And this is the condemnation
Of him that believes not in Christ; that is, this is the matter
and cause of his condemnation, and by which it is aggravated, and
appears to be just:
that light is come into the world:
by which is meant, not natural or corporeal light; though natural
darkness is, by some, preferred to this, being more convenient
for their evil works; as by thieves, murderers, and adulterers:
nor is the light of nature designed, with which every man is
enlightened that comes into the world; which, though but a dim
light, might be of more use, and service, than it is; and is
often rejected, and rebelled against, by wicked men, and which
will be the condemnation of the Heathen world: but rather the
light of divine revelation, both in the law of God, and Gospel of
Christ; especially the latter is here intended; and which, though
so great a favour to fallen men, is despised, and denied by the
sons of darkness: though it may be best of all to understand it
of Christ himself, the light of the world, and who is come a
light into it; see ( John 8:12 ) ( 12:46 ) , who may be
called "light", because he has set revelation in its clearest and
fullest light; he has declared the whole mind, and will of God
concerning the affair of divine worship, and the business of
salvation: grace, and truth, are come by him; the doctrines of
grace, and the truths of the Gospel, are most clearly brought to
light by him; the types, and shadows of the law are removed; and
the promises, and the prophecies of the Old Testament, are most
largely expounded by him, and most perfectly fulfilled in him:
and besides; he is the author and giver of the light of grace, by
which men see themselves to be what they are, lost and undone
sinners; and see him to be the only able, willing, suitable,
sufficient, and complete Saviour: and he it is that now gives the
saints the glimpse of glory they have, and will be the light of
the new Jerusalem, and the everlasting light of his people
hereafter. He, by his incarnation, may be said to "come into the
world" in general, which was made by him, as God; and as he was
in it, as man; though he was not known by it as the God-man,
Mediator, and Messiah: and particularly he came into the Jewish
world, where he was born, brought up, conversed, lived, and died;
and into the Gentile world, by the ministry of his apostles, whom
he; sent into all the world, to preach the Gospel to every
creature, and spread the glorious light of it in every place:
and men loved darkness rather than light:
the Jews, the greater part of them, preferred the darkness of the
ceremonial law, and the Mosaic dispensation, and even the
traditions of their elders, before the clear Gospel revelation
made by Christ Jesus; and the Gentiles also, for the most part,
chose rather to continue in their Heathenish ignorance, and
idolatry, and to walk in their own ways, and in the vanity of
their minds, than to embrace Christ, and his Gospel, and submit
to his ordinances, and appointments; and the generality of men,
to this day, love their natural darkness, and choose to walk in
it, and to have fellowship with the works of darkness, and
delight in the company of the children of darkness, rather than
follow Christ, the light of the world; receive his Gospel, and
walk in his ways, in fellowship with his saints: the reason of
all this is,
because their deeds were evil;
which they chose not to relinquish; and Christ, his Gospel and
ordinances are contrary to them; for the doctrine of the grace of
God, which has appeared, and shone out in great lustre, and
splendour, in the world, teaches men to deny ungodliness, and
worldly lusts; and therefore it is hated, and rejected, by men.