The Light of the World
John 8:12-30
"When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, 'I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.'"
(John 8:12)
As a child I had fear of darkness. I've known many a child (and older!) with that same fear. I suppose that is why night lights exist. For some reason darkness is not something that we immediately like, unless we are sleeping! Darkness is not natural for us; typically, we are drawn to light. How we bask in the sun as it gives us energy and renews the earth.
One of the titles that Jesus ascribes to Himself is the Light of World. John in his gospel and also in the epistles often uses the theme of light and darkness. He reminds us immediately in his prologue that the light shines in the darkness, but the darkness does not understand it. Yet, we know that wherever light shines, darkness disappears. Light and darkness cannot co-exist. And for this reason Jesus said that His followers will never walk in darkness. Wherever there is light, darkness is chased away.
In the same manner we can either be in light of Christ or in the darkness of the world and Satan. Won't you come into the Light today?
INSIGHT
"In him was life, and that life was the light of men." (John 1:4)
READ THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR
Song of Solomon 3-4
Psalm 70
John 10
John 8:12-30
Dispute Over Jesus’ Testimony
12 When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."
13 The Pharisees challenged him, "Here you are, appearing as your own witness; your testimony is not valid."
14 Jesus answered, "Even if I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is valid, for I know where I came from and where I am going. But you have no idea where I come from or where I am going. 15 You judge by human standards; I pass judgment on no one. 16 But if I do judge, my decisions are true, because I am not alone. I stand with the Father, who sent me. 17 In your own Law it is written that the testimony of two witnesses is true. 18 I am one who testifies for myself; my other witness is the Father, who sent me."
19 Then they asked him, "Where is your father?"
"You do not know me or my Father," Jesus replied. "If you knew me, you would know my Father also." 20 He spoke these words while teaching in the temple courts near the place where the offerings were put. Yet no one seized him, because his hour had not yet come.
Dispute Over Who Jesus Is
21 Once more Jesus said to them, "I am going away, and you will look for me, and you will die in your sin. Where I go, you cannot come."
22 This made the Jews ask, "Will he kill himself? Is that why he says, ‘Where I go, you cannot come’?"
23 But he continued, "You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. 24 I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am he, you will indeed die in your sins."
25 "Who are you?" they asked.
"Just what I have been telling you from the beginning," Jesus replied. 26 "I have much to say in judgment of you. But he who sent me is trustworthy, and what I have heard from him I tell the world."
27 They did not understand that he was telling them about his Father. 28 So Jesus said, "When you have lifted up[a] the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me. 29 The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him." 30 Even as he spoke, many believed in him.
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