Upper Stories of John
Light: Part Three
John’s gospel includes four nuances of light since He’s always stretching us to think in spiritual realities: physical light, spiritual light, prophetic light, and eschatological (end times) light. We’ve discussed the first two, let’s delve into prophetic light. What did the prophets foretell?
Job understood the promise of the light of life which we know was Jesus,
God rescued me from the grave, and now my life is filled with light. Yes, God does these things again and again for people. He rescues them from the grave so they may enjoy the light of life. Job 33:28-30
The Psalmist wrote,
For You have delivered my soul from death, yes, my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of life. Psalm 56:13
Other prophets promised a great shining light: Jesus.
The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone. Isaiah 9:2
Rejoice not over me, O my enemy; when I fall, I shall rise; when I sit in darkness, the Lord will be a light to me. Micah 7:8
But for you who fear My name, the Sun of Righteousness will rise with healing in His wings. And you will go free, leaping with joy like calves let out to pasture. Malachi 4:2
John the Baptizer’s father, Zechariah, prophesied;
Because of God’s tender mercy, the morning light from heaven is about to break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, and to guide us to the path of peace. Luke 1:78-79
Simeon held the infant Jesus and blessed God saying,
… for my eyes have seen Your salvation that You have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to Your people Israel. Luke 2:30-32
Jesus declared Himself to be the prophet Isaiah’s light,
… the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light. And for those who lived in the land where death casts its shadow, a light has shined. Matthew 4:16
John was undoubtedly familiar with these words spoken in Scripture who were waiting for that light. He echoed the prophets,
In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. John 1:4
Jesus’ life connects heaven to earth. Prophetically He was pictured as the light of the lampstand found in the Tabernacle and Temple. God spiritually manifested Himself in that place, but when Jesus arrived on the scene He appeared in the flesh. He connected the Old and the New Testaments for us,
“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
John 8:12
“As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” John 9:5
John’s upper story of light is Jesus.