I Am the Light of the World
Rodney Nulph
What would it be like to live the totality of your physical life in darkness? No doubt, we can hardly imagine what it would be like to have NO light, because we are blessed in that we are surrounded by physical light. We have the blessing of walking into a dark room only to flip a switch and dispel the darkness. We have the wonderful blessing of being illuminated by the sun by day and the moon and stars by night. We have flashlights, lanterns, oil lamps and other forms of light to help guide and enlighten our pathway. Physical light is truly a marvelous thing. However, an even greater blessing is the fact that we have spiritual light to illuminate our walk from earth to heaven. I shutter to think of the terrible feeling of doom and despair that would be ours if we had to walk in darkness, spiritually. We would have no sense of peace, direction or destination as we stumbled from day to day. However, because of Jesus, our daily walk is quite the opposite.
In the eighth chapter of the Gospel according to John, Jesus, early in the morning, entered the temple and the people came to Him desiring to be taught (cf. John 8:1-2). In the midst of this important early morning teaching session, the scribes and Pharisees interrupted by bringing an adulterous woman caught in the very act of adultery (cf. John 8:3-4). They tempted Jesus by pressing Him as to His punishment for her actions (cf. John 8:5-7). Jesus then silenced the critics and told the woman to go and sin no more (cf. John 8:8-11). “Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life” (John 8:12). Let us note the importance of such a declaration.
First, note the CLAIM.“I am the light of the world…” Interestingly, Jesus did not say He was “a” light or “some” light, but rather He made the exclusive claim that He was “the light.” Jesus is the only source for spiritual light. “Light” here signifies knowledge and life, and is a common expression throughout the Gospel of John (cf. John 1:9; 9:5; 12:46, et al). Thus, the impact of this declaration is that from Jesus flows spiritual light and understanding, and without Him all is misery, death and darkness. While there are many “false lights,” Jesus is the true light (cf. John 1:9)!
Secondly, note the CONDITION“…he that followeth me…” Since it is the case that Jesus alone is the exclusive source of illumination, one must come to Him in order to be enlightened. Coming to Jesus means that one will love Him, follow Him and do what He has commanded (cf. John 14:15, 21, 23; 15:10, 14; et al). Truly following Jesus entails “walking in the light” (1 John 1:7), and one cannot walk in the light (i.e. follow Jesus) and fail to obey His truth (cf. 1 John 1:6)!
Thirdly, note the CONTRAST“…shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” The contrast is clear; following Jesus illuminates our daily path and enables us to see clearly (cf. Psalm 119:104-105). However, the opposite is logically true as well; failing to follow Jesus is like stumbling step by step, not knowing where one is or where one is going! There is a vast difference in walking in light and walking in darkness!
How sad indeed it is for some to walk without Jesus! Dear reader, why not “turn on” the spiritual light switch through obedience to the Gospel, so that your path will be clear and your destination sure, for truly Jesus is “the Light of the World!”
