Written ~ 07-08-2023
John 8:12
“Jesus spoke to the people once more and said,
“I Am the light of the world,
If you follow Me, you won’t have to walk
in darkness, because you will have the
Light that leads to life.”
The very first thing that popped into my mind when reading this verse was wonderful, wonderful, wonderful! Our Savior is just so wonderful.
Jesus is so plainly declaring that He is Light, He is the LIGHT! His very presence in our lives illuminates everything we do!
It’s so sad really, how many people of the world shade their eyes, turn their faces so the light won’t shine on them. They would rather walk in darkness so their sin would not be exposed.
If we look back and read John 8:1-11, these verses tell us about an unnamed woman who is caught in adultery. The religious teachers and Pharisees brought this woman before Jesus. Maybe they thought Jesus would shame her even more.
But No, Jesus brought her into the light and forgave her. Blinking away her tears,
she looked into the light and her life was restored. Now, the religious teachers and Pharisees, they remained in their darkness from the as they turned and walked away light.
Let’s continue just a moment…
Look at John 9:5,
“But while I am here in the world, I am the LIGHT of the world.”
Jesus was saying this as He gave instructions to a blind man to wash the mud out of his eyes so he might see. This man literally saw the Light!
Now let’s take a look at John 3: 19-21:
” And the judgment is based on this fact: God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the Light, for their actions were evil. All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed. But those who do what is right come to the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants.”
You may be thinking… well, it crossed my mind (briefly)…
John 9:5 says,
“.. while I am here…”
John 3:19 says,
“… God’s light came into the world…”
Jesus is now sitting at the right hand of God in heaven. He’s not walking on the earth in a body of flesh. How is He the light of the world?
Well… I believe we all know that answer… But here’s a verse that came to my attention:
Hebrews 13:8,
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.”
So, the same light that was walking here on earth in human form, is the same light that shines through believers and His creation until the end of time! So, whether people want to believe it or not, Jesus Is the LIGHT of the World and He will continue to shine no matter what!
Have you ever heard the statement, “Shed light on a matter” or “Shed light on a subject”?
When our eyes can’t see clearly, we might turn on a light, shine a flashlight on something that’s out of reach, or even pull out our phones to turn its light on to read something better if the light is too dim. These things are probably handy tools we use in our daily lives. So, we already have the concept of needing light to break the cover of darkness.
Let’s think of that same concept with Jesus being our light.
“Shed the light of Jesus on a matter”
“Shed the light of Jesus on a subject”
When we ask the LORD to illuminate our lives with His Light, there is nowhere to hide! Our lives are now exposed, vulnerable. But Jesus says in our verse for today, “If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.”
If you and I had a light always pointed at us, as a flashlight would show the tiniest details… wouldn’t we live our lives differently? Would our actions still be like those that were hidden in the darkness? I don’t think so, Jesus is asking us to expose the darkness, remove it completely- that way when the light is pointing at us, we are reflecting it right back out into the world.
Have you ever caught the sun in a mirror? Your reaction is to shield your eyes.
What if our light shone so brightly that the world would have to cover their eyes! Those who are curious as to why we shine so brightly would step into the light and will no longer have to shield their eyes, they would become light as well!!
Jesus is speaking to us today, just as He did 2000 years ago…
“I AM the LIGHT of the world.”
Let’s choose to illuminate our paths with the Light of Jesus. If there is the chance you are still living with darkness in the corners of your heart, expose those things, get rid of it. It’s not worth holding onto those things, because having the light of Jesus LEADS to LIFE!
♡♡♡ So by the wonderful, awesome Power of the Holy Spirit shine the light of Jesus on me! Help me to reflect Your light so people would want to step into the Light with me!
You are my light Jesus! Thank You for leading me down the path of LIFE!!
~AMEN~