19 January 2025
JESUS – THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD
(The Names Of God: TNOG 25)
Jesus declared: “I Am the Light of the World. Whoever follows Me will never walk in darkness but have the light of life.” (John 8:12). This is the second of the “I AM” claims. Here, Jesus is also affirming His Deity, just as “God is Light and in Him is no darkness at all” (1 John 1:5). Jesus is claiming that He is the exclusive Source of spiritual light and the Source of all light and life, and the opposite of darkness. It also means that Jesus is the only Light for the world, and that everyone needs Him as their light. Hence John says, “In Him was life, and the life was the light of men” (Jn 1:4).
By saying this He also claims to be the Messiah as prophesied in Isaiah: “The people who walk in darkness will see a Great Light. For those who live in a land of deep darkness, a Light will shine” (Isaiah 9:2, NLT). Matthew confirms this by quoting this prophesy to refer to Jesus [Matt.4:16). John tells us that the Baptist “was sent to bear witness of that Light, that all through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the True Light (Jesus) Who gives light to every man coming into the world” (Jn 1:7-9). Jesus affirms this claim by saying, “I AM the Light of the world”.
The metaphor used by the Lord in this verse speaks of the light of His Truth, the light of His Word, the light of Eternal Life. Those who receive the True Light will never walk in spiritual darkness. Those who believe and follow Jesus are given two promises: “Whoever follows Me will never walk in darkness but have the light of life.” Spiritually “darkness” refers to sin and spiritual blindness. And “light“ refers to “righteousness” and “illumination of Truth”. So those who do not believe will walk in the darkness and bondage of sin, but believers will walk in Truth and Righteousness. Jesus said, “You will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free” (Jn 8:32). There is freedom in understanding and living out God’s Word of Truth.
Receiving and experience His Light also means responsibility for every believer. Jesus said to all His disciples, “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in Heaven” (Matt.5:14, 16). Paul exhorted the Philippian Christians: “Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast the Word of Life” (Phil. 2:14-18).
The emphasis here is maintaining a credible and obvious witness in the world, a witness that shows us to be faithful, God-honoring, trustworthy, sincere, earnest, and honest in all that we do. Also, we should always be ready to give an account of the hope that we have (1 Peter 3:15). Let us decide to shine for Jesus where we are, as the Lyrics say: “This little light of mine I’m going to let it shine, let it shine, all the time, let it shine”. AMEN.
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