Jesus is the Light of the World

by Whitney V. Myers 

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Roanoke Marshes Lighthouse (Manteo, NC USA) - John 8:12 - Photo by Whitney V. Myers

"Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, 'I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.' " (John 8:12)

"I have come as Light into the world, so that everyone who believes in Me will not remain in darkness." (John 12:46)
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"Christ is the Light of the world.  God is light, and Christ is the image of the invisible God.  One sun enlightens the whole world; so does one Christ, and there needs no more." -- Matthew Henry (1662-1714) (Ref. 1, Ref. 2)
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This lesson is the first in a series on the "I AM" statements of Christ.  This lesson discusses Jesus' statement, "I am the Light of the world" (John 8:12). 
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     Consider.  What does it mean to you that Jesus is the Light of the world?  Do you have the Light of life?
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God is Light

     The teaching that God is Light begins in the Old Testament and continues through the New Testament.  David wrote, "The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear?" (Psalm 27:1).  The prophet Micah said, "Though I dwell in darkness, the Lord is a light for me" (Micah 7:8).  The disciple John, wrote, "God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all" (1 John 1:5).
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God's Light Purposely Illumines Mankind

     Jesus' Jewish listeners would recall Exodus 13:21 - "The Lord was going before them in a pillar of cloud by day to lead them on the way, and in a pillar of fire by night to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night."  The psalmist wrote, "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path" (Psalm 119:105).  The author of 2 Samuel 22:29 tells us "For You are my lamp, O Lord; And the Lord illumines my darkness." 

"I am the Light of the world"

     Jesus, the Eternal One, is the Light of the world because:

• Jesus is God, and God is light (John 8:58, Ref. 3)
  
• Jesus alone is the visible expression of God that mankind has seen (Exodus 3:1-6, Colossians 1:15, Hebrews 1:3)
• Only through Jesus our sins are forgiven (Mark 2:5, Colossians 2:13, 1 John 1:9)
• Jesus alone gives the gift of eternal life to those who believe in him (Romans 3:23-24, John 6:40, John 10:27-28, Ref. 4).

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"He who follows Me will not walk in the darkness"

     Let's discuss this phrase in three parts:

​a) "He who follows Me" - The Greek word for follow is akoloutheó, which means to join as a disciple (Ref. 5).  In John 8:12, Jesus "likens himself to a torch which the disciple follows" (Ref. 5).  Jesus frequently spoke about what it means to follow him as a disciple (for example, Luke 14:27).  

b) "Will not walk" - The Greek word for walk is peripateó.  Peripateó means (in the ethical sense) how I conduct my life (Ref. 6).

​c)  "In the darkness" - The Greek word for darkness is scotia (Ref. 7).  Scotia has a dual meaning.  In the literal sense, scotia (darkness) is the absence of daylight (John 6:17).  In the figurative sense, scotia (darkness) is the state we are in before we believe in Christ, that is, a state of ignorance, guilt, and sin (Ref. 8).

Putting these three parts together - "He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness" means He who follows Me [Jesus] as a disciple will no longer conduct his life in a state of ignorance, guilt, and sin.

Note that Jesus also said, "I have come as Light into the world, so that everyone who believes in Me will not remain in darkness" (John 12:46, italics added).  Being in darkness is our (mankind's) default condition.  Jesus has come so that when we believe in him, God the Father transfers us from the domain of darkness to the kingdom of the Son of God (Colossians 1:13).

"But will have the Light of life"

     Just as sight is a function of physical life, Christ is the Light for our spiritual life.  John says, referring to Christ, "In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men" (John 1:4).  When we believe in Jesus Christ, the divine light of Christ continually shines in us, guiding us to life everlasting (Ref. 9).

     Apply.  Do you believe that Jesus Christ is the Light of the world?  If not, then pray and put your trust in him today.

Are you a disciple of Christ?  Are you following him?

Do you have the Light of life?
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References
1.  https://biblehub.com/commentaries/mhc/john/8.htm
2.  ​https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matthew_Henry
3.  https://www.ScriptureWay.com/home/who-is-jesus
4.  https://www.ScriptureWay.com/bible-verses-about-eternal-life
5.  https://biblehub.com/greek/190.htm​
6.  https://biblehub.com/greek/4043.htm
7.  https://biblehub.com/greek/4653.htm
8.  https://biblehub.com/commentaries/poole/john/12.htm
(Matthew Poole's Commentary on John 12:46)
​9.  https://biblehub.com/commentaries/benson/john/8.htm
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