Mystery of Light part 2
Thesis: Scientists are baffled by the mystery of light they can study it but still don’t understand what light is. God is light according to the Bible and he’s as mysterious as light in the natural sense but like scientist we can study God and understand what light does in our life.
Texts:
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.”
I John 1:5 “This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.”
Introduction:
Last week I introduced our series for the next couple of weeks. We will be exploring the mystery of light. Scientists will help us understand light and also help us to apply it spiritually to God as being the light of the world. Last week I covered the following introduction to an article I discovered in the Oct 2001 edition of the National Geographic. The article was titled the Power of Light:
Light reveals the world to us. Body and soul crave it. Light sets our biological clocks. It triggers in our brains the sensations of color. Light feeds us, supplying the energy of plants to grow. It inspires us with special effects like rainbows and sunsets. Light gives us life- changing tools, from incandescent bulbs to lasers and fiber optics. Scientists don’t fully understand what light is or what it can do. They just know that it will illuminate our future (3).
After just reading this introduction in the article I said, this article has spiritual insight for us as Christians. So I read on and the verses on light in the Bible just raced through my mind. Wow I thought! The Bible tells us that God is light. So we will continue to explore some spiritual application points from the scientific study of light.
I came across this quote this week on light from another author:
“Light, without which we can see nothing, is itself invisible. It seems to move from place to place instantaneously, passing ghostlike through solid materials such as glass. If it is part of the material world, it is certainly, by dint of its surpassing subtlety, the part that is closest to spirit: So thought the astronomer Johannes Kepler. It is identical to God, mystics like Mani and John the Evangelist declared” (Park).
T.S.- Lets learn how God is like light and in reality is light!
I. Scientists say, “Light won’t reduce. Light is light pure, but not simple.”
a. Light will not reduce – You cannot dismantle the parts of light and have light. It will not work if you try to reduce it or dismantle any of lights parts.
i. Light is non reduce-able but you can use light as a source of energy because you can compress a lot of light ‘s energy in a very small point.
1. Example when you use a magnifying glass on a sunny day to start a fire. When you do this experiment you are concentrating and compressing light together in one focused area. Result you light a fire.
a. Lasers are designed to work this way.
ii. Scientists tell us that this is one of the miracles of light:
1. “It has no volume. And photons have no charge, so in the process of being concentrated into a very small space, they don’t repulse each other as negatively charged electrons do.” (NIF will fit 4 x 10 the 24th power photons into the target capsule.) “They don’t bother one another” is the way Moses put it. “How many angels of light can dance on the head of a pin? In theory, and infinite number” (10).
2. Think about this statement – Light should not bother one another but gather together to gain greater power.
iii. God himself is light and he is non-reduce-able. You take away any part of God you don’t have God.
iv. The Lord gathers together his lights and compresses them together to stir up a fire in the world. To show light in the middle of darkness.
1. Spiritually this principle should be the same. The individual light elements should be able to come together and not repulse each other. A truth that the Christian church of today has neglected and ignored.
2. Jesus said in John 17: 20-23:
“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: 23I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.”
b. Light is pure according to the scientists and the Bible:
i. Pure means-free from anything that taints, impairs, or infects. The substance is free from defects, perfect, faultless.
1. Light is pure to the core.
ii. God is pure and this is what makes him holy.
1. Pure no dirt, no darkness, no corruption just love.
2. He is not contaminated but pure in every realm. There is no evil in Him only love.
3. God’s lighted representatives are to be pure light. What does this mean to be pure?
4. Titus 1:15-16 NIV
15To the pure, all things are pure, but to those who are corrupted and do not believe, nothing is pure. In fact, both their minds and consciences are corrupted. 16They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good.
5. Titus 2 From the Message:
A GOD-FILLED LIFE
Your job is to speak out on the things that make for solid doctrine. Guide older men into lives of temperance, dignity, and wisdom, into healthy faith, love, and endurance. Guide older women into lives of reverence so they end up as neither gossips nor drunks, but models of goodness. By looking at them, the younger women will know how to love their husbands and children, be virtuous and pure, keep a good house, be good wives. We don’t want anyone looking down on God’s Message because of their behavior. Also, guide the young men to live disciplined lives.
But mostly, show them all this by doing it yourself, incorruptible in your teaching, your words solid and sane. Then anyone who is dead set against us, when he finds nothing weird or misguided, might eventually come around.
Guide slaves into being loyal workers, a bonus to their masters—no back talk, no petty thievery. Then their good character will shine through their actions, adding luster to the teaching of our Savior God.
God’s readiness to give and forgive is now public. Salvation’s available for everyone! We’re being shown how to turn our backs on a godless, indulgent life, and how to take on a God-filled, God-honoring life. This new life is starting right now, and is whetting our appetites for the glorious day when our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, appears. He offered himself as a sacrifice to free us from a dark, rebellious life into this good, pure life, making us a people he can be proud of, energetic in goodness.
Tell them all this. Build up their courage, and discipline them if they get out of line. You’re in charge. Don’t let anyone put you down.
iii. Light is often used in the Scriptures as an emblem of true religion; Christians are represented as “the light of the world” (Matt. 5:14; compare Phil 2:15; John 8:12), and a Christian church may be represented as a light standing in the midst of surrounding darkness.
1. And His church needs to be a pure light with no flaws in it.
2. The reality is my friends in Christ – “Light and darkness never mix if they do there is no light!”
c. Light is complex according to the scientists and the Bible:
i. Complex means- Consisting of 2 or more related parts, refers to that which is made up of many elaborately interrelated or interconnected parts, so much study or knowledge is needed to understand or operate it (Webster, 290).
1. We all know what light is, but it is not easy to tell what it is," Dr. Johnson once said with nice understatement. “Small wonder it has set great minds at odds.
ii. We all know from experience that God himself is very complex and our minds struggle with understanding Him and His ways.
1. Isaiah 40:28
Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.
2. Philippians 4:6-9
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.”
3. Proverbs 3:5,6
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”
a. A thought on this passage we are not to lean on our understanding but on God’s wisdom and insight. If we do he promises to make our paths straight.
· Scientists tell us that light always travels in a straight line.
1. Demonstrate turn on the flash light.
2. So does God – he never wavers from this premise. Only when light is distorted and removed does it not go in a straight path.
d. Application:
i. We need to understand that light does not reduce you cannot take parts of light out and have light. Light is to unite together so that it draws from one another the power that comes from unified concentrated light.
ii. We need to understand that light is pure-there is no flaws in it-it’s makeup. It’s pure to the core and light is not to be contaminated by un-pure sources from the darkness. If it breaks down it’s no longer light.
iii. You need to understand that light is complex you will not understand all that light does We also must understand that light is more complex than our minds can comprehend so lean to God’s understanding not your own. Your limited he is not. We need to know that he promises to illuminate your future if you place your trust in Him.
T.S.- We have learned a little more about light and God’s light lets now explore how light illuminates this dark world in which we live.
II. Light is what illuminates our world - with out the light of the sun this world would have no light.
a. Scientists tell us that, “Usually…we don’t see light, we merely see with it. You can’t appreciate the beauty of a rose if you ponder the color red is just the brain’s interpretation of a specific wavelength of light…”
i. “Light permeates our reality at every scale of existence. It’s an amazing tool, a carrier of beauty, a giver of life” (8)
ii. The light of the Sun enters our eyes so we can see-our eyes are not lights or lanterns they don’t light our world – The Light -Light’s our world. Man does not have the ability to see without the realm of natural light.
iii. Visible light directly, regularly and dramatically interacts with our senses.
1. It enables us to see what we are seeing here this morning.
2. If there were not light today – you would see nothing – only darkness-blackness.
b. God is light and without His light there would be no light spiritually in this world.
c. Lets look at John Chapter 8: 12-59 and discover the emphasis on Christ’s proclamation, "I am the light of the world". We will learn it’s meaning and how the crowd responded that heard it.
i. John 8: 12-59 Basic Outline
1. Jesus’ statement and reaction of His enemies. They attack the witness borne to Him. (12-20)
2. Discussion goes to the fate of dying in sins. (21-24)
3. The relationship between Father and Son. (25-30)
4. The fact that the enemies of Jesus are slaves to sin. (31-47)
5. Section concludes with an emphasis on the glory given by the Father to the Son. (48-59)
ii. Historical setting: Rabbi Biba Singorus said, "Light is the name of the Messiah" as it is written, "Light dwells with him," Dan. 2:22. Jews considered the Messiah to be the light.
1. Rev. Adrian Dieleman gives us some more historical insight:
On the evening of the first night of the Feast of Tabernacles, there was a ceremony called the "Illumination of the Temple," which involved the ritual lighting of four golden candelabra in the Court of Women. For additional reflection, each person lit four candlesticks and set them in a floating bowl, producing such a spectacle of light that it is said that all Jerusalem basked in its glow. All night long the light shone. In celebration and anticipation, the greatest, wisest, and holiest of Israel’s men danced before the Lord and sang psalms of joy and praise, while the people watched and waited. They watched and waited, hoped and prayed, because this festival reminded the citizens of Israel that God had promised to send a light, the Light, to a sin-darkened world. God promised to send a Redeemer, the Anointed One, the Messiah, The Son of God. God promised to send Someone Who would renew Israel’s glory, release them from bondage, and restore their joy. In a couple of minutes the young people will read these promises of God (Numbers 24:17; Isaiah 9:1-2; Isaiah 60:1). The setting of our Scripture reading is the Temple, the Court of Women, on the last day of the Feast of Tabernacles. The candles have been lit and the people have again been reminded of the Messiah’s coming. In this setting Jesus makes a dramatic announcement: "I am the light of the world." Everyone knew what He meant. Jesus is saying: "What you’ve been watching and waiting and hoping and praying for in the Feast of Tabernacles is now before you. I am the light God has promised you."
iii. The Old Testament had many references to God being the light.
1. II Samuel 22:29 " You are my lamp, O Lord the Lord turns my darkness into light."
2. Psalm 27:1 " The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear....”
3. Psalm 119:105 “ Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”
4. Isa. 60:19 "The sun shall be no more the light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee; but the Lord shall be unto thee and everlasting light, and thy God thy glory."
5. Others: Isa. 8:20; 49:6; 58:8; 60:20
iv. The Jews were looking for the Messiah and knew what Jesus meant when he said “I am the light of the world!” Their Festivals looked and anticipated the coming Messiah. Their festivals also spoke about and emphasized the importance of repentance.
1. Jesus statement is made at the end of the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot) where there are ceremonies with light.
a. The Sukkot Festival comes in fall, four days after Yom Kippur.
2. The feasts were very important to the Jews. They delighted in their observance and rejoiced in their symbolism.
v. The High Holy days commenced in the fall with Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year and climaxed ten days later with Yom Kippur.
1. Rosh Hashanah- New Years Day
a. This marks the beginning of the ten days of repentance. This High Holy day according to the Jews was where God determined who would live or die in the New year.
b. During this festival the Jews would sound the shofa a trumpet blast which was to arouse the Jews from their moral reverie, to call them to spiritual regeneration, and to alert them to repentance.
c. The shofar is also sounded to remind the Jews of God’s promise to bring the Messiah. The Messiah would bring liberty and freedom to all people.
2. Yom Kippur- Day of Atonement
a. This is the culmination of the entire High Holy day drama-the final opportunity for Jews to repent. During the 24 hours of this day the Jews fulfill their obligation to "afflict" their souls by fasting, soul-searching, and praying. They beseech God for forgiveness and reflect on their lives.
3. Feast of Tabernacles
a. The ceremony with light where the bright and brilliant candelabra were lit, occurred only at the beginning of the Feast of Tabernacles.
i. There is much argumentation as to how much illumination took place at night by the candelabra. It is fact, that by the end of the Feast the candelabra were blown out.
ii. Some believe that in the absence of the lights on the ninth day the day after the feast is over, Jesus makes His claim, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."
iii. Either during or before it’s not clear but we know whenever he made his statement people knew what he meant.
b. To help us understand this statement, even more, let’s look at the rituals of symbolism and the symbolic meaning behind the Feasts of Tabernacles.
i. The Jews celebrated the Feast of Tabernacles as the anniversary of the beginnings of the wandering in the wilderness. Ex. 23:16; Lev. 23:53; Duet. 16: 13-15
ii. It also was associated with the Feast of Ingathering. Ex. 23:16; Deut. 16: 13, 14, 17
iii. Leviticus 23: 33-44
33The LORD said to Moses, 34“Say to the Israelites: ‘On the fifteenth day of the seventh month the LORD’S Feast of Tabernacles begins, and it lasts for seven days. 35The first day is a sacred assembly; do no regular work. 36For seven days present offerings made to the LORD by fire, and on the eighth day hold a sacred assembly and present an offering made to the LORD by fire. It is the closing assembly; do no regular work. 37(“‘These are the LORD’S appointed feasts, which you are to proclaim as sacred assemblies for bringing offerings made to the LORD by fire—the burnt offerings and grain offerings, sacrifices and drink offerings required for each day. 38These offerings are in addition to those for the LORD’S Sabbaths and£ in addition to your gifts and whatever you have vowed and all the freewill offerings you give to the LORD.) 39“‘So beginning with the fifteenth day of the seventh month, after you have gathered the crops of the land, celebrate the festival to the LORD for seven days; the first day is a day of rest, and the eighth day also is a day of rest. 40On the first day you are to take choice fruit from the trees, and palm fronds, leafy branches and poplars, and rejoice before the LORD your God for seven days. 41Celebrate this as a festival to the LORD for seven days each year. This is to be a lasting ordinance for the generations to come; celebrate it in the seventh month. 42Live in booths for seven days: All native-born Israelites are to live in booths 43so your descendants will know that I had the Israelites live in booths when I brought them out of Egypt. I am the LORD your God.’”
iv. Festival was to be done to remember deliverance out of Egypt.
v. Hebrew name Sukkot is considered "the festival for rejoicing". It was a very popular festival.
vi. Jews looked at Sukkot as a time to give thanks for their redemption from Egypt and for God’s providence during the many years of wandering through the desert.
vii. The Jews would dwell at this time for 7 days in an exposed insecure hut. This was done show that their faith and life was under God’s protective wings.
viii. Sukkot bids the Jews to serve Him with gladness.
ix. On the day of Sukkot, a semi-holiday in its own right, is called Hoshana Raboah or "Great Hosanna". In the course of the morning prayer service everyone in the congregation takes the lulav and etrog and joins in a seven circuit procession around the synagogue while reciting prayers of hosanna calling for God’s salvation.
4. The Central theme of the High Holy Days is repentance. The Jews believed in 4 conditions which must be met to have repentance:
a. Regret for the past.
b. Desisting from sinful behavior.
c. Confession before God.
d. Resolving not to sin in the future.
5. With the stage set Jesus offers them God’s salvation once again and the Jewish leaders challenge His claim to deity.
d. Jesus’ statement in John 8:12 tells us that, “Without the Son there would be no light in this world. He is the one that the Jews have been praying for and looking for. But they refuse to believe it.
i. Illustration. Instead they want to destroy the light.
1. Break the light in the front of the altar. Have all the other lights turned off.
ii. Rev. Adrian Dieleman explains Jesus phrase found in John 8:12:
1. "I am the light of the world." Let’s take a closer look at this sentence. We first notice the words "I am." In the Greek a great deal of emphasis falls on this phrase. "I am." This calls to mind God’s great "I AM" to Moses: (Ex 3:14) God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ’I AM has sent me to you.’" "I am," says Jesus. "I AM," says God. The conclusion is inescapable: Jesus claims divinity for Himself; He claims to be part of the Godhead. He claims to be the Messiah, the Anointed One, the Son of God. "I am."
2. She notes, “Scripture records for us that the Pharisees and the people were incredulous. Here was a man, an ordinary man, claiming to be the promised Light, the Anointed One, the Messiah, coequal to and coeternal with the great "I AM."
e. Jesus said, "I am the light." Notice, Jesus doesn’t say "I have the light." No Jesus made it clear to all who where and are listening that He is “The Light!” He’s the one who can light up this dark world so you can see the truth and be free from darkness and blindness.
i. Rev. Adrian Dieleman states, "I am the light." Light means life. Light signifies life-giving power. Think, for a moment, of the everyday miracle we know as photosynthesis. In photosynthesis light means life. In the presence of light, green plants convert water, carbon dioxide, and minerals into carbohydrates and oxygen. If there would be no light, there would be no photosynthesis. If there would be no photosynthesis, there would be no more life. Light means life. Jesus says, "I am the light." Light means life. This means Jesus is the source of life and the well-spring of being. All life comes from Jesus and stems from Jesus. If you want to live, to really live, you must turn to Christ.”
Conclusion:
Lets review what we have discovered today:
Number 1 - “Light won’t reduce. Light is light pure, but not simple.”
3 Application points:
We need to understand that light does not reduce you cannot take parts of light out and have light. Light is to unite together so that it draws from one another the power that comes from unified concentrated light.
We need to understand that light is pure-there is no flaws in it-it’s makeup. It’s pure to the core and light is not to be contaminated by un-pure sources from the darkness. If it breaks down it’s no longer light.
You need to understand that light is complex you will not understand all that light does We also must understand that light is more complex than our minds can comprehend so lean to God’s understanding not your own. Your limited he is not. We need to know that he promises to illuminate your future if you place your trust in Him.
Number 2 - Light is what illuminates our world - with out the light of the sun this world would have no light.
Application points:
Scientists tell us that, “Usually…we don’t see light, we merely see with it.” This is true of the spiritual realm we don’t see God who is light we merely see with his illumination the spiritual things of life.
Jesus is the light of the world and all who follow him will not walk in darkness.
The Jewish nation was looking for the promised Messiah of light and Jesus fulfilled this. There own festivals paved the way for the light to appear because their emphasis on repentance. The Central theme of the High Holy Days is repentance. The Jews believed in four conditions to have genuine repentance:
1. Regret for the past.
2. Desisting from sinful behavior.
3. Confession before God.
4. Resolving not to sin in the future.
Light means life. Jesus says, "I am the light." Light means life. This means Jesus is the source of life and without his light there is no life. Life comes from Jesus and stems from Jesus. If you want to live, to really live, you must turn to Christ. You must follow the 4 keys to genuine repentance to see the great light that comes from Jesus Christ.
