E SACRIFICE OF THE MASS

EXPLANATION OF ST. JOHN S GOSPEL. 151
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8. John the Baptist confessed in v. 20, I am not
the Christ," and therefore he was not the light. Our
"
Lord said of John the Baptist, He was a burning and
shining lamp." (v. 35.) John was the lamp, the artificial
for the
light kindled by another : he was not the light,
light is Christ. John was to point out the light.
9. Christ is called the true light because He is
substantial, unveiled light that shines of itself others
shine with a light borrowed from Him another kind of
light altogether. Christ was the true light coming into
this world, which enlighteneth every man to whom
the Gospel of His coming is preached. No one, says
St. Augustine, is enlightened except by Christ.
10. He was in the world as God and Creator from
the beginning of time, and the world was made by
Him (that is, earth and sky and all creatures) and the
world, that is, the multitude of men whose lives are in
opposition to God s law, knew Him not.
11. He came unto His own, into His own land,
the Holy Land and His own Jewish people; and His
own Jewish people received Him not.
12. But as many as received Him Christ gave
power to be made the sons of God by adoption in
gave them power He did not force them
He gave them the means on condition of believing in
Baptism ; He
Christ, of becoming sons of God by adoption through
grace.
See i John v. i. Every man who believes that
Jesus is Christ, is born of God."
To them that believe in His name literally
believe unto His name. (Compare Acts viii. 16) "bap
tized unto the name of the Lord Jesus."
Both expressions mean the making over of oneself
as to a Being who is the Son of God, the Messiah who
came to save His people from their sins.