(22.) Living Menorah: On Jesus as the Hilarious Light
(22.) Living Menorah: On Jesus as the Hilarious Light.
What is the Menorah? “Menorah” is a Hebrew word that simply means light-bearer, or the place that shines and gives light. Menorah and lampstand are treated as synonyms throughout the Bible, even with its variations down through biblical history. The first official menorah was made according to very precise spec’s from Lord Yahweh Himself given to Moses on Mt. Sinai (Exodus 25). As with every other piece of furniture in the wilderness Tabernacle, every piece meant something profound, and was a shadow of a heavenly thing to help us understand God better (Hebrew 8:5). The other official menorah in Judaism is the Hanukkah menorah, the centerpiece of the eight-day celebration of Chanukah (Hanukkah). Perhaps the most poignant way Jesus fulfills the Hanukkah Menorah is with the vital use of the “servant candle.” This is the ninth and most important of the Hanukkah candles, because it is used to light all the other candles. The servant candle is the Source of light for all the other candles, and there simply would not be any light at all without it. Jesus is the eternal servant candle, because He is the only possible source of any light there could possibly be in this world. It is only with His light that there is light.
Hilarious Light. In this exquisite, ancient hymn of worship, the first line sets the stage for the rest of the hymn with the two words that say it all: Joy and Light. Jesus is the light, and His light gladdens the heart and fills it with joy. The original Greek has translated gladdening into words like joyous, gladsome, and radiant. The light of Jesus radiates joy and gladness. This hymn was originally called Phos Hilaron, which happily and literally means “hilarious light.” The light of Jesus radiates so much joy that it is hilarious. Perfect.
“Hail Gladdening Light
of His pure glory poured
Who is the immortal Father, Heavenly Blest
Holiest of Holies, Jesus Christ our Lord
Now we come to the sun’s hour of rest
The lights of evening around us shine
We hymn the Father, Son and Holy Spirit Divine
Worthiest are thou, at all times to be sung
with undefiled tongue
Son of our God, Giver of life alone,
Therefore, in all the world, thy glories Lord
Thine own.”
Phos Hilaron is the oldest hymn in the Christian church. It’s so old that in the 4th century, it was considered ancient! It has been a traditional evening hymn down through history, sung around the world in most denominations. Back in the early church, it was sung at the ceremony called the “lighting of the lamps.” During this time a candle in the tomb of Christ was kept perpetually burning. And that candle was brought from the tomb into the nearby worship space, probably even some catacombs, and lit another candle. This candle ceremony was to symbolize the eternal living light of Christ. Jesus was seen as the light that would never go out. As the believers worshiped with this lit candle in their midst, they were reminded of the resurrected Lord, the everlasting Spirit of Jesus that brought His body back to mortal life, never to be snuffed out again. The Phos Hilaron was sung during this candle ceremony as they worshiped the risen Christ.
Original Wording. Phos Hilaron was originally written in Greek, and then translated to Latin and to countless other languages. It was finally translated into English in 1834 by Kebel in a way that could be put to music. Many musical settings have followed. The verbatim translation from the original Greek is this:
“O Light gladsome of the holy glow of the Immortal Father,
the heavenly, the Holy, the Blessed, O Jesus Christ,
having come upon the setting of the sun,
having seen the light of the evening,
we praise the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit: God.
Worthy it is at all times to praise thee in joyful voices,
O Son of God, Giver of life, for which the world glorifies thee.”
Ix-nay on the BCP Version. There are a number of other English translations, including the one in the Book of Common Prayer on page 139. For some reason though, the translation placed the word “gracious” in place of gladdening, which seems to miss the point.
Everything is Lit. When speaking of light, we naturally recall Creation. The first thing God did was speak light into mortal existence. “Let there be light!” Here we find that the first creature was light, but that may not be the last we see of it. What if creation of light is actually a continuous process, the first substance which is imbedded into all the further aspects of creation? Could light be a material, an ingredient, with which all things are made? It certainly seems so, since scientists have now discovered that all objects produce light, in the form of electromagnetic waves! The Orthodox Jewish mystic rabbi Tzvi Freeman suggests as much when he said God’s first words were not just a declaration, but also a mandate for the rest of creation. He suggests that everything will be impregnated with light, a substance in all creation. It’s interesting that this has now been proven if we follow the science. It does seem that light is the inherent stuff of life on earth. “When God said ‘Let there be light,” He set the purpose and meaning of everything about to be created. That it should become light.” Just so, believing in the Light of the world, Jesus Christ, fulfills our destiny as we become light-bearers. “In His light, we see light.” (Ps. 36:9). And in His light we become light.
God is Light. Yahweh God is considered to be light, since Scripture tells us that He “wraps Himself in light as with a robe.” (Ps. 104:1); He is the “Father of lights” (James 1:17); He dwells in “unapproachable light” (1 Tim 6:16); He is a “consuming fire” (Deut. 4:24); He is our sun and shield, our light and salvation (Ps. 27:1); We are also told by God Himself to pray that His face shine upon us.” (Numbers 6:25). John even baldly declares, “God is light.” (1 John 1:5). And so it follows that the Father of lights has a Son who is the light of the world. Jesus is “God from God, light from light.‘ (Nicene Creed). Is it any wonder that, as the life-light of Jesus was flickering and then snuffed out on the cross, the sun could not shine? When the light of the world died, the world became dark.
“Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, Christ will shine on you and give you light.” (Eph. 5:14). When we claim that Jesus is the light, when we worship the Triune God of light, we joyfully raise our voices to sing, “Hail, Gladdening Light.” Hail, Jesus, we want nothing more than to see the light of your face. Let it shine upon us, Lord. (Ps. 4:6).
And now for some music. The first two are recordings of Phos Hilaron, one classical and one jazz. Then we have a rousing version of Blind Willie Johnson’s classic performed by a gospel choir. Enjoy.
O Gladsome Light – GENTRI / Lyceum Philharmonic at American Heritage School #LIGHTtheWORLD – YouTube