glory He is due!
