Discover the Person of Jesus in the Gospel of Johnናሙና

Scripture

“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.’” John 8:12

Today’s Thought

In the not-so-distant past, our three adult children were just that, children. I have such fond memories of the early morning bustle before school, countless meals around the tables, and games and prayer in the evenings. Such fun days. Another memory of those days was times when our children would tremble in fear because of the dark. There was, and is, something about darkness, the late night and early morning, that somehow gives breed to fear. Oh, but when the sun came up, or the lights came on, whatever the fear was seemed to vanish like a vapor in the wind. The light had the power to erase the fears that were only found in darkness.

“I am the light of the world.” Bang! He is that light from heaven that extinguishes all darkness, drives out all fear, gives you the ability to see in order to walk, and changes the entire atmosphere you live under, giving you courage, hope, and life.

Light drives out darkness, enables our sight, erases the darkness that is the breeding ground for fear, worry, and anxiety, gives us food, plants, animals, and life, helps us absorb vitamin D, affects our moods, and improves all areas of life. Light is life!

Jesus’s second “I am” statement is simply, “I am the light of the world.” When I ponder this statement, I am immediately compelled back to John’s opening lines of His testament: “In him was life, and the life was the light of all men. The light shined in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (John 1:4–5). Jesus’s life is the light. His life IS the light. It’s as if Jesus was saying, “I am the ever-risen sun. I am the light switch that’s always on. I am the lantern always lit. I am the torch continually kindled. I am the atmosphere changer, the darkness dispeller, and the giver of life. I am the light of the world, and he who follows Me will not walk in darkness. He will have, know, and experience the light of life.”

As we follow Him, we see. We see because His own life becomes ours by the Holy Spirit. We see to walk and run, and in seeing, all fear is swallowed up, confusion is dispelled, and the coldness of life and the heart are warmed. He becomes our light as we follow, and His light is the very life of God, filling the soul of man. The Lamb shall be its light.

Think It Over

• How can Jesus be the light in your world?
• What would it be like for all darkness to be driven out and dispelled from your life?
• How can you follow Him as your light and therefore enter into His life as your light?

Let’s Pray

Jesus, You are the light of my world. I believe. I leave all darkness behind, and I follow You blindly, lovingly, and trustingly. You are the light of my life, my soul, and my world! I can see in You. Darkness is gone in You. Fear is defeated in You. Life is mine in You. Today, I follow You, and You are becoming the light lighting up my life from the inside out.