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By one who listened to these words； they were long afterward re…echoed in that sublime passage； 〃In Him was life； and the life was the light of men。 And the light shineth in the darkness； and the darkness apprehended it not。〃 〃That was the true light； which lighteth every man that cometh into the world。〃 John 1：4； 5； R。 V。； 9。 And long after Jesus had ascended to heaven； Peter also； writing under the illumination of the divine Spirit； recalled the symbol Christ had used： 〃We have also a more sure word of prophecy； whereunto ye do well that ye take heed； as unto a light that shineth in a dark place； until the day dawn； and the daystar arise in your hearts。〃 2 Peter 1：19。
In the manifestation of God to His people； light had ever been a symbol of His presence。 At the creative word in the beginning； light had shone out of darkness。 Light had been enshrouded in the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night； leading the vast armies of Israel。 Light blazed with awful grandeur about the Lord on Mount Sinai。 Light rested over the mercy seat in the tabernacle。 Light filled the temple of Solomon at its dedication。 Light shone on the hills of Bethlehem when the angels brought the message of redemption to the watching shepherds。
God is light； and in the words； 〃I am the light of the world；〃 Christ declared His oneness with God； and His relation to the whole human family。 It was He who at the beginning had caused 〃the light to shine out of darkness。〃 2 Cor。 4：6。 He is the light of sun and moon and star。 He was the spiritual light that in symbol and type and prophecy had shone upon Israel。 But not to the Jewish nation alone was the light given。 As the sunbeams penetrate to the remotest corners of the earth； so does the light of the Sun of Righteousness shine upon every soul。
〃That was the true light； which lighteth every man that cometh into the world。〃 The world has had its great teachers； men of giant intellect and wonderful research； men whose utterances have stimulated thought； and opened to view vast fields of knowledge； and these men have been honored as guides and benefactors of their race。 But there is One who stands higher than they。 〃As many as received Him； to them gave He power to become the sons of God。〃 〃No man hath seen God at any time； the only…begotten Son； which is in the bosom of the Father； He hath declared Him。〃 John 1：12； 18。 We can trace the line of the world's great teachers as far back as human records extend； but the
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Light was before them。 As the moon and the stars of the solar system shine by the reflected light of the sun； so； as far as their teaching is true； do the world's great thinkers reflect the rays of the Sun of Righteousness。 Every gem of thought； every flash of the intellect； is from the Light of the world。 In these days we hear much about 〃higher education。〃 The true 〃higher education〃 is that imparted by Him 〃in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge。〃 〃In Him was life； and the life was the light of men。〃 Col。 2：3； John 1：4。 〃He that followeth Me；〃 said Jesus； 〃shall not walk in darkness； but shall have the light of life。〃
In the words； 〃I am the light of the world；〃 Jesus declared Himself the Messiah。 The aged Simeon； in the temple where Christ was now teaching； had spoken of Him as 〃a light to lighten the Gentiles； and the glory of Thy people Israel。〃 Luke 2：32。 In these words he was applying to Him a prophecy familiar to all Israel。 By the prophet Isaiah； the Holy Spirit had declared； 〃It is too light a thing that Thou shouldest be My servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob； and to restore the preserved of Israel： I will also give Thee for a light to the Gentiles； that Thou mayest be My salvation unto the end of the earth。〃 Isa。 49：6； R。 V。 This prophecy was generally understood as spoken of the Messiah； and when Jesus said； 〃I am the light of the world；〃 the people could not fail to recognize His claim to be the Promised One。
To the Pharisees and rulers this claim seemed an arrogant assumption。 That a man like themselves should make such pretensions they could not tolerate。 Seeming to ignore His words； they demanded； 〃Who art Thou？〃 They were bent upon forcing Him to declare Himself the Christ。 His appearance and His work were so at variance with the expectations of the people； that； as His wily enemies believed； a direct announcement of Himself as the Messiah would cause Him to be rejected as an impostor。
But to their question； 〃Who art Thou？〃 Jesus replied； 〃Even that which I have also spoken unto you from the beginning。〃 John 8：25； R。V。 That which had been revealed in His words was revealed also in His character。 He was the embodiment of the truths He taught。 〃I do nothing of Myself；〃 He continued； 〃but as My Father hath taught Me； I speak these things。 And He that sent Me is with Me： the Father hath not left Me alone； for I do always those things that please Him。〃 He did not attempt to prove His Messianic claim； but showed His unity with God。 If their minds had been open to God's love； they would have received Jesus。
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Among His hearers many were drawn to Him in faith； and to them He said； 〃if ye continue in My word； then are ye My disciples indeed； and ye shall know the truth； and the truth shall make you free。〃
These words offended the Pharisees。 The nation's long subjection to a foreign yoke； they disregarded； and angrily exclaimed； 〃We be Abraham's seed； and were never in bondage to any man： how sayest Thou； Ye shall be made free？〃 Jesus looked upon these men； the slaves of malice； whose thoughts were bent upon revenge； and sadly answered； 〃Verily； verily； I say unto you； Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin。〃 They were in the worst kind of bondage；ruled by the spirit of evil。
Every soul that refuses to give himself to God is under the control of another power。 He is not his own。 He may talk of freedom； but he is in the most abject slavery。 He is not allowed to see the beauty of truth； for his mind is under the control of Satan。 While he flatters himself that he is following the dictates of his own judgment； he obeys the will of the prince of darkness。 Christ came to break the shackles of sin…slavery from the soul。 〃If the Son therefore shall make you free； ye shall be free indeed。〃 〃The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus〃 sets us 〃free from the law of sin and death。〃 Rom。 8：2。
In the work of redemption there is no compulsion。 No external force is employed。 Under the influence of the Spirit of God； man is left free to choose whom he will serve。 In the change that takes place when the soul surrenders to Christ； there is the highest sense of freedom。 The expulsion of sin is the act of the soul itself。 True； we have no power to free ourselves from Satan's control； but when we desire to be set free from sin； and in our great need cry out for a power out of and above ourselves； the powers of the soul are imbued with the divine energy of the Holy Spirit； and they obey the dictates of the will in fulfilling the will of God。
The only condition upon which the freedom of man is possible is that of becoming one with Christ。 〃The truth shall make you free；〃 and Christ is the truth。 Sin can triumph only by enfeebling the mind； and destroying the liberty of the soul。 Subjection to God is restoration to one's self；to the true glory and dignity of man。 The divine law； to which we are brought into subjection； is 〃the law of liberty。〃 James 2：12。
The Pharisees had declared themselves the children of Abraham。 Jesus told them that this claim could be established only by doing the works of Abraham。 The true children of Abraham would live； as he did； a life of obedience to God。 They would not try to kill One who was speaking the truth that was given Him from God。 In plotting
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against Christ； the rabbis were not doing the works of Abraham。 A mere lineal descent from Abraham was of no value。 Without a spiritual connection with him； which would be manifested in possessing the same spirit； and doing the same works； they were not his children。
This principle bears with equal weight upon a question that has long agitated the Christian world；the question of apostolic succession。 Descent from Abraham was proved； not by name and lineage； but by likeness of character。 So the apostolic succession rests not upon the transmission of ecclesiastical authority； but upon spiritual relationship。 A life actuated by the apostles' spirit； the belief and teaching of the truth they taught； this is the true evidence of apostolic succession。 This is what constitutes men the successors of the first teachers of the gospel。
Jesus denied that the Jews were children of Abraham。 He said； 〃Ye do the deeds of your father。〃 In mockery they answered； 〃We be not born of fornication； we have one Father； even God。〃 These words； in allusion to the circumstances of His birth； were intended as a thrust against Christ in the presence of those who were beginning to believe on Him。 Jesus gave no heed to the base insinuation； but said； 〃If God were your Father； ye would love Me： for I proceeded forth and came from Go