⁴ “I glorified You on the earth, having accomplished the work which You have given Me to do.”

Shining light on the true nature of God was Jesus’ goal. And truly that was needed, because since the fall in the Garden of Eden, the knowledge of God grew darker and darker. “For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures” (Rom 1:21–23).

Monotheism (the belief in one God) became replaced by belief in “other gods” as was characteristic in Abraham’s pre-faith days in Ur (Josh 24:2). Humans began making images of the gods from wood, metal and anything else they could use to represent those gods. Characteristics associated with these so-called gods included vindictiveness (unreasonable desire for revenge), capriciousness (ruling by their whims), arbitrariness, accepting of bribes and even in some cases demanding human sacrifice, temple prostitution and religious orgies. They were seen as territorial, constantly at war with each other. Nations would in effect boast, “Our gods are stronger than your gods.”

Even among the Jews, though idolatry was strictly forbidden, the pull toward idolatry was persistent, whether it be worshiping on the high places (universally condemned in Scripture) or committing “spiritual adultery” by worshiping other nations’ deities. Solomon offers a prime example of such behavior. “When Solomon was old, his wives turned his heart away after other gods; and his heart was not wholly devoted to the Lord his God, as the heart of David his father had been.” (1 Ki 11:4).

The darkness of humans’ view of God is a direct cause in their own sinfulness. In Solomon’s case he was influenced by his weakness for women. He believed they could provide something that God could not provide, something he felt he could not live without. Just as Adam and Eve had bought into the lie that they could not live without the forbidden fruit, that somehow God was keeping something good from them. That “something” became more important to them than God Himself. And that is the most repressive darkness there is. That is the essence of idolatry.

But, “In [Christ] was life, and the life was the Light of men” (John 1:4). He came to shine forth the nature of God clearly, that is, to glorify God.

Lord, thank You for helping me see the character of God more clearly.