Once again I'm going to revisit one of my favorite topics: the biblical symbolism of light. There's always something new to say.
i) Let's begin with some preliminary distinctions. Take the distinction between interior and exterior illumination. Natural examples of interior illumination include lamps, candlelight, and a fireplace. Natural examples of exterior illumination include lightning, sunlight, full moonlight, and campfire.
ii) Interior illumination may create a contrast between light on the inside and darkness outside. Conversely, exterior illumination may create a contrast between darkness on the inside and light on the outside.
iii) A building may be illuminated from the inside (e.g. candlelight) or the outside (e.g. sunlight shining though windows, skylights, oculus).
iv) Inside and outside are comparative relations. For instance, heaven is external to the world while the world is external to heaven.
v) In addition to interior/exterior illumination is portable illumination (e.g. a torch). Portable illumination can shift from interior to exterior illumination or vice versa. For instance, you can light a torch from a campfire, then take that inside to illuminate the dark interior. Or you can light a torch from a fireplace, then take that outside to shine in the darkness.
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. 3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. 4 God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day (Gen 1:1-5).
Here, sunlight is analogous to exterior illumination (e.g. the Pantheon in Rome).
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it...14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth (Jn 1:1-5,14).
i) Here there's an interplay between exterior, interior, and portable illumination. The Son is symbolic sunlight. The transcendent source of sunlight and daylight. But there's a shift. A two-sided shift. When the Son leaves heaven, it's like he carries a torch from inside to the out-of-doors. Interior illumination switching to exterior illumination.
ii) But from the standpoint of an earthing, it's like bringing a burning torch inside, as the otherworldly light of the Incarnate Son enters our darkened world. Exterior illumination switching to interior illumination.
iii) Not only is there the explicit light motif in v2ff., but the implicit light motif of the Shekinah in v14. Sunlight and Shekinah light.
12 I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, 13 and among the lampstands was someone like a son of man,dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. 14 The hair on his head was white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. 15 His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. 16 In his right hand he held seven stars, and coming out of his mouth was a sharp, double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance...1 These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands...5 If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place. (Rev 1:12-16; 2:1-5).
i) There are parallels between this John's inaugural vision and the Prologue to John's Gospel. Here, Jesus is a symbolic Menorah. The Menorah provided interior illumination to the tabernacle. But Jesus is a portable Menorah.
ii) In addition, he's a portable constellation. That evokes the Fourth Day of creation, but unlike stars in the sky, Jesus takes the stars with him. His presence floods the church with light while his absence plunges the church into darkness.
Finally, let's end this meditation with a classic anthem:
Hail, gladdening light, of his pure glory poured,
who is the immortal Father, heavenly, blest,
holiest of holies, Jesu Christ, our Lord.
Now we are come to the sun's hour of rest,
the lights of evening round us shine,
we hymn the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit divine.
Worthiest art thou at all times to be sung
with undefiled tongue,
Son of our God, giver of life alone;
therefore in all the world thy glories, Lord, they own.
Amen.
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