The one who testifies about that light

  The one who testifies about that light

 

John 1:4-5 『In him was life(en auto zoe en), and this life(he zoe) was the light(en to phos) of men(ton andropos). And the light(to phos) shines(painei) in the darkness(en te scotia), but the darkness(he scotia) did not understand(auto u katelraven)』

ἐν αὐτῷ ζωὴ ἦν, καὶ ἡ ζωὴ ἦν τὸ φῶς τῶν ἀνθρώπων·καὶ τὸ φῶς ἐν τῇ σκοτίᾳ φαίνει, καὶ ἡ σκοτία αὐτὸ οὐ κατέλαβεν.

Zoe (ζωὴ) has no article, so it refers to the resurrection life that Jesus Christ gives to those who believe, and he zoe (ἡ ζωὴ) refers to the life of Jesus Christ. En auto zoe en (ἐν αὐτῷ ζωὴ ἦν) means, "There was a resurrection life that He shone through."

"This life (he zoe) is the light (en to phos) of people (ton andropos)." This life (he zoe) refers to Jesus Christ. En to phos (ἦν τὸ φῶς) means "by the light." Since there is an article, it refers to a special light, a special person (ton andropos). A special person refers to the saints who received the resurrection life with Christ.

In Matthew 5:14, it says, “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.” Here, light is a special light (topos) that has the life of resurrection. The saints become those who possess the light of Jesus Christ. The resurrected Christ enters the hearts of the saints and becomes that light. That is why they become one with Christ. The gospel is the light of the life of resurrection that is revealed through the saints.

The saints first illuminate themselves in the darkness, and then go out into the world and shine their light. People misunderstand that living a life like Christ means shining their light. They think that they are also living a life of bearing their cross to the people of the world. Shining their light does not mean living such a life, but rather proclaiming to the world that they have died with Jesus and have been resurrected with Christ. Then God will let them shine the light of resurrection life.

En tes skotia (ἐν τῇ σκοτίᾳ) means in the darkness. Painei (φαίνει) is the third person singular present tense. He skotia (ἡ σκοτία) is the nominative case meaning the darkness. Auto is an objective neuter pronoun meaning it (the light: the resurrection of Christ). Weeping indicates a negation. Kathelaven (κατέλαβεν) is a compound word of kata (according to) and elaven (accepted). It is an aorist tense and means to have accepted at a moment. In other words, darkness does not accept the light, which is the resurrection life, at a moment's notice according to the word of God. Darkness refers to people in the world. No matter how much the saints shout about the resurrection life, those in darkness cannot find the light.

Why do so many believers not find the resurrection life? It is because they believe in the physical resurrection. Those who believe in the physical resurrection are still in the darkness. Because they are in the darkness, they cannot find the light. However, there are those who hear the voice of the Son of God in the grave. There are those who believe that the physical body died on the cross with Jesus and the spiritual body was resurrected with Christ.

John 1:6-13 『There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came to his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man , but of God.』

Those who are born of God are those who wear a spiritual body. Only those who are born of God are given the authority to become children of God. That is why they receive Christ and become those who believe in His name. Those who believe in His name are those who enter into His name. It means they become part of Christ’s family. 1 John 5:18 “We know that whosoever is born of God does not sin; but he that is begotten of God keeps himself, and that the wicked one does not touch him.”

Those who are born of God (saints) have resurrection life. Their spirits are in God in Christ, so they are free from sin. Ephesians 2:5-6 『Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:.』

In order to be born of God, you must first understand the words of John 3:5. "Jesus answered, 'Very truly I tell you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.'" Those who are born of God are those who receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Those who have previously been baptized in water and fire receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Water baptism is dying to sin, and fire baptism is the death of the body of sin. This means that they are united with Jesus and die on the cross.

Why must we die? Because the idol of greed to become like God is in our hearts that originated from the flesh. This is sin, and the fleshly body that contains sin, like a vessel, is the body of sin (old man). All people in the world are born with a body of sin. It is a body that has been passed down from the first man, Adam. The only way to break the chains connected to this body of sin is death on the cross with Jesus. This is repentance toward God and the cry of those who hope for the kingdom of God. Therefore, the saints become witnesses like John the Baptist.

"He came for a witness, to bear witness of the light (tuphos), so that all might believe (pistusosin) through him (auto)."

Tuphos (τοῦ φωτός) is the light (Christ, the resurrection life). Di means through. In the Greek Bible, auto is he (Christ). It means di (through). It means that everyone has faith through Christ, the Word. Pistusosin means to have faith. The saints also testify to have this faith through Christ. The saints must be those who testify to Christ, the light of the resurrection life. If they cannot convey the resurrection life, it is not the gospel.