“THE TRUE LIGHT”
Roland J Flowerdew
In the previous word, our brother has been speaking about the verse that we read in John’s gospel yesterday, and the Lord Jesus as the One who is “the light of the world”, John 9: 5. In thinking about that a little, I wanted to occupy us for a moment with Him who is not only “the light of the world”, but also as the One who is “the true light”. It is seen in what our brother brought before us, in the question that he raised, that there is a distinct sense in which the Lord Jesus was a light amongst the children of Israel when He was a Man here amongst men. In the previous chapter of this epistle, we have presented to us that “God is light, and in him is no darkness at all”, 1 John 1: 5. We have the absolute sense in which God is light. Here in chapter 2, we have the presentation of the Lord as the One who is “the true light”.
As we contemplate these things, we recognise that there are different presentations of light in the Scriptures. What we have been considering is very much light compared to darkness. Our brother has been discussing the glad tidings. He reminded me of what the apostle wrote to the Galatians, that, as having heard the gospel, some of them changed very quickly: “I wonder that ye thus quickly change, from him that called you in Christ’s grace, to a different gospel, which is not another one; but there are some that trouble you, and desire to pervert the glad tidings of the Christ”, Gal 1: 6, 7. We would see that that is not just the perversion of the message, but a desire to pervert the true character of God Himself. Therefore, it is very serious.
I do not want to be occupied with the negative side of things because this verse that we have in 1 John 2 is like that verse that we were contemplating in John 8 yesterday: something that shines in all its glory, that “the true light already shines”. You might think of the Lord in His pathway here as representing a particular character of light, but He is the One who is “the true light”. Again, thinking of the negative for a moment, we can think of Satan; one of his names is Lucifer, which means light-bearer or ‘Brilliant Star’, Isa 14: 12, note c. There are these different presentations we have in the Scripture of the character of light. Sometimes we have light presented as something that is distinct in contrast to everything else being darkness. However, I think what we have here is a very different presentation. There are other lights that come to mislead and misdirect. Against all that, we have the Lord, the One who is the true light, which “already shines”. I rejoice in that. We think of the Lord as the One who passed through the realm of death and broke its power; as the One who is ascended, the One who has passed through all the heavens; the One who is glorified. That character of Him as the true light continues.
John in writing this epistle says that that light “already shines”. It is not something that awaits a future day. It is not something that only pertains to life after death. We were speaking yesterday in conversation about the character of eternal life and how we can and should enjoy it now. I think, in the same way, the character of this “true light” is something that is to be appreciated and enjoyed right now. John puts it in the simple words of his writings. It is not a light that will only appear in a day that is yet to come, but it is a “true light that already shines”. The question is whether it shines for us? Do we have a growing appreciation of Him who is “the true light”? Does that light shine into our hearts?
May we be encouraged as we contemplate these things. It is so good to be occupied with the preciousness of divine Persons and the glory of the Father; and, here in particular, the Lord as the One who is “the true light”. May this be for the blessing of each of us, for His Name’s sake.
Words in meeting for ministry, Sunbury
15th December 2025