Jesus and the First Day, 3

“Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. And God saw the light, that it was good; and God divided the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night. So the evening and the morning were the first day.” Genesis 1:3-5

The Word “Let there be light” was the light, and is the light. In fact, every word is as light.

Have you ever had difficulty describing something, and then when you are finally able to name it, it’s like a “light” goes off? Like an, Aha! moment? This is how we can understand the depth and practical utility of this Scripture. How do you imagine that word “divided” happening in this part of the story? It’s an interesting thought experiment. In fact, it stretches the mind depending on which direction you go.

Think about it. God speaks, and that very speech is itself the “light”. If this is so, the implication is that the darkness is the absence of that spoken word. In other words, silence. Silence can be painful, uncomfortable, and even scary.

I cannot imagine entirely what it is like to not have the sense of hearing. Yet I am amazed at people like Evelyn Glennie who are, though unable to hear, able to masterfully play with sound. This amazing reality reinforces a statement made by the Beloved Apostle John,

"In Him was life, and the life was the light of men…That was the true Light (referring to the person of Jesus), which gives light to every man coming into the world.” John 1:4, 9

A measure of light given to every man coming into the world reveals something about this moment in Genesis 1:3-5. It seems to show that the spoken Word in this moment is the source, or the spring of light. Yet that spoken word, in the light of the second day, implies that at this time, it is still a silent spoken word. This is interesting. Why do I say a silent spoken word? Because sound travels through the air most clearly. Yet the firmament, the air, has not yet been created. So all we have is still the water which has been introduced to us in Genesis 1:2. So the speech of God traveling through the water is perhaps an insight into an experience that we can have, or have had. That silent and inaudible, yet perhaps strangely loud or quiet voice that cries out inside our own heads. The brain inside of which is, by the way, around 75% water. (Be sure to remember to drink lots of water!)

Here’s another observation in this passage: The darkness is given a name. What is the significance of that?

Remember that feeling of having difficulty describing something? You know, the darkness can seem or feel like one of those things. What we learn about darkness in this Scripture is that it is in contrast to the spoken word. So it is the absence. So it is like a silence, but not an inaudible silence. Rather, it is the absence of the light. The absence of the spoken word. The presence of nothing.

Every man coming into the world is given a measure of light. That light is called the life in Him (Jesus). Sentient existence itself is a light as we have spoken of before. So non-existence is darkness. So what makes existence? Well, the only reference we have to life if in any form thus far is that of the Creator Himself. Particularly the reference to His Spirit, His Breath, which was moving over the face of the waters.

One author puts it so beautifully and clearly,

“Activity is the condition of life.” E.G. White.

What is activity? Movement. Try breathing without moving. Or try moving without breathing. If you’ve ever tried either, you know that when one stops, the other also stops after a time. Lots of movement without taking breaths will make you very tired very quickly. So activity, which is movement, and life are inseperable. This is why when people die they stop, you guessed it, moving.

How does this help us understand darkness? By contrast, the darkness is the absence of that condition which makes life possible. It is the absence of activity. And what name is given to darkness? It is “Night”.

The night is a time of rest, a time when activity slows down. In fact, it is the time of sleeping for many creatures. But let us learn from the light of Jesus regarding this subject to help us understand it even more.

And so He said,

“I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work.” John 9:4
And again He said,

“When I was with you daily in the temple, you did not try to seize Me. But this is your hour, and the power of darkness.” Luke 22:53

The night is when no one can work. Also, Jesus called that attempt to capture and destroy Him “the power of darkness”.

Can the Word of God be bound, however?

The Apostle Paul said in these words, “Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel: wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound.” 2 Timothy 2:8, 9

Could the light of Jesus be stopped? Could He be silenced? Could His Word be bound? Genesis 1:3-5 shows us that the Creator always intended for the light to go forth, even through the darkest of circumstances. In the Creation story we see the light of God’s life giving Word breaking through the lifeless darkness as He begins the ordered and daily process which would culminate in His making of His crowning creation — humanity.

We also look back at this story and see an illustration of the Resurrection of Jesus. Though the darkness seemed for a time to prevail, yet coming forth from the tomb on the first day by the power of His Father, Jesus Christ was indeed the Light that shines in the darkness, the darkness being the Night which could not comprehend or overcome the Day.

Did you know that the Day has children?