Tag: Light of the World

February 23rd 2025: Gaius Douglas

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Exodus 27:20-21.

Introduction

            We have been singing about the presence of God being among us. The Lord Jesus promised the disciples that He would be with them always, even to the end of the age (Matthew 28:20). The Lord is wherever His people are, and He will never leave nor forsake them. Do we appreciate this fact that the Lord is here now and present among us? Do we give Him the reverence due His name?

            In the Old Testament there are many ‘types’ and ‘shadows’ which show forth truths about the Lord Jesus (Romans 5:14; Colossians 2;17; Hebrews 8:5;10:1). All of these point towards the Lord Jesus Christ. They each tell us something about His person and/or His work. In this message we shall focus upon the lampstand, but all of the elements of the tabernacle point towards Christ Jesus in some way. We should remember that the entire Bible is a testimony to the Lord Jesus. He said as much to the disciples when He rose from the dead (Luke 24:25-27,44-46). In Revelation 19:10 we read these words: “for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” Such a statement shows us that the essence of all prophecy is actually a testimony of (or about) Christ. No prophecy has come by the will of man but through the action of the Holy Spirit (2Peter 1:20,21), and no man can come to the Father except through Christ Jesus who is “the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). Thus to know God we must come and approach through the Lord Jesus Christ.

But in the Old Testament during the time after the Exodus, approach was made through the tabernacle. In the book of Hebrews we read that: “Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation” (Hebrews 9:5). The tabernacle that Moses had built was, in fact, designed by God and He (alone) enabled certain gifted men and women with their God-given abilities and talents to construct the various parts of the tabernacle structure. The Lord gave these select people the wisdom and knowledge in skill to follow the pattern that God revealed to Moses (Hebrews 8:5). The Lord could have given the tabernacle to the congregation ready-made. After all He provided them with the manna in the wilderness. But instead the Lord raised up certain men and women, giving them wisdom by His Spirit, so that they could craft and build the tabernacle. But they had to do it precisely as it was revealed (Exodus 25:40; Hebrews 8:5).

The Lord used people in the construction of the meeting place that He had revealed whereby people could meet with Him. It was His design and His work, but He used people in its formation. In the same way the church, the body of Christ, is His work, but still He uses people in its formation. The church is grounded in Christ who is the foundation stone, and it is overseen and surrounded by God’s care and watchful eye. In 1 Peter 2:9 we read these amazing words:

But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvellous light. (1Peter 2:9).

Even if we think we cannot be of use, that we cannot preach or lead a fellowship, we can be His people and “proclaim the praises of Him who called” us from this world of sin and darkness into His wonderful kingdom of light. No building upon this earth, however incredible its structure and design, can ever surpass nor be as good and as beautiful as the building of the Lord’s church!

            In this message, our focus will be upon the lampstand in the tabernacle. But to show what this was like and where it was sited, consider the illustrations below:

The lampstand is also called the “Menorah.” Details of its construction can be found in Exodus 25:31-40. The lampstand was found in the Holy Place where the priests did their work. The Holy of Holies was separated from the Holy Place by a thick veil and could only be entered once a year on the Day of Atonement by the High Priest alone.

We shall consider this part of the tabernacle furniture using the following details of its structure and function:

[1] Pure gold.
[2] Of one piece.
[3] The only light.

[1] Pure gold.

            The ‘Menorah’ or the golden lampstand had seven branches in all. It was made of pure gold. In Scripture gold is put to illustrate divinity. The ark of the covenant was made of acacia wood overlain in gold and it housed the two tablets upon which were written the ten commandments. The wood aspect points to the human nature of the Lord Jesus and the gold to His divine nature. Gold was used in many other parts of the temple built later by Solomon. You may recall that the wise men who visited Christ in the manger brought gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Gold is a bright precious metal that is generally inert and so used mainly to represent the divine nature. Other precious substances such as pearls or other gems and precious stones are made from a combination of things that have undergone some form of transformation, but gold is elemental. Gold is considered a pure substance of great worth and largely uncorrupted. It is found as the native metal in the earth. So in the Old Testament economy (which is much more visual and earth-based), gold is put to point us towards the divine.

            But gold can in fact react if it is mixed with a mixture of nitric acid and hydrochloric acid. It serves well as a temporal picture to illustrate divinity in the tabernacle and temple because by-and-large it is pure, unreactive, very shiny, and highly prized. But in the New Testament we find that there are some precious things which are greater than gold. For example, true faith in Christ (that is, a faith which is genuine) is “much more precious than gold that perishes,” and it is even so “though it is tested by fire,” that it “may be found to praise, honour, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1Peter 1:7).  Then further, our very redemption was purchased with something of much greater value than mere gold. Peter goes on to state in his first letter that we “were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold” but rather “with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” (1Peter 1:18,19). Gold will perish, for it is simply a part of this creation. Even though it is a precious metal and high in value, Christ’s blood is of infinitely greater worth.

            The gold of the Menorah points us towards this thought that God in His incredible wisdom and grace has provided us with “precious faith,” towards Christ, and “precious blood” of Christ for our redemption which are of infinitely more value and worth than earthly gold.

[2] Of one piece.

            In Exodus 25:31 we are told expressly that the lampstand of gold was made from one piece. It was hammered into shape but from a single lump of the precious metal. We are also told that it was made from “one talent” in weight of pure gold (Exodus 25:39). There is some debate about the exact measure but it is somewhere around 32 to 35 kg. Apparently the average new-born baby weighs around 3.2 kg, so this lampstand is equivalent in mass to ten newborn babies! Quite a substantial size. It was no mere ornamental lamp on a sideboard!

            Why this emphasis on it being made from one piece and not being welded or joined in any way? This surely shows us the unique nature of the Lord Jesus. He is described in such unique ways in the New Testament as the following few examples show:

The Holy One and the Just. (Acts 3:14).
The Head of the church. (Colossians 1:18).
The Apostle and High Priest. (Hebrews 3:1).
The Mediator of the new covenant. (Hebrews 9:15; 12:24).
The Man, Christ Jesus. (1Timothy 2:5).
The Bright and Morning Star. (Revelation 22:16).

But then also He is One with the Father: “I and My Father are one” (John 10:30). When we think of the Lord Jesus Christ we are also to think of the Father too, for as our Lord Himself said: “He who has seen Me has seen the Father” (John 14:9). And we dare not exclude the Holy Spirit who Himself is God too. These three divine persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, are united in the trinity. One God but three distinct Persons. All work in concert and harmony. Where One is there are the others in perfect union.

            Now our union with Christ is also apparent too. You will notice that there are six branches to the lampstand, three on either side. In the middle is the main or central branch. The number six is the number which represents man. Our Lord Jesus was the God-man. Fully human (although sinless) and fully God. Here in this menorah (lampstand) we see mankind reflected in perfection for the number seven stands for perfection, or that which is complete. Paul in Colossians tells us that in Christ “dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily” (Colossians 2:9), and because of our faith in Him we are united with Him and so Paul continues “and you are complete in Him” (Colossians 2:10). Wonder of wonders, the believer gets to share and partake of this incredible unity within the Godhead. As our Lord said in His prayer the night before He died:

20 “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; 21 that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. 22 And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: 23 I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me. (John 17:20-23).

So we are “complete in Him,” and this is illustrated by the six branches of the lampstand and the central branch indicating perfection. The union of Christ and the believer is a theme which is spread throughout the New Testament. We have the illustration of the “true vine” and the branches in John 15. There is the illustration of believers as the one body of Christ (1Corinthians 12:13). We are “all one in Christ Jesus,” so that national and ethnic distinctions are all now gone (Galatians 3:28). For those truly saved this unity is eternal! And believers will reign forever with Christ (Revelation 5:10). The last part of Stuart Townend and Keith Getty’s song “See What A Morning” celebrating the resurrection has these words:

And we are raised with Him
Death is dead, love has won, Christ has conquered
And we shall reign with Him
For He lives, Christ is risen from the dead

Christ is risen from the dead

Or what of the hymn “All That Thrills My Soul Is Jesus”? Does the Lord thrill us so? Do we recognise that we shall indeed reign with Him in glory?

[3] The only light.

            If you look at the tabernacle again you will notice that the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies are enclosed spaces. These are separated from the outer court by means of curtains. The veil that separated the Holy of Holies from the Holy Place was much thicker than the curtains shielding the entrance into the enclosed space itself. So inside would have been very dark (the materials used to cover the tabernacle were many and quite thick). Thus the only light available within was provided by the lampstand. The priests could enter the Holy Place to carry out various functions, and the High Priest could enter the Holy of Holies once a year for atonement. But work in such enclosed spaces would have been very difficult without the light of the lampstand. Now if we have not the Lord Jesus Christ within (who is the “light of the world” John 8:12; 9:5) you cannot do anything that will bring God pleasure. You will be in darkness. Light brings the ability to function. Without this light in the tabernacle the priests would be fumbling about and unable to perform. Light, therefore, is essential. But man in sin is in darkness. The Lord Jesus Christ is our light. The tabernacle shows us how we can approach God to worship. Without the light we would be stumbled.

            Christ ought to be the centre of our very lives. He ought to be the One who guides and illuminates us. After all only in Christ can be found “all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Colossians 2:3). We are therefore encouraged to “set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth” (Colossians 3:2), and we are to be “looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame” (Hebrews 12:2). We are to look to Christ our light, for He is the light of the world.

            The world spends billions upon billions of pounds, dollars, and other currencies to figure out what has gone wrong with man. The Bible offers the analysis and the solution for free. The heart of man is deceitful and is full of darkness (Jeremiah 17:9,10), and man is lost in sin, but Christ is the light of the world and “in Him was life, and the life was the light of men,” and this light of Christ which has come “shines in the darkness, and the darkness” cannot overpower it (John 1:4,5). Christ Jesus has come to save us from our sin, and a key part of this is that we may see the truth, and that we see things clearly, as they are, so the light of Christ illumines us. The light of Christ is still shining through those who truly believe, for the Lord said to His disciples who truly believed “you are the light of the world” (Matthew 5:14). The light of Christ shows up our sin, and it also shows up Christ’s true and glorious life. This light is in the believer forever. The Lord has called believers to be the lights of this world. Through the apostle Paul He says that we should “shine as lights in the world” (Philippians 2:15), which we do by “holding fast the word of life” (Philippians 2:16). We were “once darkness” but on account of what the light of the world has done we are now “light in the Lord,” and so we are to “walk as children of light” (Ephesians 5:8). May the Lord shine through us the glory of His Son!

September 8th 2024: Nathan Munday

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To watch this service, click on the link to our YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/HO0UbIf6xjY?si=hxiv_8smjlTiWIDX


John 7:37-52. John 8:12

Do you remember the light? It is so dark already! Come with me to Jerusalem, to a festival of remembrance, a week of people gathering from near and far to celebrate the longest festival in the Jewish calendar – the Feast of Tabernacles (7:2). The people are remembering a time of movement, (the tents), a time of salvation, (when they were saved), and a time of reliance on God. The festival was a time of celebration of God’s provision for Israel in the wilderness, the old desert, the Sinai desert, which was instrumental in their history.

In the gospel of John, the writer has been weaving the wilderness narrative. In chapter 6 the 5,000 had been fed, bread is provided, just like the manna was provided in the wilderness. Jesus then declares, “I am the bread of life.”

In John chapter 7:37-39 the Feast of Tabernacles is underway and they remember how God provided water in the wilderness. They perform a ceremonial water drawing. Jesus steps in again and says, “I am the one that will give living water.”

In chapter 8, Christ Jesus steps into the dark and says, “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).

Come now with me to the scene. It is dark. It’s the end of the festival. We are in the court of the women. In the temple lots of people gathering. Along the walls there are chests with coins, maybe they are glimmering in the light of the great candelabras. There are lots of burning light, four huge lamps in that space. Imagine Jerusalem being in darkness, but the light is beaming out from the temple during the festival. People are dancing through the night with torches, trying to re-enact the time when God had been a pillar of fire for them, guiding them through their desert days. When the festival is nearing the end, the lights are being extinguished. Darkness ensues. Another festival over. But it is then, after the dark, Jesus proclaims, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” Remember this verse, in the dark, when you are dying, when the hopeless Red Sea of death is before you, when God is guiding us through the sea to the promised land.

John is shining a big spotlight on Jesus of Nazareth. Remember:
1. Who the Light is.
2. Why that Light was necessary.
3. What we are to do with that light.

  1. Let us remember who that light really is.

“I am.” Charged words! When we read these words we should remember the prophet Moses, who heard at the burning bush, ““I am who I am.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘I am has sent me to you.’” (Exodus 3:14). There is no other God. He simply is, was and will be. Hundreds of years later, the Israelites saw this God in action – the one who opened the sea, the same Lord who led them personally to a better land, a better country, the Promised Land. He reminded them throughout, “The Lord is my light and my salvation.” (Psalm 27:1). He is the one who provides light in the darkness. This is the God who saves people from oppression, from dark situations. Is that you this morning? This is God who deals with guilt – past, present and future. This is a God who led the people of Egypt.

But John goes further back at the end of his gospel, which is written so that we may believe in Him, “This is the disciple who is bearing witness about these things, and who has written these things, and we know that his testimony is true.” (John 21:24).

John mirrors the creation in his writing, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” (John 1:1-5). The second person of the Trinity, who interrupted the darkness of the beginning of the book of Genesis, who is the same one who can interrupt your darkness here today. Jesus is the Light of the world. He is the light of everything. He is the true light, true light that lasts forever. John is saying that Jesus Christ is better than candles! He is what the candles are pointing to. Our life is like a flower that fades. Time is kicking. By nature, our life will run out. What happens then? Remember who He is – an answer to the darkness of life, to the end of life.

  • Remember why the light was necessary.

Before He came, there was death. He has power over death. He is the one man in history who stormed out of death. The bible tells us, our ancestors tell us, we fell. We need light. The world needs light. Pembrokeshire needs light. Habakkuk 3:3-4 talks of God’s splendour like sunrise. The prophet Malachi talks of the sun of righteousness, “But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall.”  (Malachi 4:2). Malachi is talking about end times but also the experience of a Christian; when you are converted taken from one realm and put in another. You are no longer a creature of darkness, you are a creature of the day. If you are a Christian, you are already saved. You are being saved and will be saved at the end.

Reject Jesus and your doom is already written. When the Son comes back, are you a creature of night or walking in the day? By nature, we’re walking in the dark. But the good news of the gospel is that God interrupted that darkness. Salvation is of the Lord. God, in His mercy, calls you. Jesus of Nazareth interrupts. He strides into darkness and says, ‘I’m here.’

Paul calls us stars in the sky. Isn’t that lovely! The dust of earth, you and I, can come to know Him. He came to save. Remember why He came. It was for you, to led you out of darkness.

3. What are we to do?

When the people of Israel were slaves in Egypt, can you imagine them wanting to return there? But that’s what many people are doing. They have been told about the Light but reject Jesus. They will not follow Him or walk in that light. They do not want Jesus Christ to rule over them because they will have to change. Jesus says, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”  The first statement is stunning! He is the light of the world. The proof is in the whole story of Jesus Christ. There is an immediate consequence to Jesus’ words, “Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness.” What is He saying?

After the festival, turn to Chapter 9. He will give sight to the blind. Only God can do that. Chapter 11 – it gets better. Lazarus is raised from the darkness of death. Only God can do that. In chapter 13 we see He will wash the disciples’ feet. Then we hit the darkest point of the whole gospel in chapter 19. The very embodiment of light and life is arrested, beaten in my place, taken up a hill to the place of execution – the cruellest form of execution. He is stripped, nailed and lifted up on a Roman cross. Darkness. The sun disappears for three hours. This is a day of judgement. The Light takes our sin upon Himself. The Father turns His face away. Even the sun darkens as the Light of the World dies. He breathed His last that you might breathe forever. He is the great High Priest who goes into the holy place, but He is also the sacrifice.

Remember the one who was born into a dark world, who bore your darkness, who experienced my hell so I would never have to go there. But darkness could not hold Him. He was raised from the dark on Easter Sunday. “Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” What He has done for a Christian is guaranteed. A follower of Jesus lives.

Are you in the dark this morning? God Himself says, “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).

I would rather look forward to a real land of light. We are heading to a new creation, when we will be face to face with Jesus. Will you know Him? Remember who Jesus is, why He came and to follow Him all the way. Are you following the Light today into the promised land? The lamb is the lamp. The glory of God gives light.

June 25th 2023: Ian Middlemist

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Luke 11: 33-36 Glow in the Dark

What is on offer for us this morning is illumination. This world is marked by darkness because the soul of man without Jesus Christ is in darkness. We are in darkness until we have the hole punched through the darkness. We’ve just passed the longest day of the year, but our world is marked by darkness. We need to punch a hole in the darkness. Jesus is the light of the world. We long that His light would shine.

Jesus tells us of this parable and we have to think about how we respond. “No one after lighting a lamp puts it in a cellar or under a basket, but on a stand, so that those who enter may see the light.”  (Luke 11:33). Some were dazzled by the light. Some considered the light to be darkness. Others saw little light in Him (verses 29-32) and made demands for further signs. It wasn’t good enough; they were looking for something else. Jesus speaks in this parable of great revelation of God Himself in His person. It is all about His person, all about Jesus.

God has put Jesus, the Light, on the stand. Many people view religion as God may have revealed Himself, but to a strange, obscure group of people. They believe it is only for a special few – perhaps those in a monastery. The Light is for everyone. Some think if it’s for everyone then it cheapens the knowledge of the truth. Not so. “No one after lighting a lamp puts it in a cellar or under a basket, but on a stand, so that those who enter may see the light.” (Luke 11:33). The image is of a house that’s in the dark. You can imagine such a place in your mind’s eye. It’s in darkness. It’s unnerving. A restless place. You can’t fulfil your plans or get anything done. You’re stressed. Confused. The opposite of that is a room filled with light so people can see. Jesus invites you into this room to see the light. Do you prefer to be in a room filled with darkness? There’s no point having a light in a room where there is no-one. We invite people into a room of light. Jesus is the Light of the world. He is the lamp that must not be hidden.

Where do you find this light? Is it in church? Where do we find truth in this day and age? Some believe that they can look deep within themselves and find a well of life. Sadly, that is not true. The Bible tells us that what we have within is darkness. The light is in Jesus Christ. The light of God has shone on Him.

We need healthy eyes to see, “Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is full of light, but when it is bad, your body is full of darkness.” (Luke 11:34). The way the lamp of Jesus becomes a light to you is to see it as it really is. When your eye is healthy you are full of light when you see Jesus. Many people suffer with sight loss, struggling especially in the evening, when night falls. Jesus talks about people who struggle without the light of Christ, who have unhealthy eyes. Jesus is alerting these hearers that the problem is not to do with the light, but with them. The blind need to see the entry of light shining. Jesus healed so many blind people in His ministry.

How easy it is for us to become dull to the reality of the cross. How much does the cross mean to you right now? It’s not a problem with the message but with us. Have healthy eyes. Pray that God will give you healthy eyes.

“Therefore be careful lest the light in you be darkness.” (Luke 11:35). Be careful. It places the onus on you. You have some responsibility here. Jesus says, ‘Listen to this. See to it. Be careful lest this light in you be darkness.’ We need to examine ourselves. Is my light really light or is it darkness? Dear friends, be careful with your soul. Are you sure you’re in the light? You may be fooling yourself.

There are many bright things that keep us from seeing Jesus. Be careful. There are many theological teachers who do not walk in truth. If you’re not in the light of Christ in your whole body, you are still in darkness. Be careful what you see as bright and attractive. These bright lights die away.

Let’s make much of the Word. Don’t just read of Christ on the cross – maintain a soft heart. Listen to the warnings and pleas of God’s Word. Contemplate. Take time to examine your soul. Are you right with God? Concentrate. Make a deliberate attempt to focus on Christ. Shine. We must shine our light. Christ is the glory we are meant to see.

The Light of the World has Come

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christmas-clipart-religious-2

When I think about Christmas, I realise that I came into the world having nothing to do with my birth. I showed up without planning it. When Jesus came into the world it was the most dangerous mission ever undertaken by a Baby. He came knowing the battles He would face and knowing the ultimate end of His life on earth would be a week like no other in human history. He came to live, die and be raised to life again in the greatest drama mankind has ever seen.

Rome was a corrupt government morally and spiritually; its sins were shamelessly committed for all to see. The death of innocents in the Coliseum was a major form of entertainment. Its emperors wanted to be worshipped and their gods were evil creations. Rome spread the darkness of paganism in every place that they had influence.

Herod, was an infamous madman and was made king by the Roman Senate, which proclaimed him “King of Judea.” Once in power, he immediately killed forty-five of the wealthiest citizens and confiscated their property for his own use. He was incurably ill, nearly 70-years-old, and insane in Matthew chapter 2 when the Magi came looking for Jesus. While the killing of all the male babies in Bethlehem under two years of age shocks us, it was typical of Herod. He had slaughtered his sons and executed his favourite wife, Mariamne. Even the good guys, the religious Pharisees, would be enemies of Jesus. His message would unsettle and irritate them until they would finally conspire and bring about His execution in the most agonising way possible – crucifixion.

The world was dark when Jesus was born in Bethlehem, amongst the immoral Romans, heinous Herod and self-important religious leaders, it wasn’t a place we would have chosen to enter. Yet, Jesus came into that world voluntarily.

Luke2.11.jpg

It was a wicked world that received the Baby in Bethlehem; but because of His willingness to enter our darkness, the angels were able to announce: “Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:11). Christmas means that God was willing to come into a dark place and bring the light of salvation and because of Him, salvation is available to all of us.

            Robert Robinson was an English clergyman who lived in the 18th century. Not only was he a gifted pastor and preacher, he was also a highly gifted poet and hymn writer. However, after many years in the pastorate his faith began to diminish. He left the ministry and moved to Paris where he indulged in an ungodly lifestyle.

            One night he was riding in a carriage with a Parisian socialite who had recently been converted to Christ. She was interested in his opinion on some poetry she was reading:

“Come thou Fount of every blessing,
Tune my heart to sing thy grace,
Streams of mercy never failing,
Call for hymns of loudest praise.”

When she looked up from her reading, the socialite noticed Robinson was crying. “What do I think of it?” he asked in a broken voice. “I wrote it. But now I’ve drifted away from him and can’t find my way back.”

            “But don’t you see?” the woman said gently, “The way back is written right here in the third line of your poem: ‘Streams of mercy never failing.’ Those streams are flowing even here in Paris tonight.” That night Robinson recommitted his life to Christ.

            For the wanderers like Robinson, for the religious like Nicodemus the Pharisee, for the Roman collaborators like Matthew the tax collector, and for all of us, salvation has come. Jesus has entered our unlit world to bring the light of salvation to everyone who will believe. This can be the most wonderful Christmas ever for those who realise that “streams of mercy” are still flowing because of that first Christmas.

September 17th 2017: Alan Davison

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Alan Davison - sept 17John 7:1-24

Time, as a concept, has always fascinated humanity. We want time, yet we rush around, which doesn’t help. Blaise Pascal, the French religious philosopher, mathematician and physicist, once wrote, “I would have written a shorter letter, but I did not have the time.” In the 1800’s the theory of evolution gained credence, claiming that anything was possible in millions and millions of years. Lord Tennyson, a Christian, wrote:

            Here about the beach I wandered,
Nourishing a youth sublime,
 With the fairy tales of science
                                                 And the long result of time.

Time is very important in the Bible. In today’s popular culture there is more of a focus on time. For example, there are many television programmes featuring time travel. We often think, ‘If only we had time again we could change things, fix things.’ What’s to say by changing a mistake we wouldn’t end up making a worse mistake?

Time is a succession of moments. Biblically, time is part of creation, a possession of God. ‘Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.’ (Psalm 90:2). Here we have a mixture of tenses; time is past but God is present because God has always been. This psalm was written by Moses, who understood God made time.

‘Behold, God is great, and we know Him not; the number of His years is unsearchable.’ (Job 36:26). We cannot measure God’s existence because He exists outside of time.

‘”I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”’ (Revelation 1:8). Here we have God’s own words. God Himself declares He encompasses all of time. These are weighty concepts.

God acts in time. We see this most clearly in the Incarnation. Being God, Jesus knew the importance of time. Certain events had to happen at the ordained time of the Father. ‘Jesus said to them, “My time has not yet come, but your time is always here.’ (John 7:6). Jesus speaks here of the contrast of man’s use of time and his perceived perception of time.

A time to shine. Jesus’ brothers didn’t believe in Him, ‘For not even His brothers believed in Him.’ (John 7:5). The Feast of Tabernacles was so important it was mandated that the Jews attend. Jesus’ brothers may have wanted Jesus to attend out of concern that He had lost followers, ‘After this many of His disciples turned back and no longer walked with Him.’ (John 6:66). Perhaps they thought He could gain more followers, potential recruits, at the Feast. However, they may have had a more sinister motive; it was widely known that the Jews sought to kill Jesus. Perhaps His brothers were suggesting He should go, knowing that this would put Him in danger, even resulting in His death. Most Jews in Jesus’ time were looking for salvation from the Romans. Jesus turned down His brothers’ course of action. His time to shine had not yet come.

We see a contrast in Jesus’ brothers who had time to spare. They were not constrained by time. However, the way we experience time has been ordained by God. Jesus did not go to Jerusalem on a whim but when He was supposed to. He rejected his brothers’ advice. Jesus knew exactly what needed to be done, when it needed to be done and why. As others look at us, how do they see we are living our lives? it needed to be done. How do we value our time? The world says, ‘time is money.’ This is certainly true. We are paid for the time we work and pay others for their time. We talk of ‘spending time.’ This suggests we ourselves think of time as a resource to use as we see fit. ‘Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time. Because the days are evil.’ (Ephesians 5:15-16).

‘Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time’ (Colossians 4:5). To redeem something means to buy it back. The Bible tells us we should be buying time – it’s not our own personal property. In Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 we read there is a time for everything. We need to ask God for wisdom when a period of rest drifts into wastefulness.

A time to stop. We need to wait on the Lord. ‘After this Jesus went about in Galilee.’ (John 7:1). What did Jesus do as He walked in Galilee? From the other gospels we know Jesus did much, such as feeding the 5000, healing a blind man, being transfigured. However, John speaks of Jesus’ brothers being mean to Him. The Feast of Tabernacles lasted 8 days. This incident takes place midway. For four days Jesus did nothing in Jerusalem. It shows us Jesus was waiting for the Father’s timing. He would have been praying, meditating on Scriptures. There was a growing level of opposition which would have been becoming more and more stressful. People sought to seize Jesus. The Pharisees would ultimately succeed in arresting Jesus – but in God’s time.

If Jesus stopped, we certainly need to stop and evaluate. Do we take time to pray, to read the Scriptures? Do we spend time in prayer, to seek His guidance for the week ahead? If we have time to spare we ought to be putting it to use in a way that is pleasing to our Father, helping others, praying. The activities we do require an act of will.

We too will have a time to shine. Jesus rejected His brothers urging to shine in a way they required. However, Jesus would shine, hanging on a cross, suffering, dying. But in Peter’s sermon we see the Father glorified the Son by raising Him from the dead, ‘The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified His servant Jesus, whom you delivered over and denied in the presence of Pilate, when He had decided to release Him.’ (Acts 3:13).

Each moment we spend on this earth has been gifted from God. Pray to God He will show us the way to use our time. We live in a fast-paced culture, we need to be serious about shining for Jesus. ‘You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.’ (Matthew 5:14-16). We are the light of the world, His followers. Our light should shine before men, it’s reflecting from Jesus Himself, pointing to the ultimate light of the world.