Share Light: In the Darkness a Light ShinesSample

SHARE LIGHT: Jesus Reveals Himself to Us  

Day Four

Jesus Is the Light of the World

Scripture Reading: Isaiah 9:1-6

Today’s Focus: John 8:12 (GNT)

Jesus spoke to the Pharisees again. “I am the light of the world,” he said. “Whoever follows me will have the light of life and will never walk in darkness.”  

The prophet Isaiah lived in the kingdom of Judah—all that remained of the once proud kingdom of Israel. The people of the northern part of Israel had been exiled for multiple and repeated sins against God and would never return to their homeland. The southern kingdom, Judah, was hanging on by a thread. Isaiah spoke to God’s people words of warning regarding their continued disobedience, but also offered words of hope that one day the people who walked in darkness would see a great light.

That prophecy would not be fulfilled for many years. The kingdom of Judah would come to an end and the people would be exiled. The main difference between them and their northern neighbors is that God would bring them back to their homeland and be for them a saving counselor, God, Father and Prince of Peace—yes, a light shining in their darkness.

The people who walked in darkness
 have seen a great light.
They lived in a land of shadows,
 but now light is shining on them.
You have given them great joy, Lord;
 you have made them happy (Isaiah 9:2-3a GNT).

Fast forward 800 years to John 8, in which the Gospel writer captures another lengthy conversation between Jesus and the Pharisees in Jerusalem. The religious men are trying to figure out who Jesus is. He had demonstrated what witnesses recognized as profound wisdom during a showdown with the Pharisees concerning the woman taken in adultery. They were ready to stone her and wanted Jesus to give assent. He turned the tables on them by telling them that the one without sin should be the first one to throw a stone. Sheepishly they all dropped their stones and retreated. When they came back together, galled by being ‘shown up,’ they pushed him further for the source of his authority. He said to them, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will have the light of life and will never walk in darkness.”

Standing in their very midst was the light shining in the darkness. He certainly had brought light to the woman caught in sin! She had come into direct contact with the eternal light who through forgiveness had brought her great joy. How interesting that Jesus told the woman “I do not condemn you…. Go, but do not sin again” (John 8:11 GNT). Why? Because to maintain fellowship with God we cannot continue to live in darkness (see 1 John 1:5b-6). But would the Pharisees be open to let Jesus shine light into their dark lives? As you read through the Gospels you will discover that some were willing, but many were not.

Reflection

This continues to be our challenge 2,000 years later. Are we willing to allow the light of life to penetrate the dark places in our lives? The woman caught in sin did not hide from the light. The Pharisees backed away and did not let the light change them. What has been your experience with Jesus’s light? Are you willing to let him show you what areas of your life needs to be purified today? Are you willing to go and “not sin again”? How will you help others to walk in this light?