Learning DAILY

 

John 8:12, Then Jesus spoke to them, “I am the light of the world.  He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”

 

John 1:4-5, In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.  And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

 

Daniel 2:22, He reveals deep and secret things; He knows what is in the darkness, and light dwells with Him.

 

You probably have caught on that I have been writing about the “I am” statements made by Jesus.  I believe it is important to study what He has said about Himself in order to better understand who He is.

 

Have you noticed that there are scary things that come out at night? It used to be the boogie man; now the dark seems to bring out those who want to riot, loot, and tell people to get out of their houses.  Have you considered the amount of crime and killing that goes on at night?  Oh, the darkness seems to hide all the sinfulness and evil that occurs.  When the sun comes out all the evil seems to go to sleep, at least into hiding.  When the light switch gets turned on, the darkness is lit up and we feel safe.  The light relieves our fear and gives a sense of safety and security that all is well.

 

Jesus’ claim that He was the light of the world may have reminded the Pharisees and scribes of Israel’s history when the people were led by a pillar of fire and a cloud as they left Egypt.  Perhaps they were reminded of God’s Shekinah glory leaving the temple little by little because of Israel’s sin and worship of foreign gods.  Now, Jesus stood among the people declaring that the light of the world had reappeared.  He – God’s Shekinah glory – had come to fill the hearts of God’s people (David Jeremiah).  Daniel said that light dwells with God; God is light and Jesus Christ is image of the invisible God (Matthew Henry Commentary).

 

Jesus is the true light (John 1:9).  He removes the darkness and deception in the world by lighting the way to God and salvation through Jesus.  The light Jesus brings is for every person – Jew and Gentile.  All those who follow Him are delivered from the darkness of sin, the world, and Satan.  Those who still walk in darkness do not follow Him.  “He who follows Me” is a present participle (I hope I make my English teachers proud!), picturing a continuing action because following Jesus is not a one-time thing.  Jesus never encouraged His disciples to place confidence in past faith or past experience.  Continuing to walk in faith and following the Word of God gives confidence to us of our salvation.  Obedience to God’s Word is essential to Believers.  As a side note, read the Parable of the Vine in John 15.  “We have here the fundamental principle governing the saving relationship of Christ and the Believer, namely, that it is never a static relationship based solely on a past decision or experience.  Rather it is a progressive relationship as Christ lives in the Believer and shares with him or her His divine life.” (The Life in the Spirit Study Bible).

The light of Christ shines today as it did when John wrote His gospel.  It still shines in a dark world that is controlled by Satan.  I do not know how much of today’s world has accepted His life or light.  I do know that “darkness has not comprehended it”.  The Lord Jesus Christ gives light to all who hear His gospel by communicating a measure of grace and understanding so everyone who hears may freely choose or reject the message.  There is no other light besides the light of Jesus Christ by which one may see the truth and be saved.

 

 

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