Advent Words:I is for Illuminate

I is for Illuminate

"The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world." John 1:9

"From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the father's side, has made him known." John 1:16-18

Illuminate (v) - 1. To give light; to supply or brighten with light: to make brighter and more visible. 2. To enlighten spiritually or intellectually. 3. To shed light upon; clarify.

In John's gospel, he proves Jesus to be the full illumination of God. In every sense and definition of the word illuminate, Jesus demonstrates them all. John makes it clear that God came into the world through the incarnation to bring His light fully to the world.

John tells us that Jesus gives light and is the source of light. 

"In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind." John 1:4 

"When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” " John 8:12

John tells us that Jesus came into the world to bring spiritual enlightenment. Light is often used by John as a metaphor for the truth and knowledge of God. It can also bring to light the true nature of man.

"The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world." John 8:12

"This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God." John 3:19-21

Finally, John tells us that Jesus is the light that reveals who God is and what He is like. Jesus fully illuminates God and makes Him visible. Commentator Bob Utley says, "We see the Father through the Son."

"Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known." John 1:16-18

"The one who looks at me is seeing the one who sent me. I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." John 12:45-46

"If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”

Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.”

Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work." John 14:7-10

Read how Paul also shows us that the Son reveals the Father:

"The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation." Colossians 1:3

"The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word." Hebrews 1:3

Jesus is the illumination of God, the Father. He lights our way, gives us light, sheds light on spiritual truth, and reveals clearly who God is by illuminating the Father's life in His own. Jesus is the light of the world!

Share your creative response to the Advent Words challenge in our private Facebook group  Join here:   https://www.facebook.com/groups/Wordschallengegroup/

If you belong to the Everyday Journal group that I co-lead with Valerie Sjodin and Bernice Hopper, Advent Words will be our theme for December.

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Check out my Pinterest board for this challenge and see some of the wonderful and diverse creativity of Advent Words 2018 participants. https://www.pinterest.com/marynbtol/advent-words-2018-challenge/