The Light of the World
I well remember going on a midnight walk through a forest in Denmark with a group of students. It was pitch black. We could see absolutely nothing. We had to hold onto the clothes of the person in front of us to ensure we didn’t bump into trees and didn’t get lost. Only one person, way out in front of the column, had a small torch. It was a reminder that in life, without a guide we can only exist blindly.
Jesus said some astonishing things but this statement speaks to many of us .
“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
Jesus is making an astounding claim. He is saying nothing less than that he is the answer to our existence and to all our problems. Jesus explains that he is the light we need and not even the greatest evil in the world can put out God’s light.
“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” John 1:5
Jesus is our light because he taught us God’s truths about life, truths that we need to know and follow. These truths are found in God’s Word – the Bible.
“Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” Psalm 119:105
When Jesus was on trial before Pontius Pilate he said,
“The reason I was born and came into the world was to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.” John 18:37
Jesus is also the light in a moral sense. He alone has led a perfect life. It is an amazing claim. None of the greatest saints who have ever lived would ever claim for themselves what Jesus claimed. Jesus is on a completely different plane to the rest of us. He is the embodiment of God, he made our universe and most importantly he offers us an eternal life,
“In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” John 1:4
Jesus has revealed God’s truth and demonstrates God’s holiness in a completely unique way.
Why is Jesus described as the Light of the World?
Too often, religions have been exclusive clubs for the privileged. Jesus totally rejects such notions.
“The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognise him.” John 1:9-10
The wonderful claim of Jesus is that he has come to save anybody in the world who recognises their need for light. He wants all people to experience his power to live a new Christ-like life. The tragedy is that most reject him. They may be religious but most still refuse to submit to Jesus.
Who benefits from this light?
Our verse makes the answer clear,
“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
Decent and even religious people who have not entered a personal relationship with Christ still stand outside. In the Old Testament many of God’s chosen people refused to follow God‘s path. The Pharisees were very religious but most of them rejected God’s light. The Bible is very clear about this,
“Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. This is the verdict, light has come into the world, but the people loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil.” John 3:18-19
The reason people make their decision about the light is not usually based on evidence. There is so much evidence about Jesus that is available to any who want to investigate. The problem is that few want to find answers. Like worms exposed to the light they quickly return to the dark. To recognise who Christ is will demand radical changes that most don’t want to make.
What is the consequence of refusing to come to the Light?
We are all in the dark. By refusing to turn to the light we make living in the state of darkness permanent. Sometimes my children made horrid faces and my wife would say to them,
“If you keep making faces like that, they will become permanent.”
If we keep refusing to investigate the claims of Jesus and refuse to turn to him we will eventually find ourselves eternally separated from God. Jesus urged a crowd of people to get in step with him,
“You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk, while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you.” John 12:35
The opportunity is fleeting. God won’t keep knocking for ever.
Why is Jesus called the Light of Life?
We will all face crises in our lives when we just don’t know where to turn. Jesus says we must turn to him and trust him. He wants to give each of us a new life with purpose, based on truth. This will result in us becoming more like Jesus himself.
“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
There is a small picture in St Paul’s Cathedral by the Pre-Raphaelite painter, Holman Hunt. He has called it, ‘The Light of the World’. The picture depicts Jesus standing, with a lamp in his hand, outside the door of a person’s life. The door has clearly never been opened as it is covered with weeds and briars. Furthermore there is no handle on the outside. The door has to be opened from the inside. It is a picture described by the apostle John in the last book of the Bible. Jesus is saying,
“Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.” Revelation 3:20
