4/12

John 8:12

¹²Again 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."

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1:1). Before that, there was only God. He first made space (heavens) and matter (earth). Then God said, "Let there be light" (Genesis 1:3). God was going to reveal Himself to the living beings He was about to make through the wonder of the world that He was creating (Romans 1:20). For those beings to perceive the revelation, they needed a medium through which it would be conveyed. God chose light to be that medium. Light bounces off objects and hits our eyes. It stimulates nerves in our brains by which we perceive color and shape and thereby identify objects. Seeing is not our only means of appreciating creation, but for those who have sight it is the chief means.

John's Gospel begins by telling us that Jesus is the light of God who has come into the darkness of this world, but the darkness does not comprehend it (John 1:7-10). In our verse for today, Jesus compares Himself to light. Just as physical light is the main means by which we see the revelation of God in creation, Jesus is the spiritual light that reveals the glory of God in the spiritual realm. We see the love and grace of God as well as the perfect example of a holy life, in Jesus. If we follow Him, we have spiritual light for our spiritual journeys.

Jesus is the light of life. Just as there would be no life on earth if there were no physical light, so without Jesus there is no spiritual life. Jesus set before us a very clear choice. We can follow Him and have spiritual clarity and spiritual life, or we can walk in darkness and stumble without the light of spiritual life. Everyone who has ever lived must make that choice.

Consider: The earth was void and without form until there was light (Genesis 1:2-3). So also is the life without Christ. Live in His light.