Malachi 4:2
Notice the capitalization of “Sun”, making it a proper noun. This takes the meaning from that of a celestial body that burns with gas, to being something far more formal. This verse marks the only time that we see Jesus referred to as “Sun”, comparing Him with light and heat.
Jesus Himself said, “I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life” (John 8:12). The beginning of this verse says, “Then spake Jesus again unto them”. Who is the “them” that Jesus is speaking to? It is the people that He has been teaching in the temple since early in the morning (verse 2). Within context of chapter 8, Jesus speaks this great verse following one of the more infamous incidents in all of the Gospels.
A woman was brought to Jesus who had been caught in the act of adultery. The Pharisees wished to trap Jesus by asking what He thought that they should do to her, in light of Moses’ command that she should be stoned. If Jesus says, “Let her go”, then He is accused of ignoring the law. If He says, “Stone her”, then they pin Him as unloving and judgmental. His response was to point out the sin in all of their lives, leaving no one spotless to accuse her. The only spotless one, Jesus Himself, says, “Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more” (John 8:11).
Following the gift of no condemnation, which empowers the woman to “sin no more”; Jesus calls Himself the light of the world. In effect, He is naming Himself the “Sun” of this world; in which all of His followers will bear within themselves the light of life (verse 12). This proclamation must be linked back to the prophecy of Malachi to truly understand its importance.
Malachi said that to those who fear the name of the Lord, the Sun of righteousness would arise. No one feared the name of the Lord as did the Jewish people, and it was to them that Jesus, the “Sun”, first appeared. Then he tells us that when the Sun of righteousness does arrive, He will have “healing in his wings”. The “Sun” precedes the “healing” in this verse, thus it precedes it in the life of Jesus. When the light of Jesus shined into the life of the adulterous woman, it did not show her sin, but rather it showed her freedom from condemnation. The same light that shined provided her with the healing that she would need to “sin no more”.
Many feel that the light of Jesus shines into the lives of believers to show what they are doing wrong and to condemn them for it. Yet, when Jesus shares this verse, it follows great redemption and hope. His light does not shine into believers to show them their sin, for their sins are remembered no more! Rather, His light shines within us to show us that we are not condemned and that we are the righteousness of God in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:21).
The continuous reminder that you are not condemned provides healing for your hurts, your pains and your insecurities. A constant reminder of your failures and sins will bring on guilt and condemnation, which will further into fear and torment. The perfect love of Jesus constantly drives out the fear and the torment, leaving you healed and whole. Praise be to God for the light of Jesus. As the old song says, “Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine”.
Notice the capitalization of “Sun”, making it a proper noun. This takes the meaning from that of a celestial body that burns with gas, to being something far more formal. This verse marks the only time that we see Jesus referred to as “Sun”, comparing Him with light and heat.
Jesus Himself said, “I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life” (John 8:12). The beginning of this verse says, “Then spake Jesus again unto them”. Who is the “them” that Jesus is speaking to? It is the people that He has been teaching in the temple since early in the morning (verse 2). Within context of chapter 8, Jesus speaks this great verse following one of the more infamous incidents in all of the Gospels.
A woman was brought to Jesus who had been caught in the act of adultery. The Pharisees wished to trap Jesus by asking what He thought that they should do to her, in light of Moses’ command that she should be stoned. If Jesus says, “Let her go”, then He is accused of ignoring the law. If He says, “Stone her”, then they pin Him as unloving and judgmental. His response was to point out the sin in all of their lives, leaving no one spotless to accuse her. The only spotless one, Jesus Himself, says, “Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more” (John 8:11).
Following the gift of no condemnation, which empowers the woman to “sin no more”; Jesus calls Himself the light of the world. In effect, He is naming Himself the “Sun” of this world; in which all of His followers will bear within themselves the light of life (verse 12). This proclamation must be linked back to the prophecy of Malachi to truly understand its importance.
Malachi said that to those who fear the name of the Lord, the Sun of righteousness would arise. No one feared the name of the Lord as did the Jewish people, and it was to them that Jesus, the “Sun”, first appeared. Then he tells us that when the Sun of righteousness does arrive, He will have “healing in his wings”. The “Sun” precedes the “healing” in this verse, thus it precedes it in the life of Jesus. When the light of Jesus shined into the life of the adulterous woman, it did not show her sin, but rather it showed her freedom from condemnation. The same light that shined provided her with the healing that she would need to “sin no more”.
Many feel that the light of Jesus shines into the lives of believers to show what they are doing wrong and to condemn them for it. Yet, when Jesus shares this verse, it follows great redemption and hope. His light does not shine into believers to show them their sin, for their sins are remembered no more! Rather, His light shines within us to show us that we are not condemned and that we are the righteousness of God in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:21).
The continuous reminder that you are not condemned provides healing for your hurts, your pains and your insecurities. A constant reminder of your failures and sins will bring on guilt and condemnation, which will further into fear and torment. The perfect love of Jesus constantly drives out the fear and the torment, leaving you healed and whole. Praise be to God for the light of Jesus. As the old song says, “Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine”.
