Resources For "He Is, I'm Not" Series From Each Harderwyk Preacher
I. New For This Week
- "Light" Selected Verses for Meditation - CLICK HERE to view, download or print a copy.
- LifeSpan of the Apostle Paul - CLICK HERE to view, download or print a copy.
- Notes on the Life of John Newton: Growing in the Light - CLICK HERE to view, download or print a copy.
II. From The Commentaries
From Craig Evans in "The Bible Knowledge Background Commentary" - “Light” was commonly employed as a spiritual symbol in the ancient world. Parallels are available from Judaism, the Old Testament, Qumran, Hellenistic religions, and later Gnostic scriptures. However, Jesus’ use here is thoroughly Jewish. He is referring to the countless times that God’s saving work in the world is described as “light.” John 1:5 reflects this tradition, “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.” God’s first creation was light (Gen. 1:3). God even led the Israelites in the wilderness with light (Exod. 13:21–22; Ps. 78:14) and they were taught to sing, “The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear?” (Ps. 27:1). God’s wisdom given to the world is thus a light that illumines his people (Prov. 8:22). Hence, Ps. 119:105, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” In Rabbinic Judaism, this light was defined further as God’s Word (Torah) which guides and provides wisdom through study. Since in John’s gospel Jesus is the realization—the incarnation—of God’s own presence in the world, it is not surprising that “light” is used to describe the work of Christ sixteen times.
From Richard Phillips in "John, Volumes 1 & 2" (Reformed Expository Commentary) - William Barclay laments, “The whole history of Israel was so designed that the Jews should have recognized the Son of God when He came; all their history was leading up to that coming. But they had become so involved with their own ideas, so intent on their own way, so sure of their own conception of what religion was that they had become blind to God.” This same mistake has been repeated by countless Christian churches, and we face the same dire risk today, especially if we become devoted to political, social, or personal agendas that reflect our own priorities rather than the Bible’s.
Indeed, recent generations have provided numerous examples of “judging according to the flesh.” In the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, proponents of so-called Christian humanism rejected the Jesus of the Bible because they argued that modern life had disproved the supernatural. Theirs was a scientific agenda, and they rejected Jesus from that perspective. The socialists demanded a class-warfare Jesus. The capitalists demanded a free-market Jesus. The racists demanded an ethnocentric Jesus. The patriots demanded a nationalistic Jesus. Today, the worshipers of lifestyle demand a mystical Jesus who makes no demands and teaches no doctrine. The problem is that the biblical Jesus gives offense to each of these earthly perspectives, which is why people with such agendas end up rejecting the true Jesus revealed in Scripture.
III. Ongoing Resources
1) Scotty Smith’s Heavenward Daily Prayers - CLICK HERE to see the daily prayer blog of Scotty Smith. You will see an option to have them delivered to your email inbox each day as well.
2) Simple Lectio Divina Overview - CLICK HERE for a simple introduction of the spiritual practice of a more personal way of experience the Word through contemplation and reflection.
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