The Light of the World

“I am the world’s Light. No one who follows me stumbles around in the darkness. I provide plenty of light to live in.“ – Vs 12 NLT

Light is a theme all throughout the book of John. It began in the very first chapter when John introduced Jesus as the “Light of men” (Vs 4). John said, “And the Light shines on in the darkness, but the darkness has not mastered it” (Vs 5 NET). He went on to say, “The true Light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world” (Vs 9 NET). He tells us that John the Baptist came to testify about the Light, so that all might believe through him. Now we have Jesus claiming to be the Light of the world. Not only that, He claims that those who believe in Him will no longer walk in darkness. Instead they will have the Light of life. This entire chapter is so politically incorrect and non-seeker sensitive! Jesus is stating the reality of the spiritual condition into which He came. It is DARK. These people are stumbling around in the darkness of sin like blind men in the middle of the night. Jesus describes the spiritual climate a few chapters later like this: “But if anyone walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him” (John 11:10 NASB). Jesus came into the world as the Light of the world. He came to dispel the darkness. The darkness of sin tried to master or overcome Him, but it failed. Jesus came to provide men with light that would expose their sins and expel the darkness of sin. And He took His role seriously. That’s why He does a full-frontal assault on the Pharisees and their self-righteousness. Just take a look at what what Jesus has to say to them in this discussion alone:

•  You will die in your sins (Vs 21, 24)

•  You are slaves to sin (Vs 34)

•  You don’t do the deeds of Abraham (Vs 39)

•  You’re murderers (Vs 40)

•  You can’t hear from God (Vs 43)

•  You are sons of Satan (Vs 44)

•  You are not of God (Vs 47)

Wow! No wonder these guys were out to get rid of Jesus. He was attacking the very essence of who they were. He was exposing the reality of their sinfulness in the midst of all their self-righteousness. He was exposing the darkness of their lives. These were the spiritual elite, the religious leaders of the day. They had their spiritual act together so to speak. But in the presence of the Light, they got exposed for what they really were. But isn’t that what Light does? Shouldn’t that be what Jesus does in our own lives every day? Jesus is still the Light of the world. He is still the Light of life. He still illuminates the darkness. He dispels it. He replaces the darkness with Light. So that rather than stumbling around in the darkness of our delusional self-righteousness, we see the reality of what we truly are without Him.

Jesus came to dispel the darkness. He can to eliminate the effects of sin in the lives of men. Light can be glaring and intimidating, especially when you have grown used to the dark. It is like having someone turn on the lights in the middle of the night. It is a shock to the system. It can be uncomfortable. Just as it must have been for the Pharisees in Jesus’ day. But Jesus was not out to bring comfort. He was here to expose and expel. He was hear to set free and deliver from slavery to sin. And He is still doing the same thing today.

Father, thank You that the Light of life shined in the darkness of my life and set me free from the darkness of sin. May I have the same passion to expose the blindness of self-righteousness in my life and in the lives of those around me like Jesus did. Give me a growing concern for the lostness of this world and a boldness to reject political correctness and seeker sensitivity. Men are stumbling around in the dark and need to be exposed to the one true Light.  Amen

Ken Miller
Grow Pastor & Minister to Men
kenm@christchapelbc.org