shall possess living light. He shall have spiritual light, as much superior to the light of any lamp or even of the sun, as the living water offered to the Samaritan woman was superior to the water of Jacob's well." The spiritual light that Christ gives is indepen- dent of time or place, — is not affected by sickness or death, — burns on forever, and cannot be quenched. He that has it shall feel light within his mind, heart, and conscience,— shall see light before him on the grave, death, and the world to come, — shall have light shining round him, guiding him in his journey through life, and shall reflect light by his conduct, ways and conversation.
Chrysostom thinks that one purpose of this promise was to draw on and encourage Nicodemus, and to remind him of the former saying Jesus had used about light and darkness, John iii. 20. J
Augustine remarks on this verse, " What is our duty to do, Christ puts in the present tense : what He promiseth to them that do it, He bath denoted by a future time. He that followeth now, shall have hereafter, — followeth now by faith, shall have hereafter by sight. When by sight? When we shall have come to the vision yonder, when this night of ours shall have passed away." I should be sorry, however, to confine the promise to so limited an interpretation as this, and though I have no doubt it will only be completely fulfilled at the second advent, I still think that it is partially and spiritually fulfilled now to every believer.
Calvin remarks, that in this verse "Benefit is offered not only to one person or another, but to the whole world. By this universal statement Christ intended to remove the distinction, not only between Jews and Gentiles, but between learned and ignorant, between persons of distinction and common people." He also says, — " In the latter clause of the verse, the perpetuity of light is stated in express terms. We ought not to fear there- fore lest it leave us in the middle of our journey."
Brentius remarks, that if a man could continually " follow 'J the sun, he would always be in broad daylight in every part of the globe. So it is with Christ and believers. Always follow- ing Him, they will always have light.
In this most precious and interesting verse there are several things which deserve our special attention.
(a) We should note the great assumed truth which lies underneath the whole verse. That truth is the fall of man. The world is in a state of moral and spiritual darkness. Natu- rally men know nothing rightly of themselves, God, holiness, or heaven. They need light.
(ft) We should note the full and bold manner of our Lord's declaration. He proclaims Himself to be " the light of the