This is the message we have heard from Him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all. 1 John 1:5
Sitting in our fellowship group many years ago, I listened to my pastor teaching from 1 John. There were several references to light and it seemed a prominent theme. I was excited. John’s audience was Asia Minor, including Turkey, and I had a study trip planned there in the next week. Rabbis like John would pull things from culture and life to use as illustrations. Since light was a reoccurring picture in John’s teaching, I knew there was something behind it – and couldn’t wait to find out what.
As we travelled through the ancient cities, we ran across ruins from Apollo temples, Apollo statues, carved Apollo images. Who was this Apollo? He was one of the major gods from the Greco-Roman period; god of the underworld, of music, … and also of light. His presence was thick in the atmosphere of the ancient world.
Apostle John uses imagery of light more than any of the other NT writers. We see it throughout his gospel as well as in his letters. His audience would understand the picture. Their world was filled with Apollo. Why did John include Jesus’ claim that He was the light of the world? Because they lived in a world where Apollo made the same claim.
Interestingly, we don’t see Apollo mentioned in the text. He isn’t rebuked, denounced, debated or boycotted. John just states the truth. If the truth speaks powerfully enough, then the fraud becomes obvious on its own. Paul does the same thing in his writings. Although Artemis was patron goddess of Ephesus, she is brought up only once in our text. In fact, it records the Ephesian mayor stood up for Paul in claiming that Artemis had not been blasphemed.
I can learn from that. I don’t need to stick up for God. He is not weak and in need of defense - His truth exposes the darkness. But is the way I live my life declaring His Truth? Strangely, He chooses to use us to reveal Himself to the world. I need to be careful that I don’t waste my witness on tearing down lifeless idols, but merely proclaiming Him. He will do the rest.
