Jesus’ Marvelous Light

Jesus’ Marvelous Light

“But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the virtues of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.”

What was His marvelous light? It was the light that made Him both King and Priest according to the order of Melchizedek. Hebrews 7, 5:7-10. In the old covenant, the king and the priest were two separate individuals. In Jesus, the two became one person, and all those who walk in His marvelous light become a royal priesthood, a holy nation.

Jesus did not come to abolish the law, but to fulfill it. “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find.” Rom. 7:18. “Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil . . . .” Heb. 2:14-18.

The law said, “You shall not covet.” However, it was powerless because of the flesh. The law said, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not murder, etc. The law was not powerless if someone committed these acts. Then it could punish the person and put him to death. However, Jesus said that the one who hates his brother is a murderer, and he who looks at a woman to desire her has already committed adultery with her in his heart, etc. “You shall not covet.” Covetousness is in the flesh in which dwells nothing good. None of us is responsible for that. I am not a sinner on that account; nevertheless, “You shall not covet.” When I covet, covetousness has made contact with my mind and gained room in my heart. Then I am a sinner. The law could not lead anyone to victory over sin. Yet what was impossible for the law, “God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.” Rom. 8:3-4.

God did it, and Jesus was the sacrifice—“who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God.” “Though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered.” He did this in the days of His flesh.

“For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace . . . .” Heb. 4:15-16.

This is where we see Jesus’ marvelous light. He could be tempted because, just as the children, He had partaken of a flesh in which dwelled nothing good. However, instead of following His desires (covetousness) and enjoying them in His heart, He became a sacrifice of God’s condemnation of sin in the flesh. The requirement of the law, “You shall not covet,” was fulfilled in Him. He consecrated a new and living way for us through the veil, that is, His flesh. Heb. 10:19-20. He consecrated this way for us “that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us.” We cannot follow Jesus on this way—in this marvelous light—in our own strength. Not at all! However, if we walk in the Spirit, He will lead us into all truth so that sin can be condemned in the flesh and we can live an overcoming life according to God’s will during the time that we are still in the flesh. Heb. 4:2. This marvelous light makes us into a “royal priesthood.”

“That through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil . . . .” Heb. 2:14. If covetousness in the flesh is put to death, the devil is also disarmed; therefore death could not hold Jesus. “Being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit.” 1 Peter 3:18. “For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell . . . .” Col. 1:19. “For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily . . . .” Ch. 2:9. By means of this marvelous light—through the knowledge of Him—He has thereby given us “exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” 2 Pet. 1:3-4.

It is obvious that suffering death in the flesh causes in sufferings in the flesh. “Therefore, since Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin . . . .” 1 Pet. 4:1-2. Here we learn to know the death of Christ which we bear with us in the body “that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.” The way to the righteousness which is from God by faith is: “That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection . . . by being conformed to His death . . . .” Phil. 3:9-10. By walking on this new and living way we will also be united together with Him in the likeness of His resurrection. Rom. 6:5.

We read further in Peter’s letter about suffering unjustly, being reviled, suffering for the name of Christ, suffering for doing good, etc. In all of these circumstances the desires that are in the flesh are awakened, and as a result we are tempted; but then we read further: “But rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.” 1 Pet. 4:13. By understanding Christ’s sufferings, we will not just have victory over sin, but sin in the flesh will be put to death so that we will partake of divine nature. We will be glorified together with Him to the extent that we suffer with Him.

In the difficulties of life people add sin to sin, but for us this is the result through the sufferings of Christ: “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.” 2 Cor. 4:17. Yes, this is truly a marvelous light in which we can walk. Then we will also become one just as the Father and the Son are one.