Monday, April 6, 2009

Christ, The Light

The unfathomable words penned by John depict the unfathomable God/Man: “In him was life; and the life was the Light of men. . .the Light shineth in darkness - the darkness comprehended it not. . .That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.”

Consider the source of natural light as God created it; esp. from the sun and stars. This light is omni-directional; may we further say that it is omni-dimensional. Light can travel millions of light years, yet is not wearied in its journey or diminished by the darkness. At what occasion it does stop is when it engages an object, which it illuminates: the object responds by reflecting the light. Alas! The darkness does not comprehend; thus does not reflect the Light. . .

In the book of Exodus we are given details of the Tabernacle, which was the pattern of the living Tabernacle which was to come. The Holy Place (not the Most Holy) was furnished with furniture: the candlestick, the table, and the shewbread: which is called the sanctuary, the altar of incense. . .

Concerning typology, we know that Christ is the candlestick. Christ is the Light of the candlestick; within the candlestick, the oil of the Spirit. The Light of the candlestick lit up the room. It revealed the table of shewbread; it revealed the altar of incense; the Light of the candlestick revealed the candlestick itself (Himself)! The Light revealed the priest (Christ) It was a Light unto the hands of the priest as he worked; it was a Light unto his feet as he walked. The Light revealed the Veil which separated the room from the Holiest of Holies.

Within the Holiest of Holies.

“And over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercy seat” Heb. 9:5.

I perceive two lines of thought here. The first: God did not, could not cast a shadow over the Mercy Seat. Light does not cast shadows. The cherubim would have cast the shadow. Perhaps the Glory of God shown from between the shadow cast by the cherubim. Did the image of God shine forth then upon the Mercy Seat? (For God to cast a shadow, He would have to be an image, seen, and a greater light shining from behind Him.)

Secondly, the one I prefer, is that the ‘shadowing’ was a covering, in the sense of protection; a heavenly honor guard. To further grasp the sense of the word ‘shadowing,’ how precious the words of the hymn: ‘How desolate my life would be. . .If Jesus’ face I did not see. . .I’m overshadowed by His mighty love, Love eternal, changeless, pure. . .Rest is mine, serene, secure.’

The tabernacle, the Ark of the Covenant, the Mercy Seat - men seek it. It (He) is to be found! Christ is the Living Ark of the Covenant! In Him is to be found the Manna (He is the Living Bread,) Aaron’s rod that budded (He is the Life,) the tables of the Covenant (the Word fulfilled in Himself; satisfied in His righteousness and atoning blood.) Before the Throne of Grace, the Mercy Seat. Christ is our Intercessor before the Father. When the Father looks unto the Intercessor (His Son), He is looking at the Ark of the Covenant Himself, upon which was sprinkled His own precious blood! “Come boldly to the Throne of Grace. . .obtain mercy, find grace”?

Glorious mystery! “And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ. . To wit, that GOD WAS IN CHRIST, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them. . .” II Cor. 5:18,19.

1 comment:

robert said...

Thanks for the devotional, and for the quotation from Dr. Ironside's beautiful hymn, "Overshadowed." I've sung it as a solo, but wondered if anyone else knew it.

Today is the 133rd anniversary of Harry Ironside's birth. And if you'd like to know the story of the writing of the song, you can check out my daily blog, Wordwise Hymns. God bless.