So this past Sabbath while listening to some great Messianic teachings from some of the world’s best Messianic teachers, I was taken by the passage in John where the Master described Himself as being the “light of the world.” John records the Master as thus: “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 KJV) Like many of you listening to this posting, I’ve read this passage dozens and dozens of times and never really gave it much thought beyond the thinking that the darkness of this world was replaced by the light of the Savior when He walked this earth and now as He is seated at the right hand of the Father He remains a light to a lost and darkened world. Certainly, there is some truth to this line of thinking as it seems to be the prevailing line of thought throughout denominational churchianity. But after being led by the Spirit to really try to gain a full grasp of its meaning, I embarked upon a brief journey (and boy do I love these journeys) to better understand the concept of being a light to this dark world. What exactly was the Master saying when He referred to himself as the light of the world and then later referred to us as lights to this world? In my spirit mind, I knew there must be much more to this than meets the denominational eye. And indeed, there is.
John makes great use of the “light” analogy to describe the person and mission of the Messiah. Throughout His Gospel record, John uses “light” to describe the Master and conjointly, believers are awarded the same descriptor and title. I’ve always been fascinated by light as well as I’ve always been hesitant of the dark (at times even terrified). Light, in its many facets and textures can be used to highlight a thing or enhance a thing. Light can provide clarity to things that are naturally not very clear in detail. Light often brings one a sense of security as it tends to reveal things that could cause us physical harm. Conversely, light can provide a sense of alarm, especially when dangers are revealed when those very dangers were once hidden by darkness. Light is often warm and soothing and desirable while darkness is often seen as uncertain, cold and frightening (i.e., how would most horror pictures fare at the box-office if the stories didn’t take place during the night or in a dark and dangerous place?). Conversely, light may bring shame and apprehension, especially when evil behavior is revealed by light. Darkness on the otherhand, is not a friend to man, unless man is bent on doing something questionable or outright wrong. Bottom line: as far as the Bible is concerned, light is considered good while darkness is considered bad; Yehovah, Yeshua and their legions of angels are considered light while hasatan and his legions of demons are considered dark; heaven is spoken of in terms of a place of light and beauty while this earth is often considered a place of darkenss because of the sins of man that pervades it existence; the Saints of the Most High are considered as light whereas the hearts and deeds of men throughout the world are considered dark.
The most awe-inspiring allusion to the magnificant Person of Messiah is made using the term light. Listen to the brilliant prose used by the Apostle who was loved by the Master: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by 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 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. 6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. 8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. 9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. (Joh 1:1-9 KJV)
Darkness hides details and dangers, making one’s life in darkness difficult and challenging–darkness binds men and prevents them from living as they should. Light on the other hand reveals details and dangers, making one’s life in the light manageable-light frees men and allows them to thrive and live as they were meant to live. The very first thing the Father did when He was refashioning this world was to bring about light–Gen. 1:3-5-And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness. And God called the light Day, and the darkness He called night. I find it interesting that it wasn’t until Father intervened that the perpetual darkness that existed for an unknown period of time was broken up and light was allowed to peer through to His creation. Yet as undesireable as darkness (night) is, it was allowed to remain and co-exist with light (day) in order to provide a means of marking time and supporting the workings of other mechanisms of the universe.
Although physical light became an integral part of the Father’s creation, there lurked a different kind of darkness somewhere in the midst of HIs creation: in the heart and mind of hasatan. This most excellent creature was the epitome of Yehovah’s creation. This most excellent being was given the title of “son of the morning,” a name that denotes brightness, light and power (reference Isa. 14:12). In order to better understand this powerful creature, the Father in His unfathomable wisdom likened hasatan unto the King of Tyrus in the following beautifully crafted passage:
12 Son of man, take up a lamentation upon the king of Tyrus, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty. 13 Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created.
14 Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. 15 Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee. 16 By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire. 17 Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee. 18 Thou hast defiled thy sanctuaries by the multitude of thine iniquities, by the iniquity of thy traffick; therefore will I bring forth a fire from the midst of thee, it shall devour thee, and I will bring thee to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all them that behold thee. (Eze 28:12-18 KJV)
One sabbath worshipping, feast observing pastor I often listen to has surmised that apart from hasatan’s covering cherub duties, he was placed in charged of the Father’s creation, headquartered here on earth somewhere between Genesis 1, verses 1 and 2. When he rebelled against Yehovah and carried with him 1/3 of the angels, that rebellion resulted in the “void” and utter desolation that seems to be described in verse 2 of Genesis 1– 2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. (Gen 1:2 KJV) Granted, there is no direct Biblical support for this theory. Nevertheless, I have to say that it makes perfect sense to me that something like this may have happened prior to that which is spoken of in verse 2–in other words, a re-creation. For me, it explains somewhat the reason for science claiming the earth to be much older (e.g., thousands and even millions of years old) than the Bible’s general accounting of the earth’s age (coming around at 6014 years old). But the point here is that darkness–spiritual darkness–reigned in the heart of hasatan and it was this darkness that spread and consumed the earth of our day–beginning in him and then working its way to Adam and Eve, and then spread on to their progeny to this very day.
However, the Holy Writ does record a couple of events where light broke through the darkness that settled upon this earth after the fall of Adam. Indeed, light–which is righetousness, truth and goodness–was manifested among men despite the prevailing darkness:
Enoch–“And Enoch walked with Yehovah after he begat Methuselah 369-years…and Enoch walked with Yehovah: and he was not; for Yehovah took him.” (reference Gen. 5:22 & 24)
Methusaleh is believed to have been like his father Enoch, having walked with Yehovah much of his 969-years, as recorded in the Book of Jasher–a non-inspired Book
Noah, who in the midst of a perverted and violent world, “…found grace in the eyes of Yehovah.” (reference Gen. 6:8)
Abraham, whom the Apostle James described as “a Friend of Yehovah.” (reference Jas. 2:23)
Moses, Daniel, Ezekiel, Jeremiah, Isaiah and David–these great patriarchs reflected the light of the One True Light–Yehovah!
Throughout the period of the Original Covenant (i.e., the Old Testament), these men attempted to lead men out of darkness and point them to The Light–that Light was of course Yehovah and His way of life, i.e., Torah–23 For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life: (Pro 6:23 KJV). 105 NUN. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. (Psa 119:105 KJV) No matter how one spins it, commandments, the law, instructions for life, and the Father’s word is referring to Torah and Torah is in turn referred to as a lamp and a light.
The whole of the Father’s creative work was accomplished with Yeshua in mind. Yeshua was and remains the pure manifestation of that Light that is found only in the Person of Yehovah and in His Torah. If we take what the Psalmist says as Truth, and I have no reason to believe otherwise, then Yeshua was indeed, the walking and talking Torah–the eternal lamp of this world…the only means by which man can have a true relationship with the Father and realize eternal life:
We come to a cross-roads: if Yeshua was indeed the Light of the World as recorded in John–Joh 12:46 I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness–what are we, His true disciples, supposed to do with this reality? I believe, as do many Torah Observing Believers in Messiah, that there there are 2-versions of the Master: Jesus Christ (i.e., the westernized, Paulinized savior who saves all who would simply ask Him into their hearts and lives); and Yeshua HaMashioch (the Hebraic, Torah Master who requires true discipleship in order realize true salvation). Understanding which of these 2-versions of the Master we are to follow is vital to our eternal destination and essential to our living the life abundant that Yeshua spoke of in the Gospel record. The Light of Jesus is for all to gaze upon and adore, drawing all who would be saved to give their hearts and lives to Him (whatever that really means, as there are thousands of different belief systems describing what this actually means) and await His rapturous return. The Light of Yeshua, on the other hand, is the example of The Prophet and Messiah that men must “Shema;” i.e., follow and imitate. The Light of Yeshua requires men to have some skin in the game so to speak–to be invested in their salvation and life abundant. The Light of Jesus on the other hand is there to make men feel good about themselves and aspire to a life in the heavens where one will some day in the future walk the streets of gold and from time to time tug on Gabriel’s robe. Indeed, there can be only One True Master and Light. This is an important decision that all truth seeking believers must come to terms with: will I take the easy way out and follow the light of Jesus Christ; or will I take up my cross and follow the Light of Yeshua HaMashioch? It is a certainty, the vast majority of the 2+ billion Christian adherents of this world take upon themselves the popular version that is Jesus and his light that provides mankind an easy way out of the darkness–or should we boldly say, keeps men in darkness?
If Torah is the Lamp and Yeshua is the full embodiment of Torah and thus the light as described by John, the next question that must be answered by men is: am I required to be Torah Observant? Well, that question is easy enough to answer. Being one who favors deductive reasoning to get to the bottom of most things, especially coming from an law enforcement investigative background, the course of reasoning could be as follows:
Torah was given to the Children of Israel by Yehovah under the leadership of Moshe via a covenant arrangement
The Children of Israel caused a breach in the covenant when they violated Yehovah’s commandments at Sinai; yet Torah remained in force (Isa. 58:12)
Yehovah desires that His people obey His Torah: 29 O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever! (Deu 5:29 KJV)
Yeshua came not to abolish Torah but to bring Torah to its fullest potential: 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. 17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. 18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. 19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. (Mat 5:16-20 KJV)
Yeshua kept Torah and He kept it perfectly. He railed against the Talmud, the Takanot and Mahasin of the Rabbinic cult of His day, which ultimately led to His crucifixion. Furthermore, Yeshua’s handpicked Apostles and the hundreds of disciples also kept Torah as any well-respecting, obedient, and dedicated disciple would do: 26 If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour. (Joh 12:26 KJV)
The Day of Pentecost sealed the breach that occurred at Sinai and the Covenant was renewed. Torah was no longer a series of commandments, rules, precepts and laws written on stone and parchment that man was required to follow without full-inner-heart felt commitment. Torah became living and from that point forward, written on every true believer’s heart–Jer 31:33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people
Not only was Yeshua a light to the Jewish nation, but He was a light to the Gentiles as well–Luk 2:32 A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel
We being Gentiles have been graffed in with Israel and have effectively become fellow partakers, inheriters of the promise– 17 And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree; 18 Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee. 19 Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in. 20 Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear: 21 For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee. 22 Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off. 23 And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again. 24 For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert graffed contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be graffed into their own olive tree? 25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. (Rom 11:17-25 KJV)
It stands to reason, deductively, that we are then obliged to keep and obey Torah and do so proudly, gladly and with zeal! Far better souls than we have done so in their brief time on this earth following Yeshua, having then to suffer a martyr’s death. What makes us so special that we insist that our salvation come to us without us having absolutely no skin in the game. Indeed, our salvation was purchased by the blood and sacrifice of the Master; thus our salvation is free. However, Yeshua’s sacrificial work only purchased the ticket for our ride to etermity. It then becomes our responsibility to do whatever is necessary to qualify for that free ticket. I’m certain you’ve heard that talking point that denominational chrisitanity loves to use: Jesus kept Torah perfectly and thus we don’t have to. If this sentiment doesn’t strike a negative cord within us, I don’t know what will. What the denominationalists are saying is that the Torah was such a burden, such a bad thing laid before men to keep by a mean and hateful God, that Messiah had to not only face death on the cross to atone for our sins; He also had to live under the yoke of Torah! Indeed!! Torah is a delight as spoken of by the Psalmist– Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. 3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. 4 The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. 5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. 6 For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish. (Psa 1:1-2:1 KJV) Thus it was Yehovah’s good pleasure to gift Torah to His chosen. I can surely atest to this. I find joy in keeping Torah. I’ve come to learn more about myself through Torah-keeping than I ever knew as a “born again Christian.” Since coming in to the True Faith once delivered, I’ve come to see just how far I’ve missed the mark throughout my Christian life. Since coming in to this Faith I’ve come to see that my relationship with the Almighty was actually non-existent as I foolishly and pompously developed the terms of that relationship. I’ve come to learn that my ideas and my denomination’s ideas of what constitutes a relationship with Yehovah doesn’t cut it with Father. Since coming to the Faith I’ve come to know the sweet joy and peace that comes from keeping His Sabbaths. Since coming to the Faith I’ve come to see where I’m falling short in my daily walk with Messiah and thus each day I’m challenged to take that walk in better form than the day before and so on. Life has become the life abundant spoken of by Yeshua HaMoshioch. Indeed, I can say without hesitation that Yeshua is that light by which the true life is gained–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 KJV) As a result of that light and as a result of following that light, we too become a light to the world. Our light is born NOT as a result of affilitation as Churchianity would teach–that is, because we bear the name of Christian, we by affiliation become light to the world. On the contrary dear Christian, our light is born out of the fruit that we bear. That fruit consists of goodness, righteousness and truth. (Reference: Eph. 5: 9) Thus our light is action-based; dynamic; and deliciously beautiful beyond the means of human languages to describe. (Reference: Eph. 5:8) Is living the life abundant and shining our light before men easy–absolutely not. It is challenging and at times it seems impossible. But Yehovah has provided us His Ruach Kodesh to help us navigate through life’s many impediments to living the life abundant and shining our light before men.
There is a danger, however. That danger is falling for the wrong light. The brilliant Apostle Shaule warned the Corinthian ekklesia that their members, being zealous and well-meaning followers of him as he followed Yeshua, must be always alert to being decieved by counterfeit light. I will let the Apostle explain in his inimitable way about this danger:
I would like you to bear with me in a little foolishness- please do bear with me! 2 For I am jealous for you with God’s kind of jealousy; since I promised to present you as a pure virgin in marriage to your one husband, the Messiah; 3 and I fear that somehow your minds may be seduced away from simple and pure devotion to the Messiah, just as Havah was deceived by the serpent and his craftiness. 4 For if someone comes and tells you about some other Yeshua than the one we told you about, or if you receive a spirit different from the one you received or accept some so-called “good news” different from the Good News you already accepted, you bear with him well enough! 5 For I don’t consider myself in any way inferior to these “super-emissaries.” 6 I may not be a skilled speaker, but I do have the knowledge; anyhow, we have made this clear to you in every way and in every circumstance. 7 Or did I sin in humbling myself so that you could be exalted, in proclaiming God’s Good News to you free of charge? 8 I robbed other congregations by accepting support from them in order to serve you. 9 And when I was with you and had needs, I did not burden anyone: my needs were met by the brothers who came from Macedonia. In nothing have I been a burden to you, nor will I be. 10 The truthfulness of the Messiah is in me, so that this boast concerning me is not going to be silenced anywhere in Achaia. 11 Why won’t I ever accept your support? Is it that I don’t love you? God knows I do! 12 No, I do it- and will go on doing it- in order to cut the ground from under those who want an excuse to boast that they work the same way we do. 13 The fact is that such men are pseudo-emissaries: they tell lies about their work and masquerade as emissaries of the Messiah. 14 There is nothing surprising in that, for the Adversary himself masquerades as an angel of light; 15 so it’s no great thing if his workers masquerade as servants of righteousness. They will meet the end their deeds deserve. (2Co 11:1-15 CJB)
Indeed, I fear that many well-meaning believers are following after a counterfeit light. It is this counterfeit light that is leading millions down a road towards destruction. Conversely, I think that many would see those of us who have elected to follow after the light of Yeshua HaMaschioch to be following the counterfeit light and thus we are doomed for destruction. In my heart of hearts I do not believe the light of our Messiah to be counterfeit, not only because I have faith that the light of our Messiah is true, but also because we have the Bible as our proof-positive. We are not lead to a light based upon the teachings and doctrines of a denomination, but lead to The Light through the auspices and direction of Ruach HaKodesh and the Bible. We can not condemn nor pompously look down upon our brothers and sister who are under bondage to denominational churchianity. We are all on a life’s journey and we are all at different places in our search for truth. The vast majority of those that find themselves under denominational churchianity bondage have no idea that they are blinded to the Truth. It will require the grace of Yehovah and the intervention of Ruach HaKodesh to release them from that bondage and open their eyes to the Truth–to the True Light. In other words, there by the grace of Yehovah go I–just saying.
Call to Action
The take-away in all of this is simple. Light is the name of Messiah as evidenced in Daniel 2:22: 22 He reveals deep and secret things; he knows what lies in the darkness; and light dwells with him. (Dan 2:22 CJB) As our light, Yeshua’s purpose as it relates to us, His disciples, is not as churchianity would suggest and have us believe–that of simply admiring and gazing upon the light of Jesus. On the contrary, the purpose is for us to follow Him–Yeshua HaMoschioch–and submit ourselves to Him. In following and submitting ourselves to Him, we take direction from Him. Every bit of Yeshua’s direction is built on the firm foundation of Torah. Thus when we take our direction from Yeshua, our lives are forever changed; we obey Torah; Torah is written in our hearts as opposed to simply in our minds. In following and submitting to Him, we live that life abundant spoken of in John 10:10. That life abundant is not limited to the world tomorrow, but is for the here and now. And by submitting and following Him, we too become lights to the world and we never have to fear walking in darkness ever again. Halelujah!