THE CITY OF LIGHT Having dealt with the obstacles that come in the way of man’s enjoyment of salvation (Is. 57-59), he presents to us, at the end of his book, a joyful and magnificent portrait of establishing the new city of the Lord (Is. 60-66). In this chapter he introduces a magnificent portrait of the Church of the New Testament, as being the enlightening Zion, the Lord’s city and the icon of heaven. 1. A city of light 1-2. 2. A center of attraction to the nations 3-9. 3. A glorified city 10-22. 1. A CITY OF LIGHT The Lord has already confirmed that He is taking over upon Himself the salvation and redemption of Zion, establishing His new covenant with her (Is. 59: 15-21). Now, that the Lord Christ had presented His salvation on the cross, and the Father had proclaimed His acceptance through resurrection, that was not a gift outside of the Lord Christ, as He Himself, is the Resurrection (John 11: 25), and has the authority to lay His life down and to take it again (John 10: 18). He demands from the Church of the New Testament to enjoy the life of her Redeemer, as a risen life, in which there is no place for darkness. “Behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the people. But the Lord will arise over you, and His glory will be seen upon you.” (Is. 60: 2) When the Jews returned from captivity, they counted themselves as though having risen from death. They enjoyed the light of life and freedom after seventy years of humiliation as if living in the darkness of the grave. On the other hand, the Church of the New Testament has enjoyed what is far greater, that is, her union with the true Light, as an eternal Groom, who makes of her a bride that bears His light, splendor, and glory. And as the Lord Himself says, “I am the Light of the world” (John 8: 12), He likewise called His disciples “the light of the world” (Matthew 5: 14), as they carry Him in them. What is the source of the Church’s enlightenment? It’s the resurrection of the Lord, which presented us with the new life, undefeatable by death, unaffected by darkness, and indestructible by the grave. That is why the apostle says, “Awake, you who sleep. Arise from the dead. And Christ will give you life.” (Ephesians 5: 14) As Baptism is the enjoyment of the resurrection of Christ in us, it has been called, the sacrament of “Enlightenment.” As we get baptized, we are enlightened; and being enlightened, we get adopted; and as being adopted, we are consummated. This Sacrament is called by several names: grace, enlightenment, consummation, and cleansing. It is enlightenment; as by it we behold the holy light of salvation, namely we clearly behold God1. 1 Kay’s Writings of Clement of Alexandria, p. 437. 8 St. Clement of Alexandria Enlightenment, that is Baptism, is supporter to the weak, providing light and upheaval from darkness. Enlightenment is a ship sailing towards God, with Christ, the basis of religion, and consummation of intellect! Enlightenment is the key to the Kingdom and restoration of life!1 St. Gregory of Nazianzus Baptism is the daughter of the day as it opened its gates, the night, into which the whole creation had entered, flew away2. Mar Jacob El-Serougi Thus, as we accept union with our crucified Lord Jesus Christ, we get buried with Him in the water of baptism and then rise bearing the new life, to live as is fitting to the children of light, and members of the holy body of Christ. After that, we should not descend again into the darkness of sin, nor give excuses of our human weakness, as in us we bear the light of the Lord, and on us His glory shines. We should not be anymore an earth of darkness, but a heaven that embraces the glory and splendor of God. That is the feature of the Church having a new life in Christ, in which He dwells, and over which His divine righteousness shines; of which it is said: “Let your light so shines before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5: 16) As they practice the godliness and utter them; living the godly life, defeating the hardness of heart and enjoying the peace of righteousness, they are then granted a great glory in the Church of Christ3. St. Augustine The Lord Christ came to the world to acquire humanity as His bride, in whom He pours His glory and splendor, and He grants her His Holy Spirit to adorn and beautify, to prepare her for the heavenly wedding and to tell her: “Listen, O daughter, Consider and incline your ear. Forget your own people also, and your father’s house. So the King will greatly desire your beauty. Because He is your Lord, worship Him... The royal daughter is all glorious within.” (Psalm 45: 10 - 13) 2. A CENTER OF ATTRACTION TO NATIONS The glory of God within the soul is attractive since it attracts the souls to its spiritual kingdom. As the Church of the New Testament becomes a city of light, it attracts the nations; and as said by the Lord: “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5: 14 - 16) This is a realization of what came in the book of Isaiah: “The Gentiles shall come to your light; the kings to the brightness of your rising.” (Is. 60: 3) The Church becomes like her Groom, the pillar of the true light, who leads nations للمؤلف: الروح القدس بین المیلاد الجدید والتجدید المستمر، 1981 م، ص 1 .83 میمر عن المعمودیة المقدسة. 2 3 City of God, 5:14. 9 along the way of the Lord, and sets in them spiritual kings, with inner authority. The Church looks all around her to behold the amazing work of God, attracting, from all nations, sons and daughters for her; to become honored household of God, born on the hands (Is. 60: 14). The power of Christ, risen from the dead, in His Church, is demonstrated in transforming energies (wealth of the nations) to His Kingdom’s account; as is being said to His bride, “Then you shall see and become radiant, and your heart shall swell with joy. Because the abundance of the sea shall be turned to you. The wealth of the Gentiles shall come to you.” (Is. 60: 5) What is the abundance of the sea or the wealth of the Gentiles that are sanctified to the account of the Church of Christ? a. The abundance of the sea (Is. 60: 5), namely the fish and pearls. The Fathers of the Church called the Lord Christ “the Fish” (Ichthus); and the believers are the multitude of fish that live with Christ and in Him (Ezekiel 9). Tertullian says, [Like our big Fish Jesus Christ, we the small fish are born in the water, and will never be safe unless we stay always in water1.] b. Camels from Median and Sheba will carry gold and incense, not for trading, but to be offered as a gift to Zion. The Wisemen offered gold, frankincense, and myrrh to the Lord Christ, as a sign that He is a King (the gold), a God (the incense) and a sufferer (the myrrh). In the same way the members of His body become kings, who offer incense to their Savior. c. Offering acceptable sacrifices for the ministry and adornments for the house of the Lord (Is. 60: 7, 8). These sacrifices are our life, bodies, and all our energies, binding with the unique Sacrifice, to turn into burnt offerings of love offered through the cross. The apostle says, “I beseech you brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.” (Romans 12: 1) Our sacrifices to the Lord, according to St. Jerome2, are our “souls.” d. The best we can offer to Zion is probably our ability to fly as a cloud, carried by the Spirit of the Lord to heaven, to live with our Christ in His glories, as though in our own home. “Who are these who fly like a cloud, and like doves to their roosts?” (Is. 60: 8) In the last day, the Lord will come on the clouds of heaven (Matthew 24: 30); borne by His saints, the luminous light clouds (Is. 19: 1). Likening us to the clouds implies that we become a throne bearing our Christ, while likening us to doves implies that we become spiritual because the Holy Spirit, during the baptism of Christ, appeared as a dove. In other words, binding with the Church of the Lord will turn us into a throne for the Lord, bearing the fruits of His Holy Spirit. In the Septuagint version it came as: “Who are these who fly like a cloud, and like doves to their roosts?” St. Gregory of Nyssa3 believes that this prophetical phrase proclaims from afar the future Church coming with its numerous children, full of beauty. 1 .314- للمؤلف: الكنیسة بیت الله، 1979 م، ص 311 2 On Ps. Hom 23. 3 On the Baptism of Christ. 10 St. Gregory of Nyssa1 compares between the true children of the Church, who are light as the Spirit, flying as doves and clouds, and the wicked ones, who, because of the weight of sin, sink as though in deep waters. [One walks lightly enough to float while the other one sinks in deep waters. The virtue is light, so it floats, and all who walk in its way fly as clouds and doves with their little ones, according to Isaiah’s words. On the other hand, sin is heavy, and according to another prophet, as though sitting on a lead disc (Zechariah 5: 7).] e. Silver and gold (Is. 60: 9): Silver refers to the word of God (Psalm 12: 6), and gold refers to the pure heavenly life. As though the wealth of the future Church coming from the Gentiles, lies in her commitment to the word of God, and her enjoyment of heavenly thought. 3. A GLORIFIED CITY a. “The sons of foreigners shall build up your walls and their kings will serve you.” (Is. 60: 10) Referring here to Cyrus the foreigner, who ordered the return of the captives, and gave Nehemiah every facility to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. God in His love uses all foreign energies to build His kingdom, presenting all the goodness for the sake of His Church. This is truly the glory of the Church, sanctifying every work! b. The beauty of the Church lies in that its gates are open continually, day and night (Is. 60:11). It never turns a sinner back, or hurt his feelings. It carries a wide heart, full of love towards all, as does her Groom. It is like the ark of Noah, with wide doors, receiving Noah and his family, together with beasts and birds, etc. Whoever inside, was saved, and every one refused to enter perished, “For the nation and kingdom which will not serve you shall perish, and those nations shall be utterly ruined.” (Is. 60: 12) As St. Cyprian says, [There is no salvation out of the Church.] c. “And the glory of Lebanon shall come to you. The Cypress, the pine, and the box tree together, to beautify the place of My sanctuary, and I will make the place of My feet glorious.” (Is. 60: 13) Lebanon was well known for its excellent trees; hence the use of its wood in adorning the temple of the Lord. This is a magnificent portrait of transforming the idle or misused energies to the account of the temple of the Lord. d. Enjoyment of spiritual authority, when the powers of darkness submit underneath the soles of believers’ feet. “Also the sons of those who afflicted you shall come bowing to you, and all those who despised you shall fall prostrate at the soles of your feet; and they shall call you the city of the Lord, Zion of the Holy One of Israel.” (Is. 60: 14) Even the devil with all his energies will witness to believers that they are the holy city of the Lord. The wicked will not have except to witness to the children of God, to the holiness of their lives, even at the moments that they afflicted them. e. Enjoyment of continuous everlasting joy: “Whereas you have been forsaken and hated, so that no one went through you, I will make you an eternal excellence, a joy of many generations.” (Is. 60: 15) This is its everlasting pride, that it is not any more 1 On Virginity 18. 11 forsaken, nor suffering from a condition of void, isolation or hate, but will be filled with joy, to become eternally glorified. f. God will grant it much more than it asks for. “Instead of bronze I will bring gold. Instead of iron I will bring silver. Instead of wood, bronze; and instead of stones, iron.” (Is. 60: 17) Thus it will find in God its inner satisfaction, the source of its spiritual wealth, and the satisfaction of all its needs. g. Justice will dwell in it: “Violence shall no longer be heard in your land; neither wasting nor destruction within your borders; but you shall call your walls Salvation, and your gates praise.”(Is. 60: 18) Everyone will find in it his salvation, and the source of his joy and praise. In it, God, the Just, grants justice and righteousness, and will not allow affliction, wasting, or destruction within its borders. h. Being the icon of heaven, it does not need the sun or moon to give it light. “But the Lord will be to you an everlasting light, and your God your glory” (Is. 60: 19) i. Enjoyment of righteous life (Is. 60: 21) j. Enjoyment of the exalted power of God: “A little one shall become a thousand, and a small one a strong nation.” (Is. 60: 22) Man, on his own is counted small but as a member of the body of Christ, he is to be counted as a thousand, that is to say heavenly, since the figure 1000 refers to heaven. Out of Christ, he is belittled, is for the devil to play with, and for sin to destroy him. But in Jesus Christ, he will be a strong (nation), as he is carrying holy energies of the spirit and body, working together in harmony and unity, bearing in it the strength of Spirit of the Lord. Thus, this chapter presents us with a living portrait of the Church of the Lord Christ, being the city of light, that bears in it the shinning of the Lord Christ; attracts nations and peoples by its inner glory, sanctifies all their energies and possibilities that they previously abused; opens up its gates before all in love. The Lord opens His gates before His Church, to grant her far more than she asks for, to grant her His righteousness, justice, strength, beauty, and light, to let it be in need of nothing.
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