The comparison and contrast of Jesus in relation to the astronomical Sun is worth discussing. Seeing the importance and impact the Sun has on life on Earth and other planets illustrates Christ’s significance in both the spiritual and physical realms.
“But to you who fear My name The Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healing in His wings, And you shall go out and grow fat like stall-fed calves.” — Malachi 4:2.
Malachi 4:2 is a prophecy of the Messiah. It is literally about the sun, not the son. This is not a mistranslation, nor a mistake. But prophetically it is about the son of God, Jesus Christ.
The sun is at the centre of our solar system. Everything in our solar system revolves around the sun, including the earth. Jesus Christ, like the natural sun, is the centre of the universal system. Jesus Christ is the centre of the material universe, the moral aspect of life and the spiritual world. Jesus Christ is the centre of church worship and service. Therefore, everything and everyone revolves around Jesus.
As darkness precedes the dawn of the natural sun, so there is also moral and spiritual darkness in our world without Jesus Christ.
The sun rises gradually. Jesus Christ, as the natural sun does, arose gradually; He arose in the Scriptures, through prophecies and promises, types and sacrifices, until, in the development of God’s providence. He appeared above the horizon; He emerged in His own personal history, in the completion of His work, in His resurrection, in His ascension, and in the gift of the Holy Spirit. And He continues to rise in His people’s souls, on earth, in heaven, forever.
The sun rules the day. In other words, the sun is the ruler of daytime.
“Then God said, “Let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs and seasons, and for days and years, and let them be for lights in the firmament of the heavens to give light on the earth”; and it was so. Then God made two great lights: the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night. He made the stars also. God set them in the firmament of the heavens to give light on the earth, and to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good.” (Genesis 1:14–18).
Jesus is the ruler of the world.
“Who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, ….” — Hebrews 1:3.
The sun reflects its image on Earth. Jesus Christ, like the natural sun, has His image reflected, both in the material and moral universe. Jesus is also known as the bright and morning star. This is not a reference to Venus as some contend, but rather to the sun. Peter mentions the dawning day, and how the day star shall arise in our hearts (1 Peter 1:19).
Jesus had 12 disciples. The sun also has 12 disciples as there are 12 constellations in the zodiac. Jesus began his ministry at the age of thirty. “Now Jesus Himself began His ministry at about thirty years of age, ….. (Luke 3:23). The sun enters the signs of the zodiac at 30 degrees. The sun is the brightest and hottest star accomplishing God’s will around 12 noon. Jesus is also shown in the scriptures doing his father’s will at age 12. The sun is the natural light that allows man to see. Jesus Christ, like the natural sun, sheds light and is the source of spiritual, moral and cognitive light. He reveals God’s personality, identity, plan, purpose, creation and providence; He shows man the law and the way of salvation; the Gospel of truth. He reveals all time (past, present and future); eternity; the invisible world, and the path to final destiny.
In the same way that the sun lights up the natural world, Jesus is the light of the world. “Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world.” He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” (John 8:12). The sun rides on the clouds and everyone sees it. Jesus, like a natural sun, comes into the clouds for everyone to see. “Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. ….” (Revelation 1:7).
The sun walks on water as its rays spread over seas and lakes at dawn. Jesus, like the natural sun walked on water. “Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea.” (Matthew 14:25). Notice that this was in the fourth watch of the night, which is right before dawn. Shortly, after (at dawn) the disciples saw him.
The sun rises from the dead (after dying at sunset) to provide life-giving energy to the earth. Jesus rose from the dead to revive life.
The sun metaphorically dies for three days and three nights at the winter solstice. And when it sets, it seems to go into the “heart of the earth!” Jesus descended into hell for three days and three nights after dying on the cross. “He, foreseeing this, spoke concerning the resurrection of the Christ, that His soul was not left in Hades, nor did His flesh see corruption. This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses”. (Acts 2:31–32). There is a big debate about this. Many people argue that Jesus did not go to hell, but rather to the “heart of the earth.”
Also consider that when the sun dies at the winter solstice, so does all the vegetation. It is resurrected in the spring just like we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus in the spring.
When Jesus died, “darkness” covered the earth. “Now it was about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. Then the sun was darkened, ……” (Luke 23:44). Actually, Luke stated that the sun failed. During the winter solstice, it can also be said that the sun failed to give its light upon the earth.
Jesus also wore a crown of thorns. The sun has a corona which resembles a crown of thorns during a solar eclipse.
“Corona” means “crown.” You can look at countless pictures of Jesus painted in the early church with a sun or halo around his head.
After December 25th, the sun moves north one degree and gives us longer days. These longer days lead us to spring. This thought is shown to us in Luke (1:78–80) “Through the tender mercy of our God, With which the Dayspring from on high has visited us; To give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death……” ( Luke 1:78–79)
“Dayspring” means “dawn” and “east.” The sun rises in the east. But it gets better. “So the child grew and became strong…” (Luke 1:80). “Became strong” means to “increase in vigour.” Is this the same thing that the sun’s light does as we go from winter to spring to summer?
The sun can be concealed by clouds. Jesus, the sun is concealed by clouds. He can be hidden by a cloud of guilt on the conscience; by a cloud of corruption; by a cloud of misrepresentations.
Jesus comes from the east and shines to the west. “For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be (Matthew 24:27).” The sun rises in the east and sets in the west. Just as the sun disperses its influence freely in the sky and through its light, Jesus disperses His influence freely as well. “Without money and without a price.”
Jesus is the healer. Mathew 8:17 and 1 Peter 2:24 show this.
“That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying: “He Himself took our infirmities And bore our sicknesses.” (Matthew 8:17).
“Who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sin, might live for righteousness–by whose stripes you were healed”. ( 1 Peter 2:24)
The sun also heals. “But to you who fear My name The Sun of Righteousness shall arise With healing in His wings, and you shall go out And grow fat like stall-fed calves.” (Malachi 4:2).
Jesus fulfilled Malachi’s prophecy about the sun in Matthew 17:2: “And He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light”.
Why were Jesus’ clothes described as being white like light? This can be likened to the light of the sun.
Contributor
By Gilbert Magomere Ayieko
Minister
