I Am the Light of The World

John 8:12–20 NIV

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.” The Pharisees challenged him, “Here you are, appearing as your own witness; your testimony is not valid.” 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. You judge by human standards; I pass judgment on no one. But if I do judge, my decisions are true, because I am not alone. I stand with the Father, who sent me. In your own Law it is written that the testimony of two witnesses is true. I am one who testifies for myself; my other witness is the Father, who sent me.” 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.” 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.

John 8

Jesus statement is said in the busiest of courts. The court of women was the place of the offering. Filling thirteen trumpets. On the first night of the Feast of Tabernacle, the men of piety and good works would come and light 4 giant torches. The light of the torches would illuminate all of Jerusalem. With this backdrop, Jesus proclaims, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.

Especially at the feast, Jesus claim to be the light was a significant statement. God was the light of Israel in the Exodus. Jesus is the fulfillment of the light in its fullest.

The Pharisees challenge Jesus and His claim because there is no one to testify with him. Jesus opens up about the relationship that He has with the Father and the relationship that He offers to us to share in as well.

If we know Jesus, we get to know God. As we miss Jesus, we miss the Father.

The Holy Spirit is the fulfillment of Jesus promise for His light to always guide us.

The Darkness of Sin

John 8:21–30 NIV

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.” This made the Jews ask, “Will he kill himself? Is that why he says, ‘Where I go, you cannot come’?” But he continued, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. 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.” “Who are you?” they asked. “Just what I have been telling you from the beginning,” Jesus replied. “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.” They did not understand that he was telling them about his Father. So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up 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. The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him.” Even as he spoke, many believed in him.

Jesus once again makes clear that apart from Him, there is no access to heaven. Where He goes, we can not follow apart from Christ. This truth speaks to the source of light, our relationship with the Father.

This is a source of thankfulness. In Christ, we find life and light. Nothing can change that because our hope is not built on us, but on Christ. It does not matter what the world thinks is right, Christ’s testimony is true and when the end comes, all the world will know. In the last days, there will be no dispute, the Father has exalted the Son in glory and all of creation will stand in awe of the Son.

His light will illuminate all the darkness and every knee will bow. Some knees will be in adoration and others will be in surrender, but every knee will recognize the Son and the Father who sent Him.

When it seems like the day is lost, let this truth fuel our tomorrow. May our hearts believe this truth. May our hearts take comfort and continue to fight for our King has promised victory.