When I say Jesus is the Light of the World, one may ask, What do you mean? Hold on.
There are several means of light on Earth aside from the sun. Some examples are fire, lanterns, bulbs, and others. But when it comes to the Light of the World, it is absolute without variableness.
In this message, we will look at what it means to be The Light of the World, the person called The Light Of The World, and how Jesus is the Light of the World.
Meanwhile, have you had a chance to read my article titled, Behold What Manner Of Love? You should give it a read!
What Does it mean to be The Light of the World?
In the world, two things are most common: light and darkness. In the beginning, it is written that darkness was upon the face of the waters. Then God said, “Light be,” and there was light.
Light is essential in this world, and everyone needs it in one way or another to function well. This is because it gives a sense of living.
To be the Light of the World would mean that there is darkness in the world, and the world needs you to take it out. Your appearance is the disappearance of the darkness.
Now, look at Light and Darkness synonymously with Life and Death. The light works life and darkness works death. The Light of the World is the one who gives life to the World.
The World in this case is the Kosmos, and it is referring to men; it includes everyone.
Who Is The Light of the World?
Brother John in his Gospel according to John 1:4–5 WEB wrote, “In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness hasn’t overcome it.”
The Light of the World is the life that lights the World.
According to John 1:6–7, the one known as John the Baptist was sent as a witness to the Light, to testify about the Light, that all may believe in Him.
“He was not the light, but was sent that he might testify about the light.
The true light that enlightens everyone was coming into the world.
He was in the world, and the world was made through him, and the world didn’t recognize him.” John 1:8–10 WEB.
By and by, it becomes clearer that Jesus is the Light of the World, as referenced above, and He confirmed it.
Jesus is the Light Of The World
John 8, where Jesus Christ declared Himself the Light of the World opens up with Him going to Mount Olive. He returned the next morning to the temple where He sat down, and taught.
“The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman taken in adultery. Having set her in the midst,
they told him, ‘Teacher, we found this woman in adultery, in the very act.
Now in our law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. What then do you say about her?’
They said this testing him, that they might have something to accuse him of. But Jesus stooped down, and wrote on the ground with his finger.
But when they continued asking him, he looked up and said to them, ‘He who is without sin among you, let him throw the first stone at her.’
Again he stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground.
They, when they heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning from the oldest, even to the last. Jesus was left alone with the woman where she was, in the middle.
Jesus, standing up, saw her and said, ‘Woman, where are your accusers? Did no one condemn you?’
She said, ‘No one, Lord.’ Jesus said, ‘Neither do I condemn you. Go your way. From now on, sin no more.’
Again, therefore, Jesus 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 8:3–12 WEB
The key takeaway from the above passage is how Jesus Christ handled the situation and what He said afterward.
In letting the woman go, He gave her renewed hope and a life to live. In declaring Himself the Light of the World, He made Himself known as the one that enlightens men. Take note of how He handled the accusers.
His testimony goes in handy with that of the Father through John the Baptizer, and the account of John the Apostle concerning Him.
“Again, therefore, Jesus 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 WEB.
How Is Jesus the Light of the World?
Understand that light illuminates, and exposes the works of darkness.
In John 9 where the miracle of the once blind man who saw was recorded, Jesus reiterate what He said in John 8:12.
“‘I must work the works of him who sent me, while it is day. The night is coming, when no one can work.
While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.’” John 9:4–5 WEB.
After admonishing His disciples in John 12 that it was time for the Son of Man to be glorified, Jesus said:
“Now my soul is troubled. What shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this time?’ But for this cause I came to this time.
Father, glorify your name!” Then there came a voice out of the sky, saying, “I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.” John 12:27–28 WEB.
According to verses 29 and 30, the people who were with Him heard the voice. While some said it was thunder, others said that an angel spoke to Him.
But Jesus Christ in response, told them that the voice was not for His sake but for theirs. For, “Now is the judgment of this world. Now the prince of this world will be cast out.” (vs.31).
How is Jesus the Light of the world? He went further to say in verse 32, “‘And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.’” He said this regarding His death and the result.
Reading through the conversations that followed, you will see Him continue to emphasize Himself as the Light. He presented Himself as the one able to give up Himself for the world to come out of darkness to light which is Life.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
John 3:17 For God didn’t send his Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world should be saved through him.
John 3:18 He who believes in him is not judged. He who doesn’t believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the one and only Son of God.
John 3:19 This is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the light; for their works were evil.
John 3:20 For everyone who does evil hates the light, and doesn’t come to the light, lest his works would be exposed.
On the Why, Jesus is the Light of the World because He came to save the world. In doing so, He bore the sins of the world and offered Life eternal to the world while enlightening the world of darkness.
He said in John 12:46–48 WEB:
“I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in me may not remain in the darkness.
If anyone listens to my sayings, and doesn’t believe, I don’t judge him. For I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.
He who rejects me, and doesn’t receive my sayings, has one who judges him. The word that I spoke, the same will judge him in the last day.”
In conclusion, Brother Paul wrote, “For God, who said, ‘Light shall shine out of darkness,’ is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.” 2 Corinthians 4:6 NASB.
Do you believe in Christ Jesus?
