I AM THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD
John
8:12 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.”
It is no accident that
Jesus’ statement to be the “light of the world” follows the story of a woman
caught in adultery. The story of this woman and of her accusers is a greater
revelation of the dark nature of sin than anything yet told to us in John’s gospel.
In his statement, the purity and brightness of Jesus shine through in abundant
clarity.
John’s opening chapter of
the gospel speaks of the light six times. “In him was life, and that life was
the light of men” reveals Christ Jesus as the source for true understanding in
life, true light to live our lives by. Those living in the darkness of this
world, living by the falsehoods of the world are they who do not understand the
truth of Jesus. In fact, those who remain in the world’s darkness do not receive
the truth about him and do not place their faith and trust in him. They live by
the letter of the law and know no forgiveness for sin. They live by their own
standard of law and justice.
Remember the Israelites when
they were led out of Egypt and into the desert by God. There they followed the
presence of God in the pillar of cloud that moved ahead of them. Remember when
they camped at the foot of Mt. Sinai which was covered with a thick cloud.
Remember the people could not see God nor did Moses who hid himself in the
cleft of the rock. God was present in a form that did not reflect his full
nature. Moses received the Ten Commandments which would be God’s written
standard for his people.
John sees in Christ Jesus
the coming of a new standard grounded in justice and forgiveness, obedience and
mercy, truth and grace, hope and love. The light of Jesus is the perfect
reflection of God in human form. His death makes clear the forgiveness of sin
forever, a forgiveness that the Ten Commandments only could allude to. He
brings light to our understanding and life to our sin-tortured souls. The
darkness that had been our world is dissolved in forgiveness and mercy. He is
God’s presence, protection and purpose for each of our lives. He is the light
of life.