“And we have something more sure, the prophetic word, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.”
– 2 Peter 1:19
In this image, the torch / lamp that the man holds up in the darkness is the scripture itself. However, the actual light of the scripture radiates not from the book or the words, but from the one to whom the whole of scripture bears witness (John 5:39-40), namely the crucified and risen Jesus Christ, in whom we know the Father by the eye-opening work of the Holy Spirit. It is in the knowledge of Him that we have been given all things needful for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3).
The representation of Jesus on the cross is haloed by a semi-obscured circle. This alludes to the open mouth of the tomb and so implies that the light of scripture is not merely the crucified Christ, but the crucified Christ in light of His resurrection. It is only then that we see the glory of God—the conquering and sovereign Love of God—in Him.
Lastly, notice that the image of Christ is in the place of the true “morning star.” The horizon beneath already glows faintly with the coming morning. So too, we now look to the glory of our God in the face of the crucified and risen Lord as revealed in scripture. And by that light we move toward and hope in the day when that same light—that same glory—will dawn in truth and permeate the created universe (Isaiah 11:9, Habakkuk 2:14).
