August
3, 2003
THE
LIGHT OF MEN
"In
Him was life, and the life was the light of men... That was
the true Light which gives light to every man coming into
the world" (John 1:4, 9, NKJV).
Light,
an illumination; something that makes vision possible; an
electromagnetic radiation in the wavelength range that is
visible to the human eye; travels in a vacuum with a speed
of about 186,281 miles per second. These are just a few of
the definitions of light. In the verse above, Jesus is referred
to as "life" and "light." As Creator,
"All things were made through Him" (John 1:3), Jesus
is the source of life and light.
Jesus
demonstrated His power to create life. The same voice that
spoke life to man created from the dust of the earth (Geneses
1:26, 27), spoke life to the widow of Nain's son (Luke 7:11-15),
to Jairus' daughter (Mark 5:41, 42), and to Lazarus, (John
11:41-44).
A Roman
Centurion came to Jesus one day and pleaded with Him, "Lord,
my servant is lying at home paralyzed." Jesus said to
him, "I will come and heal him."
The centurion answered, "Lord, I am not worthy that You
should come under my roof. But only speak a word, and my servant
will be healed." Jesus marveled at the faith of the centurion
and said to those present, "I say
to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!"
Then Jesus said to the centurion, "Go
your way; and as you have believed, so let it be done for
you" (Matthew 8:8, 10, 13).
This
centurion, born in heathenism, educated in the idolatry of
imperial Rome, trained as a soldier, seemingly cut off from
spiritual life by his education and surroundings, and still
further shut out by the bigotry of the Jews, perceived the
truth to which many of the leaders of the Jews were blinded.
The "Light which gives light to every man coming into
the world" had shone on this centurion and he had discerned
the glory of the Son of God.
To all
who put their faith and trust in the One who is the Source
of life and light, he gives the right to become members of
His family (see John 1:12).
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