Light in Christ

Jolm i. 4 v.
‘The life was the light of men.’

Christ has illuminated the world, not by what He did, but by what He was; His life is the Light of Men. We speak of a man’s life-work; the work of Jesus was His life itself. When I want to get light from others, I consult their books; when I want to get light from Christ, I hang up His picture. It is not what He says that I chiefly treasure. The Sermon on the Mount is grand; but the Preacher is greater. It is good to be told that the pure in heart shall see God; but the vision of heaven in a pure man’s face outweighs it all. They tell us that the Easter morning has revealed His glory; rather would I say that His glory has revealed the Easter morning. It is not resurrection that has made Christ; it is Christ that has made resurrection. To those who have seen His beauty, even Olivet can add no certainty; the light of immortality is as bright on His Cross as on His Crown. “I am the resurrection” are His own words about Himself — not “I teach,” not “I cause,” not “I predict,” but “I am.” He thought it almost superfluous to say “In My Father’s house are many mansions “; His life should have been itself our light. “If it were not so, I should have told you.”

My soul, art thou in doubt about thy future? Art thou searching for a testimony of Christ on the nature of angels? Thou art looking too far. Not His testimony, but His life, shall be thy light. What shall be thy proof of the spring? Not the primrose, not the swallows, not even the sunshine, but the breath within thee of the opening year. No man by searching can find the ivory gate that leads to immortality. There is no method but the method of Jesus — life. He came to the Crown when He was following the Cross j He found the gate of heaven when he was seeking the door of earth. So shall it be with thee, oh, my soul. Is the ivory gate dim to thee? Do not strive to clear thy sight. Forget the gate in the going. Turn thine eyes to the day and to the dust. Turn thine ears to the cry in the desert. Turn thine hands to the labour of the toiling’. Turn thy heart to the wants of the weary. And, lo! in the unexpected scene the ivory gate shall shine. The door to God shall open through the dust; the road to Olivet shall glitter in the gloom; and, where the rivers of humanity meet, thou shalt find the way to Paradise. To live the life of Jesus is thy only light.