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Last week, we saw Jesus as light on earth, shining his light to penetrate the darkness. But Jesus wasn’t just light on earth for the short period of time he was here. He continues to be light as he rules and reigns in heaven. He uses his light to touch the lives of us here on earth whom he calls to spread his light, and he uses his light to give light to everyone in heaven.
Jesus Meets Saul/Paul as Light
After Jesus’ resurrection and ascension into heaven, he made one last appearance as light on earth. He appeared to Saul, later called Paul, who was actively persecuting Christians.
Acts 22:6-11: 6 “About noon as I came near Damascus, suddenly a bright light from heaven flashed around me. 7 I fell to the ground and heard a voice say to me, ‘Saul! Saul! Why do you persecute me?’
8 “‘Who are you, Lord?’ I asked.
“ ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting,’ he replied. 9 My companions saw the light, but they did not understand the voice of him who was speaking to me.
10 “‘What shall I do, Lord?’ I asked.
“ ‘Get up,’ the Lord said, ‘and go into Damascus. There you will be told all that you have been assigned to do.’ 11 My companions led me by the hand into Damascus, because the brilliance of the light had blinded me.”
Jesus’ brilliance was so bright that it blinded Saul! Jesus then used Saul’s transformation to Paul to bring the light of the gospel to the Gentiles.
Acts 26:22-23: 22 “But God has helped me to this very day; so I stand here and testify to small and great alike. I am saying nothing beyond what the prophets and Moses said would happen— 23 that the Messiah would suffer and, as the first to rise from the dead, would bring the message of light to his own people and to the Gentiles.”
Although we may not be blinded by light as Paul was, Christians are still called to bring Jesus’ message of light to everyone around us. We’ll see this more as we finish up this study over the next couple weeks.
Jesus as Light in Heaven
Not only is Jesus light on earth, but he is also light in heaven.
Hebrews 1:3: The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.
Jesus is the radiance of God’s glory, and he sits at God’s right hand. Revelation gives us an even more descriptive view of Jesus as light.
Revelation 1:12-18: 12 I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, 13 and among the lampstands was someone like a son of man, dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. 14 The hair on his head was white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. 15 His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. 16 In his right hand he held seven stars, and coming out of his mouth was a sharp, double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance.
17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. 18 I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.
Jesus is described as both a lamp in heaven, next to God’s light, as well as the bright Morning Star.
Revelation 21:22-23: 22 I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. 23 The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp.
Revelation 22:16: 16 “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.”
Even in heaven, where there is no darkness, Jesus shines as a light.
Light at Jesus’ Return
Jesus’ light will be evident at his return, as we discussed in Part 5 when we talked about the Day of the Lord.
Luke 17:22-24: 22 Then he said to his disciples, “The time is coming when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man, but you will not see it. 23 People will tell you, ‘There he is!’ or ‘Here he is!’ Do not go running off after them. 24 For the Son of Man in his day will be like the lightning, which flashes and lights up the sky from one end to the other.
The Day of the Lord will be accompanied by darkness, which makes the light of Jesus even more dramatic when he returns.
Conclusion
Whether he is on earth or in heaven, Jesus is described as light. He shines his light to change our lives, he is the radiance of God’s glory, and he will be a light in heaven for all eternity. How does that light affect you and me? Come back next week to find out.
Premium Resources
Each individual characteristic of God study will come with two resources: a word search just for fun (including an answer key), and a list of verses for if you want to investigate that individual characteristic of God more completely.
You can access these resources by clicking here: God Is Light Resources
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