February 07, 2022 – Monday
John 12:46 NIV
46 I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.
Comment.
This is Jesus declaring in the Amplified Bible, I have come as Light into the world, so that everyone who believes and trusts in Me [as Savior—all those who anchor their hope in Me and rely on the truth of My message] will not continue to live in darkness. I prefer the AMP (as Light) as well as the CSB (as light), CEV (the light), ESV (as light), NOG (the light), NASB (as light), among others. The point being Jesus was not a light among lights, but was the Light, the only true Light to all of mankind.
Note how Jesus begins this declaration, I have come into the world, which clearly points to Jesus’ preexistence prior to His coming as Immanuel or God is with us. And I really like how Meyer’s NT Commentary looks at this verse, I, no other, I am the light, as possessor and communicator of the divine truth of salvation, come into the world. Why did He come into the world as light? He did it so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness, or as Matthew Poole’s Commentary puts it,
that he who receiveth and embraces me, as his Priest and Prophet, though he may be in darkness naturally, yet should not abide in a state of ignorance, and sin, and guilt. Men and women, before they believe in Christ are in darkness; but upon believing, they are translated out of their state of darkness into a state of marvellous light; they do not abide in darkness.
Ephesians 5:8 expresses this thought well, For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light. Before Christ we all lived in darkness, but when Christ’s Light is on us as believers, the light infuses faith into us, and we are no longer in darkness for the darkness is in our past, at least in a great measure, and the true, the real light shines in us so that we see the light, see glory and grace of Christ, and the invisible incredible realities of another world. As a result we cannot continue in the darkness of sin, ignorance, and unbelief; but walk in the light of truth, faith, and holiness, until the perfect day comes, when all the shadows of remaining darkness will flee away (adapted from Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible).
Bottom Line: Without Christ we remain in darkness, deep darkness. Without Christ we do not have a valid understanding of life, death, and eternity. But once we come to Christ in faith, we not longer have to group about for the truth, because we find the truth in Him.
Prayer: Father God, Thank you for the Light You have provided in my life for this life and the one beyond. You have blessed me/us tremendously and I so very thankful. – In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
RileyD, nwJ
Riley D. Driver – Pastor
Calvary Chapel of Dayton
in Beavercreek