At the beginning of the Bible, God creates everything, and starts that long process by creating light. Given that God created the sun and stars later, that light must be metaphorical or spiritual rather than physical.
Very ancient Jewish traditions said this first light created was the glory of God. In effect, God was creating evidence of Himself. Later, the Israelites interpreted any mention of light in the Bible as evidence for God’s presence or involvement. Obvious examples include the burning bush (Exodus 2) or the pillar of fire that lead the Israelites from slavery in Egypt to freedom in the Promised Land (Exodus 13).
With time, the idea of God’s glory manifesting itself as light or fire became entwined with the Jewish people’s idea of Law: God gave the ten Commandments to Moses on Mount Sinai (Exodus 19–23, 34).
Everything on that occasion was accompanied by thunder and lightning. So bright was this light that Exodus 19:12–13, 21–25 suggests at least some of the Israelites wanted to go onto the mountain to gaze directly at God.
Everything on that occasion was accompanied by thunder and lightning. So bright was this light that Exodus 19:12–13, 21–25 suggests at least some of the Israelites wanted to go onto the mountain to gaze directly at God.
It was said that whenever the Law of Moses was read aloud, the glory of God was also
present: Think of Psalm 119:105, ‘Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path’ or ‘For this command is a lamp, this teaching is a light’ (Proverbs 6:23).
present: Think of Psalm 119:105, ‘Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path’ or ‘For this command is a lamp, this teaching is a light’ (Proverbs 6:23).
Later, when Solomon built the Temple in Jerusalem, God told him to put a lamp above the box that contained the two Tablets given to Moses (’the Ark’), which must burn at all times. It was called the ner tamid.
Later still, the Jews combined more closely these ideas of Law and light by lighting special candles whenever anyone read aloud from the Law. To this day, in most synagogues a Ner Tamid flame is located above the alcove where the Torah scrolls are kept.
Now fast-forward to the New Testament, where Jesus calls himself ‘the light of the world’ (John 8:12) and adds ‘Whoever follows me will … have the light of life’. He also shone with a brilliant light at the Transfiguration (Mark 9). And the Prologue of John’s Gospel describes Jesus as ‘the light that has come into the world’ (John 1:6–9).
Tying these strands together helps us see Jesus as the glory of God. It also implies that he embodies the Law (for example he gave a New Commandment in John 13:34).
For more information, go to:
No comments:
Post a Comment