Seven times John records Jesus giving Himself an “I Am” name. Each one describes an aspect of our relationship with Him; how we should view Jesus and relate to Him. Each also provides a glimpse of what Jesus offers to all faithful and obedient believers. May you be enriched and blessed as you study these names and discover what He offers to you each day.
The second “I am” name Jesus gave Himself is found in John 8:12a; “I am the light of the world.”
Take a moment to ponder what this name Jesus gave Himself means to you today. Each name indicates a human need He alone can meet. What do you think the human need is that He alone can meet as the “light of the world” for mankind?
Two great benefits are granted to Christians from this “I am” statement. First, those who follow Jesus “will never walk in darkness” (vs. 12b). Have you ever slept in a new place (on vacation or at a friend’s or family member’s house) and had to get up in the middle of the night? If there is no light in the room, it’s very difficult – and dangerous for your shins and toes – to be walking around!
Much more important than that, think about all the sin that happens after the sun goes down! Night is a time of more immorality, sinful activity and law-breaking than during the day.
Even in Scripture, darkness refers to evil – whether it’s darkness in the world, or in our hearts. Light refers to goodness, purity and a place of righteousness and peace before God and men. Which would you rather live in each day…evil or goodness?
Jesus said He was the light that shines into a dark world, to reveal God and His plan; and into the heart of each person who believes in Him, to reveal sin so it can be recognized, repented of, and removed permanently! Only the Light can do this for you…which brings us to the second great benefit granted to Christians from this “I am” statement.
“Anyone who follows Me…will have the light of life” (vs. 12a,c).
Jesus doesn’t just shine into the world to provide input for your eyes; He shines to change you from the inside out! This change provides life: real, meaningful, purposeful, fulfilling and eternal life.
Sin (darkness) leads to eternal death – separation from God forever and from everything good. Light (Jesus) leads to forgiveness, which leads to righteousness (right standing before God). Thus, the Light provides life – not separation from, but eternity in the presence of, God. In God's presence reside all things good: love, joy, laughter, smiles, etc.
Like water and bread, light is necessary for life to exist. In this passage, Jesus explains that spiritual light comes to those who willingly follow Him. Three assumptions arise from this verse:
1. The world needs Light (John told his readers this in chapter one).
2. Conditions must be met in order to see and know the Light.
3. Walking in the Light can be permanent.
This section of John’s Gospel picks up three major Old Testament wilderness themes This reminds his readers of how God dealt with His people in the past, and still does today. Jesus is compared to each of these.
Chapter 6: Comparison between manna and the Bread of Life.
Chapter 7: Comparison between water in the desert and the Living Water.
Chapter 8: Comparison with the pillar of fire which led the people through the wilderness by night and the Light of the world.
Interesting note:1
This teaching of Jesus (which includes verse 8:12) occurred during the Jewish Feast of Tabernacles; also known as the Feast of Lights because of the various ways lights were used in the activities/ceremonies of the feast.
From the earliest verses of the first chapter in his Gospel, John has been fascinated with the link between light and life. In this passage…this “I am” saying of Jesus…we do not have a statement about everyone participating in the light, but the exclusion of all who do not follow the true Light.
Some interpreters have suggested that Jesus may have drawn this illustration from the great candlestick (Menorah) which cast its light over the room in which he was teaching. If so, then every Jew there understood that this Menorah candle would be extinguished at the end of the Feast of Lights. In this setting, Jesus is indicating that His light would shine forever!
Personal Application:
Children, and often we adults, are comforted at night by the small glow from a night-light. Many of us enjoy dining by candlelight. Most enjoy the dancing glow from a campfire, or logs in the fireplace as they burn. There is even a psychological condition that occurs in the winter – people get depressed – because there is not as much bright sunlight!
Light is so important, physically and spiritually. Seeing the obstacles helps us avoid running into them or stumbling over them. But to see them, we must have light.
Rescue from darkness (sin) and eternal life in God’s presence, both can be yours today if you believe in and receive the Light into your heart and life.
1 Parts of this section taken from: Gangel, Kenneth O.; Max Anders, gen. ed. Holman New Testament Commentary: John (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2000), pg. 161.
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