Light and darkness

Wednesday April 7, 2021

Light and darkness

I am the man who saw misery under the stick of his fury. He pushed me, he made me move forward in darkness, and not in light... He makes me dwell in darkness, like those who are long dead. Lamentations of Jeremiah 3: 1,2,6

The words of Jeremiah expressed above reflect the intensity of his pain in the face of the terrible judgment God brought to the city of Jerusalem when it was destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon (586 BC). These words are also prophetic. They direct our thoughts to Jesus Christ, the man of the counsel of God (Isaiah 46:11) who, much more intensely than Jeremiah, suffered under his judgment.

He was the light of the world, the true light... who enlightens everyone who comes into the world so that whoever believes in Him may no longer walk in darkness, but have the light of life (John 1:9 ; 8:12 ; 12:46). This light, Jesus made it shine on the earth by his actions, his words, his entire walk. His works have testified that he was the Father's envoy (John 5:35-37).

It was not by his life of light that Jesus atoned for the sins of men and judged sin in his nature. His life brought to light man's state of darkness. God, who is light and in whom there is no darkness (1 John 1:5), therefore had to bring down the condemnation we all deserved on his Son and bring him into the darkness of death.

The sentiments of Jesus, who had the same horror of sin as his Father, are expressed here prophetically ; it is the pain of one who suffers the wrath and condemnation of God for sins he has not committed ! When Jesus is on the cross where he undergoes this judgment, the earth is then plunged into darkness for three long hours.

We cannot fathom the atoning sufferings of the Lord Jesus, the perfect man. They remain an impenetrable mystery for us. God alone appreciates its intensity, while the redeemed believes and worships !

Source (Pleasing the Lord)