#DailyDevotion Jesus Christ Is The Light Of The World
Isaiah 495And now says the LORD, Who formed Me in the womb to be His Servant, to bring Jacob back to Him and to gather Israel to Him – the LORD treated Me with honor, and My God has become My Strength — 6He says: “It is not enough that You’re My Servant to raise the tribes of Jacob and bring back those in Israel who have been preserved – I have also made You a Light for the nations that My salvation might reach to the most distant parts of the world.”
The LORD reminds us again his servant was chosen by him in the womb. He was chosen to bring back Jacob and Israel. Israel and Judah had fallen away from fearing, loving and trusting the LORD. They turned to idols, to the false gods of their neighbors. They became like them in every way, perhaps even worse. The LORD would punish them by the hands of the Assyrians, the Babylonians, the Greeks and the Romans.
Jesus of Nazareth, the LORD’s chosen one, whose name was spoken by the angel to Mary and to Joseph, the son of David, would indeed turn the hearts of many in Israel back to the LORD their God through faith in what he accomplished for them on the cross, becoming their atoning sacrifice for sin, for all time, rising from the dead and ascending to David’s throne at the right hand of God forever.
The LORD treated Jesus with honor and God became his strength as the Father raised Jesus from the dead and seated him at his right hand. He fulfilled his promise to David that his seed would inherit his throne and rule over Israel forever. But the LORD, the Living God, says this is too small a thing to raise the tribes of Jacob and bring back the remnant of Israel. Jesus is to be the Light for the nations.
Yes, the mystery of Christ is revealed in Jesus as his Holy Spirit not only converts the Jews, the Israelites and the Samarians back to true worship of the LORD, but also he pours out his Holy Spirit upon all flesh and converts the nations from worthless idols and rebellion against their Maker to faith in the Creator of Heaven and Earth. Jesus’ salvation reaches to the most distant parts of the world. There is no people, language, tribe or tongue from whom Jesus is not converting people from the darkness of this fallen world to the light of his kingdom which is above. For Jesus did not die only for the physical children of Abraham, but he has become a blessing to all the nations of the world, for all people of the world.
Jesus’ sacrifice for the sin of the world is the Light which expels the darkness of the prince of the air, Satan and all his fallen angels who pose as light to the nations but in fact are posers. They try to convince you their way is enlightened but they put a veil over your hearts so you cannot see the Light which is from above. Trust this, you can only know God the Father through God the Son, Jesus Christ of Nazareth. In Jesus alone is all true knowledge of God. In Jesus alone is the Light that gives you light. In Jesus alone can you know God’s will for you, his good and perfect will which is love. Jesus is God’s love for you.
Heavenly Father of lights, you sent your true Light into the world to break the devil’s darkness which enslaves the minds of men. Send forth the truth of your Light and give the Holy Spirit to those who hear it so they may be made free and become your holy people in your heavenly kingdom. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.