The Bible calls Jesus the Sun of righteousness. The SUN, S-U-N of righteousness. I want to make it clear that Jesus isn’t the actual Sun in the sky as the actual Sun was created by Jesus Christ.
Malachi 4:2
But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.
Introduction: The Sun of Righteousness
We live in a dark world. A world where sin creeps and hides in the shadows. But every single morning, God preaches a silent sermon across the sky. The sun rises. It pierces the darkness. It burns away the night. It brings light, warmth, and life.
And that’s not just science—it’s a sermon.
The sun is not a god to be worshiped like the pagans do. The sun is a symbol, a divine portrait that points us to the true Light—Jesus Christ.
He is the Sun of righteousness. He’s not just the Lamb of God or the Lion of Judah—He’s the blazing, brilliant, burning Sun that rises from the East, destroys darkness, and brings healing in His wings.
We live in a world where people are afraid of darkness—crime, confusion, spiritual blindness—but what they should fear is when the Light shows up. Because Jesus Christ is the Light, and the Bible doesn’t just call Him the Lamb or the Lion—it calls Him the Sun of righteousness.
The sun in the sky is God’s daily reminder of Jesus. Every sunrise is a prophecy. Every ray of light is a sermon. Today, I want to show you just how deeply the sun is a picture of the Son, and how that truth ought to shake your soul, ignite your heart, and wake you up before the final sunrise breaks through the clouds.
Let’s walk through Scripture and see how God has painted Jesus in the sky.
POINT 1: He Rose in the East — and He’s Coming Back That Way
In the Bible, directions matter. God doesn’t do anything by accident. The tabernacle faced east. The glory of God entered from the east. Judah camped in the east. Why? Because God was painting a picture. The Sun rises in the east, and so does the Son of God—in resurrection power and in the Second Coming.
Numbers 2:3
And on the east side toward the rising of the sun shall they of the standard of the camp of Judah pitch throughout their armies: and Nahshon the son of Amminadab shall be captain of the children of Judah.
The tribe of Judah—the tribe Jesus came from—was camped facing the east, toward the rising sun. And what do we find in the New Testament?
Revelation 5:5
And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.
That Lion from Judah is Jesus Christ. And when did He rise from the grave?
Matthew 28:1
In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.
His resurrection happened as the sun came up. That wasn’t coincidence. That was God’s divine plan. He rose at dawn, just like the sun! But it doesn’t stop there.
Matthew 24:27
For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
Ezekiel 43:2
And, behold, the glory of the God of Israel came from the way of the east: and his voice was like a noise of many waters: and the earth shined with his glory.
The East is the direction of God’s movement. The Son rises in the East, both literally and prophetically. And just like the sun rises faithfully each morning, Jesus will rise again in glory—and this time, not in weakness, but in wrath.
The rising of the sun is a rehearsal for the return of the Son. He rose in the east, and He’s coming again from the east. Are you ready to face the Light?
POINT 2: The Sun Is a Picture of Christ’s Glory and Power
When you look up at the sun, you see something no man can control. No man made it. No king commands it. It shines with unstoppable strength. That’s a shadow of Jesus Christ.
Revelation 1:16
And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.
John didn’t say Jesus looked like the sun—he said His face shined as the sun at full strength!
Matthew 17:2
And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.
On the mount of transfiguration, Peter, James, and John got a glimpse of the full power and brightness of Christ—and it burned through His flesh, radiating glory like sunlight. The sun doesn’t ask permission to shine. It doesn’t negotiate with darkness. It burns through it. It dominates the sky. And so does Christ.
Psalm 19:4-6
Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun, 5 Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race. 6 His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.
The sun is compared to a bridegroom—just like Christ. It rejoices to run its race—just like Christ joyfully ran to the cross and the tomb and the throne.
2 Samuel 23:3-4
The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me, He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God. 4 And he shall be as the light of the morning, when the sun riseth, even a morning without clouds; as the tender grass springing out of the earth by clear shining after rain.
Jesus Christ is that righteous ruler. His reign is like a clear sunrise—bright, refreshing, unstoppable. The sun rules the sky—and Jesus rules the universe.
You can’t cancel the sun. You can’t stop the sunrise. You can hate the Sun, ignore the Sun, or even curse the Sun—but it still shines. And you aren’t going to stop the Sun from shining. Just like Jesus Christ.
POINT 3: Healing in His Wings — Life From the Light
The same sun that brings fire and light also brings healing and life. Crops grow in it. Wounds are sterilized by it. It’s the warmth of life. And that’s who Jesus is—the Light that heals.
Malachi 4:2
But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.
The “wings” are the rays of light—shooting out from the Sun, touching the earth with healing, warmth, and life.
Luke 1:78–79
Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us, To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.
John 1:4–5
In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
But people love sin in the dark. That’s why bars are dark. That’s why the wicked wait until night. That’s why secrets grow in shadows.
John 3:19
And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
Ephesians 5:13
But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.
The sun exposes what’s been hiding. So does the Son.
But the sun not only heals—it can burn. If you stay in it too long, it will scar you. Rebellion leads to scarring. If you look into it directly, it will blind you. And if you resist it, it will hurt you.
So it is with Jesus.
And Jesus is no different. If you resist Him, His light will judge you. If you mock Him, His fire will consume you. The same light that comforts the humble crushes the proud.
The Light of Jesus will break you before it builds you. It will wound before it heals. It will humble before it lifts. If you humble yourself, His light will heal you. If you harden yourself, His light will judge you. The same Light that heals the brokenhearted burns the proud.
The Light of Jesus will break you before it builds you. It will wound before it heals. It will humble before it lifts.
POINT 4: The Day Is Coming — and Night Can’t Stop It
The world is still in darkness—but not for long. The sky is starting to glow. The day is about to break. And when the Sun rises again, it will be too late to run.
Romans 13:12
The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.
2 Peter 1:19
We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts.
Revelation 22:16
I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.
Jesus is the morning star—He’s the first light before the day.
Malachi 4:1
For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.
The Sun is coming. And when He comes, He will burn up the stubble. The same Light that purifies the gold incinerates the dross. The Day is coming. That Sun is rising. And this time, it’s not bringing healing—it’s bringing fire.
You don’t get to stop the sunrise. But you can prepare to meet the Son.
You don’t get to choose whether the Sun rises.
But you do get to choose whether you meet Him as Savior or Judge.
POINT 5: The Sun Never Ceases — and Neither Will Christ
The sun may disappear behind the clouds, but it never stops shining. And even when you can’t see Jesus, He’s still there—unchanging, unwavering, ruling from the throne.
Psalm 113:3
From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the Lord’s name is to be praised.
Ecclesiastes 1:5
The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to his place where he arose.
The sun has a faithful circuit—and it never fails. Even on a cloudy day, it’s still up there, ruling the sky. And even when it feels like Christ is distant—He’s still on the throne.
The Light shines whether you see it or not.
The sun runs a perfect circuit. So does Jesus. He came once. He’s coming again. You can count on it. And just like you build your day around the sun, you better build your life around the Son.
But there was one day—one day in all of human history—when the sun did something it had never done before: it stopped.
Joshua 10:12–13
Then spake Joshua to the Lord in the day when the Lord delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon; and thou, Moon, in the valley of Ajalon. And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies. Is not this written in the book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and hasted not to go down about a whole day.
Why did the sun stop? Because God wasn’t done judging. Because God’s people still had battles to win. Because when Jesus says “Wait”—creation listens.
The same God who makes the sun rise every morning can freeze it mid-heaven if it serves His plan.
Jesus Christ has absolute authority over time, light, the heavens, and the end. If He tells the sun to rise, it will. If He tells it to stop, it will.
You can trust a Savior who commands the stars and speaks to the skies. Even the sun obeys Jesus. And if the sun obeys Him—so should we.
Conclusion: The Son Is The Sun
Jesus is the Sun of righteousness.
He rose in the East. He shines in strength. He heals the humble. He exposes the wicked. He burns the proud. And He is coming again.
Every sunrise is a prophecy. Every dawn is a warning and a promise.
Don’t just squint at the sun—remember your Savior.
Because the Son is the Sun of Righteousness. And the night is almost over.
Call To Action
- To the lost: Come to the Light. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and be saved.
- To the saved: Shine like your Savior. Walk in the light.
- To the cold-hearted: Get close again. Let Him burn out what doesn’t belong. Let Him rise in your heart once more.
Let’s pray.
Leave a Reply