“And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.” (Revelation 21:23)
This is a glimpse of the New Jerusalem. There is no night in it. It’s perpetually lighted by the glory of the Lord. There are many Scriptures in both the Old and New Testament that refer to the Lord as light. It’s God’s glory.
Our human bodies are nothing compared to the glorious body of the Lord. In all His appearances in the Old Testament and after His resurrection, He is a blazing light too brilliant to look upon. This is the bright light that Paul encountered on his way to Damascus. (Acts 26:12-15) It was Jesus in His glory. Paul described it as brighter than the sun. “At midday, O king, I saw in the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me and them which journeyed with me.” (Acts 26:13)
Ezekiel saw this light in his vision of the Lord. (Ezekiel 1:27) And again the vision of the Lord appeared to Ezekiel when the Lord tells him about the New Jerusalem. “And, behold, the glory of the God of Israel came from the way of the east: and His voice was like a noise of many waters: and the earth shined with His glory.” (Ezekiel 43:2)
The light of the Lord was seen by Peter, James and John when Jesus was transfigured. “And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, And was transfigured before them: and His face did shine as the sun, and His raiment was white as the light. And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with Him. Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if Thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for Thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias. While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye Him. And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid. (Matthew 17:1-6)
Because of our limited knowledge and understanding we race over the Scriptures that speak of God’s light. John wrote often of how Jesus was the light of the world. Jesus Himself described Himself as the light of the world. “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.” (John 8:12) The word Jesus uses is “luminousness” which can be taken literally or figurative as fire or light. In my understanding, I always thought it meant figuratively understanding. But in this study, I see that it can mean both. Jesus spoke with such wisdom which the man of that time could not understand. Today with the understanding of the Holy Spirit, our minds still cannot fully understand some of the things Jesus said because He spoke of things so foreign to this world. And our minds cannot wrap our understanding around what Jesus was truly saying. “For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.” (1Corinthians 13:12) We only know all about God partly. But when we are face to face with our Lord, we will know and understand all things clearly.
In the meantime, we study His Word and the Lord gives us a glimpse of His knowledge and understanding. It’s beyond what we imagine. “For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of His mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.” (Proverbs 2:6) His Word enlightens our understanding, but it is only a drop in a bucket to all that God has for us. We cannot fully embrace His Goodness, His Love and Mercy for us. “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.” (1Corinthians 2:9-16) And even if we do know and understand spiritual things as the Lord has revealed them to us, we still only know in part God’s greatness.
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