Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying,
“I am the Light of the world: he that followeth Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”
The Pharisees therefore said unto him, “Thou bearest record of Thyself; Thy record is not true.” Jesus answered and said unto them,
“Though I bear record of Myself, My record is true: for I know whence I came, and whither I go; but ye cannot tell whence I come, and whither I go. Ye judge after the flesh; I judge no man. And yet if I judge, My judgment is true: for I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent Me. It is also written in your law, that the testimony of two men is true. I am one that bear witness of Myself, and the Father that sent Me beareth witness of Me.”
Then said they unto Him, “Where is Thy Father?” Jesus answered,
“Ye neither know Me, nor My Father: if ye had known Me, ye should have known My Father also.”
These words spake Jesus in the treasury, as He taught in the temple: and no man laid hands on Him; for His hour was not yet come.
John 8:12-20
Light of the world
The Light
No man, when he hath lighted a candle, putteth it in a secret place, neither under a bushel, but on a candlestick, that they which come in may see the light. The light of the body is the eye: therefore when thine eye is single, thy whole body also is full of light; but when thine eye is evil, thy body also is full of darkness.
Take heed therefore that the light which is in thee be not darkness. If thy whole body therefore be full of light, having no part dark, the whole shall be full of light, as when the bright shining of a candle doth give thee light. Luke 11:33-36
Jesus said, “I am the Light of the world.” He went on to say in that same verse, “…He that followeth Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” (John 8:12).
When we live for Christ His light burns in our lives and it cannot be hidden in a secret place or put under a basket, but out for all who see us will be able to see that the light of Jesus Christ is within us. There will be a single focus on the life in which the Light of Jesus Christ dwells. That single focus will be of loving, worshiping, honoring and adoring the Lord Jesus.
In First John the apostle wrote, “This then is the message which we have heard of Him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all.” (1:5). When we walk in the Light of Christ we are “the light of the world” (Matthew 5:14), which will be visible as the world passes by.
Turn to the Light of Jesus Christ who died for our sins, was buried, and rose from the dead. It is His light that exposes the evil of our hearts, and in the world, and sets the soul free for all who will come to Him.
Light
“Then Jesus said unto them,
‘Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth.
While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light.’
These things spake Jesus, and departed, and did hide himself from them.” John 12:35-36
Light is wonderful to have. Without light we would be stumbling around in the dark. Light shows us danger in our path, the way ahead, and even is a source of life.
Few people clean under their beds, and if you take a light and shine it under the bed you will see all kinds of dirt and dust. Light exposes the things that are hid in darkness. Jesus is the Light of the world. He has told us so in John 8:12 and John 9:5.
Because Jesus is the Light of the world many hate them because they do not want their evil hearts to be exposed, because their deeds are evil (John 3:19). I pray that your sin has been exposed and your condemnation, and that you have turned your heart away from sin to Christ Jesus.
Jesus also said to those who believe on Him, “You are the light of the world” Matthew 5:14. When we have put our faith in Him, we are His light in this dark world.
Prayer for January 6, 2021
For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life: to keep thee from the evil woman, from the flattery of the tongue of a strange woman. Proverbs 6:23-24
…That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying,… Matthew 12:17
Father in heaven all praise belongs to You. You are worthy of worship, praise, honor and glory; and Jesus Christ is the Son of God and God the Son who is the Incarnation of the God head and the fullness thereof. Blessed be the name of the Lord.
Forgive the sins of those who call themselves Christians yet deny the power and the authority of Your word; the Old and the New Testaments. Who refuse to hide Your word in their hearts that we might not sin against God. Who will not take heed to the instruction of Your word that we might be cleansed from our sins. Who give more authority to men than to Your word.
I ask, O Lord, for a new zeal for the truth of Your word and its power to save and deliver us from sin, death and Hell; and to empower us to live for You. I pray that I grow in my love for You and Your word and for all Christians worldwide the same love and zeal – and even greater than my own. The only hope for Adam’s race is Jesus Christ and Your word You have given us.
Your commandment is the lamp, and Your law is out light; and Jesus Christ is the Light of the world; the only deliverance available for us and eternal life with You. Jesus is the fulfillment of all the Old Testament prophecies of Messiah; the Christ.
Lord God Almighty I need You. The world needs You. The United States of America needs You. Give Your people a renewed zeal, vigor, and love for You, Your word, Your way and Your will. Amen.
Words of Jesus; Son of God, God the Son – 092520
“And as Jesus passed by, He saw a man which was blind from birth. And His disciples asked Him, saying, ‘Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?’ Jesus answered,
‘Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. I must work the works of Him that sent Me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the Light of the world.’
When He had thus spoken, He spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and He anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay, and said unto him,
‘Go, wash in the pool of Siloam,’
(which is by interpretation, ‘Sent.’) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing.” John 9:1-7 (KJB)
Christmas Day Twenty and One
What do I want for Christmas today?
I want to be a friend to the friendless, bring hope to the hopeless, bring a smile to the faces of those who are down and discouraged, and to be the light of Christ in the dark places of this world.
“Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.” Matthew 5:14 (KJV)
The Creating Work of Jesus
“And as Jesus passed by, He saw a man which was blind from his birth. And His disciples asked Him, saying, ‘Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?’ Jesus answered, ‘Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. I must work the works of Him that sent Me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world. When He had thus spoken, He spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay, and said unto him, ‘Go, wash in the pool of Siloam,‘ (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing.” (John 9:1-7)
True Judgment
“…I am the light of the world: he that followeth Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. …Though I bear record of Myself, yet My record is true: for I know whence I came, and whither I go; but ye cannot tell whence I come, and whither I go. Ye judge after the flesh; I judge no man. And yet if I judge, My judgment is true: for I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent Me. It is also written in your law, that the testimony of two men is true. I am one that bear witness of Myself, and the Father that sent me beareth witness of Me. …Ye neither know Me, nor My Father: if ye had known Me, ye should have known My Father also.” ~Jesus (John 8:12-20)
Day 6 – The Glory of the LORD
On this sixth day of February 2012 my reading covered Exodus 21 – 34. For me it was an hour’s worth of reading. I know that means I am a slow reader. Part of that time was spent in pouring me a cup of coffee with hot chocolate mix mixed in at half way through which was after chapter 27.
God of creation and all things; LORD of hosts, and Israel is the God of Glory and grace. My how we need grace. How I need grace.
Chapter 21 begins with additional laws concerning judgments, and handling conflicts among the people. God also gives some rules for dealing with perversity, and obscenity among people and animals (22:16-20).
Following these rules God gives Moses the designs for building a place for “God’s dwelling” among the people – the Tabernacle in the wilderness. He gives Moses His design for worshipping Him. He begins with the inner Tabernacle, and in particular with Himself with the Ark of the covenant and mercy seat (25:10-22). The table of shewbread (vv. 23-30). The Menorah (vv. 31-40). True worship must begin with God. It cannot begin with music, or even preaching. It must forever begin with God.
Chapter 26 deals with the goat skins that will be needed for the Tabernacle covering, and linens, and blue, scarlet, purple. Silver is needed for the “foundation” of the movable tabernacle. Very intricately detailed by the heavenly Designer. I pray you will be reading these chapters and will see that all these things of the Tabernacle in the wilderness point us to the Messiah of Israel. The gold and the wood of the ark point us to the God-man Jesus the Christ; Jesus of Nazareth. The shewbread shows Jesus as the Bread of Life (John 6:35-58). The lampstand [Menorah] shows us Jesus as the Light of the World (John 8:12; 9:5).
When Moses was on the Mount receiving these instructions and heavenly designs the people down below were growing restless, beginning to complain; and due to this began crying out for Aaron to build them a “god”. They have previously said, “All that the LORD says we will do”. Now they are in abstract rebellion against Him. And Moses pleads for the people;
“And the LORD said unto Moses, ‘Go, get thee down; for thy people, which thou broughtest out of the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves: they have turned aside quickly out of the way which I commanded them: they have made them a molten calf, and have worshipped it, and have sacrificed thereunto, and said, ‘These be thy gods, O Israel, which have brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.’ And the LORD said unto Moses, ‘I have seen this people, and, behold, it is a stiffnecked people: now therefore let Me alone, that My wrath may wax hot against them, and that I may consume them: and I will make of thee a great nation.’ And Moses besought the LORD his God, and said, ‘LORD, why doth Thy wrath wax hot against Thy people, which Thou hast brought forth out of the land of Egypt with great power, and with a mighty hand? Wherefore should the Egyptians speak, and say, ‘For mischief did He bring them out, to slay them in the mountains, and to consume them from the face of the earth? Turn from Thy fierce wrath, and repent of this evil against Thy people. Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, Thy servants, to whom Thou swarest by Thine own self, and saidst unto them, ‘I will multiply your seed as the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have spoken of will I give unto your seed, and they shall inherit it for ever.’ And the LORD repented of the evil which He thought to do unto His people.” Exodus 32:7-14 (KJV)
Moses knew the LORD; and he knew the LORD is holy and had every right, and could with one word extinguish the nation from the face of the earth. The heart of Moses was one with the heart of God; because he is pleading for the grace of God to win out and glorify Him. The glory of God is at stake. That is what the pleading of Moses for the people is about.
In another place Moses pleads for God’s mercy and grace for the people, even to the point of his own destruction in their behalf;
“And Moses returned unto the LORD, and said, ‘Oh, this people have sinned a great sin, and have made them gods of gold. Yet now, if Thou wilt forgive their sin–; and if not, blot me, I pray Thee, out of thy book which thou hast written.” 32:31-32
We need to realize that the law was given to show us our sin, our weaknesses, and our need of God’s abundant grace. We all have fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23); and stand in need of grace given us freely by God through His Son Jesus Christ; who died on the cross for our sins, was buried carrying the guilt and condemnation of sin away, and rising bodily from the grave; justifying us forever.
-Tim A. Blankenship
The Fire and Hammer 