heaven and also to people in the world. As a result, in the Word there is
a spiritual meaning in which divine truth is in the light and there is an
earthly meaning in which divine truth is in shadow. The divine truth in
this Word is what was meant in John.
This is clearer still from the fact that the Lord came into the world to
fulfill all the things in the Word. This is why it says many times that this
or that happened to him in order to fulfill Scripture [see § 262 ]. Divine
truth is precisely what “the Messiah” and “Christ” mean, what “the Son
of Humankind” means, and what “the Comforter, the Holy Spirit” that
the Lord sent after his death means. During his transfiguration on the
mountain before his three disciples (Matthew 17 [: 1 – 13 ]; Mark 9 [: 2 – 13 ];
Luke 9 [: 28 – 36 ]) and also during his transfiguration before John in Reve-
lation 1 : 12 – 16 , the Lord represented himself as the Word, as we will see in
the chapter below on Sacred Scripture [§ 222 ].
[ 3 ] From the Lord’s own words it is clear that he was present in the
world as divine truth: “I am the way, the truth,and the life” (John 14 : 6 ).
This is also clear from these words: “We know that the Son of God came
and gave us understanding so that we would know the truth.And we are
in the truth in the Son of God, Jesus Christ.He is the true God and eternal
life” ( 1 John 5 : 20 ).
This becomes still clearer from the fact that he is called the light, as
in these passages:
He was the true lightthat enlightens everyone who comes into the
world. (John 1 : 9 )
Jesus said, “For a brief time the lightis still with you.Walk while you
have the lightso the darkness will not overtake you. While you have the
light,believe in the lightso that you may become children of the light.”
(John 12 : 35 , 36 )
I am the light of the world.(John 9 : 5 )
Simeon said, “My eyes have seen your salvation, a lightof revelation to
the nations.” (Luke 2 : 30 , 32 )
This is the judgment, that the light has come into the world. Those who
do the truth come toward the light.(John 3 : 19 , 21 )
There are other such passages as well. “The light” means divine truth.86 Jehovah God came into the world as divine truth for the purpose of
redeeming people. Redemption was a matter of gaining control of the