Light of the World

You’re Missing God in All This

12 Jesus once again addressed them: “I am the world’s light. No one who follows me stumbles around in the darkness. I provide plenty of light to live in.”

13 The Pharisees objected, “All we have is your word on this. We need more than this to go on.”

14-18 Jesus replied, “You’re right that you only have my word. But you can depend on it being true. I know where I’ve come from and where I go next. You don’t know where I’m from or where I’m headed. You decide according to what you can see and touch. I don’t make judgments like that. But even if I did, my judgment would be true because I wouldn’t make it out of the narrowness of my experience but in the largeness of the One who sent me, the Father. That fulfills the conditions set down in God’s Law: that you can count on the testimony of two witnesses. And that is what you have: You have my word, and you have the word of the Father who sent me.”

-John 8:12-18 The Message

We continue studying the word, starting at verse 12. Light of the World is mentioned. In chapter 1, the Light of the World is discussed then. As a quick and brief refresher course, the darkness of evil can’t overcome or extinguish God’s light. The Light of the World is Jesus’ light for you to see the path ahead. Flipping ahead to chapter 8, verse 12, Jesus talks in context about the temple where the offerings were put (8:20). The candles burned to symbolize pillars of fire that led the people of Israel through the wilderness (Exodus 13:21-22). The pillar of fire represented God’s presence, protection, and guidance. Jesus brings those things like the light of the world.

Following Christ is what it means. Just as a soldier follows his captain, we do the same with Jesus. We are the soldiers, and Jesus is our captain (our commander). We follow the advice of a trusted counselor; we can do the same with Jesus when we are down. The scriptures are counselors to us. Is Jesus the light of the world on your path in life?

Continuing on to verses 13-18: When you read these verses, the Pharisees made an argument that what Jesus claims is legally invalid because there are no other witnesses. What the Pharisees fail to realize is Jesus has a witness. As a matter of fact, he had two witnesses. God himself and the Father. That makes not only for a valid argument, but the required number of witnesses by law (Deuteronomy 19:15). Case closed.

Father, thank you for today. I want to thank you for being you. I pray we can see the light in our paths, and when we don’t see it, pray and get to the word to help us get back on the right track. In Jesus’ name. Amen!