Reflection on the Transfiguration of Our Lord “The Light of the Knowledge of Christ” (2nd Corinthians 4:1-6), February 19th, 2012

Light is presented in Scripture in a literal, figurative, and transferred sense (as our moving from darkness to light in conversion, or that which is given by God to His people). To say the least, the word has many uses in Scripture. The most important referent, however, is Jesus Christ. In John 8:12 the Lord says, “Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.'” For the child of God, it is hard to think of more comforting words. Christ as our light stands in contrast to terrifying and overwhelming darkness. The Scriptural presentation of hell for example describes outer darkness and gloomy darkness. What is more terrifying than eternal darkness? But we don’t have to go there to immediately relate to the frightening nature of darkness. How many children have told you they were afraid of the dark? Adults aren’t particularly fond of it either. Darkness is often associated with depression. Few things are worse than living with a sense of hopelessness and despair. Sinners live this way. It was for this reason, that Christ the Light of the World came! The Lord invades our darkness and fills us with His light and all that comes with it: life, freedom, hope, and salvation.

We can’t stop here. While all of these virtues and gifts are exactly what we need, we also need “light” and clarity as to how these are given. God won’t permit us to be ambiguous or ethereal in this regard. There is no benefit in shifting to mysticism for receiving God’s light. Speaking of dealing with that depression mentioned above, St. Paul says specifically that God’s servants “do not lose heart.” This is stated in the same verse where St. Paul identifies his life in “the ministry,” which is to say he was bound by and nourished by the Word of Christ. Where the Word of Christ is, there you can be sure, the light of Christ will follow! This is why St. Paul is so adamant about warning us about the devil’s strategy: he wants to put a veil over the Gospel, he desires to cover it up and this way, people will be blinded to “the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ (2nd Cor. 4:4).” 

To counter this Satanic attack against God’s light, St. Paul proclaimed Christ! See how Christ’s light permeates all things! In creation, Christ the Light of the World was the Word that brought light into the universe. When God spoke, Christ worked and light came! In redemption, the Light of the World could not be defeated by the nails of Calvary’s cross. While the Lord humbled Himself in human flesh and experienced the agony of the cross to bear our sin, death could not contain light. The nails of the cross could just as much claim victory over Jesus as nails can “hold” light to a wall. And it was precisely because this Lord — THE Lord — entered into death that death was overcome! The resurrection is the release of the Light for all to see! In addition to creation and redemption, Christ shines in His people; He shines in you.

God says, “let your light shine (Matthew 5:16),” but it can only do so when it shines on us. When Christ teaches that light must fill our eyes for the rest of us to be filled with light, this occurs only when the light of Christ comes to us, is received by us, and enters into us (Matthew 6:22-23). This is precisely what happens when we receive the Word and Sacrament of Jesus Christ! The Psalmist celebrated this truth: “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path (Psalm 119:105).” Indeed, even our sanctification is by Christ the Light of the World! As you receive Christ’s Word, Christ’s Word shines upon and in you dear Christian. St. Paul concludes our epistle with these words, “For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ (2nd Cor. 4:6).”

In Christ,

Dr. Espinosa

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