I AM the Light of the World

Day 38 of 49

Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” 

13 So the Pharisees said to him, “You are bearing witness about yourself; your testimony is not true.” 

14 Jesus answered, “Even if I do bear witness about myself, my testimony is true, for I know where I came from and where I am going, but you do not know where I come from or where I am going. 

15 You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one. 

16 Yet even if I do judge, my judgment is true, for it is not I alone who judge, but I and the Father who sent me. 

17 In your Law it is written that the testimony of two people is true. 

18 I am the one who bears witness about myself, and the Father who sent me bears witness about me.” 

19 They said to him therefore, “Where is your Father?” Jesus answered, “You know neither me nor my Father. If you knew me, you would know my Father also.” 

20 These words he spoke in the treasury, as he taught in the temple; but no one arrested him, because his hour had not yet come. 

Jn 8:12–20.

Jesus claimed to be the light of the world on the day after the Feast of Booths. For the festival, two giant golden lamp-stands stood in the treasury. Many lamps hung on each lamp-stand and were lit every evening during the festival. It is said that the lights could be seen all over the city. 

The lights symbolized the pillar of fire by which God led the Israelites through the wilderness on their way to the promised land. 

The day after, when the lights were no longer burning, Jesus declared himself to be the Light of the World. He stood in the treasury near the Court of the Gentiles.

With his statement, he identified himself as God, the pillar of fire in the wilderness and the one promised by Isaiah, the Light of the world to the Gentiles.

Light, the absence of darkness, shines and makes visibility possible.

What are the characteristics of light? Light is not just what we can see, it includes infra-red and x-rays. In fact, we see far less light than is out there.

• Light needs no source to exist, however, the light we see does have a source.
• Light can be emitted or reflected.
• Light makes things clearer. 
• Light provides warmth and heat. 
• Light promotes growth.
• Light can be a beacon or guide.
• Light moves at the fastest speed possible. If one sits on a traveling photon, no time passes. Since God is light, he is not bound by time.
• Without light, there can be no life. 

The OT speaks a lot about God as light. It reveals the presence of God. It indicates guidance from God. It is involved in God saving his people. The OT prophesies refer to the Messiah coming as light to the nations. Rejecting the light brings judgment. 

“I am the Lord; I have called you in righteousness; I will take you by the hand and keep you; I will give you as a covenant for the people, a light for the nations, to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness. 

I am the Lord; that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to carved idols. 

Behold, the former things have come to pass, and new things I now declare; before they spring forth I tell you of them.” 

Is 42:6–9.

By calling himself light, Jesus identified himself with God. The people would have understood this. They also knew the promises of the Messiah, as one who brings light into the darkness and hope of righteousness.

As he spoke, many believed. His words and his actions all pointed to his identity as the one who was promised. 

The Pharisees remained in darkness, refusing to come to the light.

John 9:1-41 Jesus heals a blind man

It says, “As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth.” How many times had Jesus passed by this same man at the Temple gates? The people knew the blind man, because they could testify to the Pharisees about his sight. 

The disciples’ question gives us insight into the thinking of the people. “Who sinned, this man or his parents?” The people considered a blemish or illness as judgement from God. I don’t know how a person could sin in the womb, but they considered that this man’s sins could have been the cause of the illness.

This is common thinking in some churches today…”you need more faith”. We even judge ourselves, “where did I go wrong?” This is not to say that sometimes we do pay the consequences for our sins, because there are physical consequences to things like overeating, overspending, laziness…but not always. It is not always about us.

In this case, Jesus pointed out that this man’s blindness would reveal the glory of God. This is great hope for those trials that go on year after year, we can pray for God to be glorified in our suffering.

The physical healing was such a small part of this story. Jesus made mud with his spit and put it on the man’s eyes, told him to go wash. He did, he was healed. Then it got interesting.

The people took a bit to recognize him as the blind beggar. They had not seen the miracle so they questioned him about it. Then they took him to the Pharisees, where the man repeated his story. I don’t know why the people took him to the Pharisees. Perhaps to prove to them that Jesus was the promised one.  

Problem, Jesus made spit for healing on the Sabbath, taboo in the additional list of limitations on keeping the Sabbath.

An argument arose. “He breaks the Sabbath.” “He healed a blind man, only a righteous man can do that.”

The Pharisees call in the parents, who were not present at the event. This should have been a great time of rejoicing for them, but instead, they stood in front of the Pharisees, who had the power to kick them out of the synagogue. They sent the Pharisees back to the son.

The man realizes that the Pharisees aren’t going to believe him, no matter what he says. As he confronts their inconsistency about the Christ, saying that only a righteous man can heal, something they should have seen and admitted. One can have light and not use it. They kicked him out of the synagogue. 

Jesus heard about his excommunication, and went to him. I love that he didn’t make the formerly blind man find him…instead Jesus searched for him. Not only were his physical eyes opened, but his spiritual eyes as well, and he worshipped Jesus.

How does the healing reveal Jesus as the Light of the world?

• Without Jesus, we won’t be able to see.
• Understanding is given with light.
• Jesus is the one who gives us spiritual sight.
• Light allows right judgment.

Because Jesus said “I AM the Light of the World”

• I have_________________
• I can_______________
• I will________________