This is our third devotion, in a row, where we acknowledge and celebrate the Light of Christ.
Image it’s sometime in the fall, around AD 29, and you are in Jerusalem preparing to celebrate Sukkot, the Feast of Tabernacles. You are in the temple court attending a nightly ceremony where lots of lamps light up the temple complex. The lamps are placed as a reminder of God’s guidance during Israel’s wilderness journey and the pillar of fire that led God’s people by night (Exodus 13:21). As you are gazing at the bright lights you hear, see, and experience Jesus’ teaching in the treasury, a large public courtyard within the temple complex where men and women gather, and Jesus says, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.”
It is Jesus’ statement about being the light of the world that is where we find our true freedom in Christ. Our freedom is not the absence of darkness, rather it is in the very presence of Jesus, and allowing His light to be at the center of absolutely every aspect, place, and moment of our lives. When we chose to follow Jesus, we chose to allow His light to guide our path, even when it’s hard, even when we cannot understand it, and even when it is costly.
In this passage, we see that Jesus affirms His authority in response to the Pharisees by connecting Himself to the Father as One. Just as the Pharisees could not see that Jesus was God’s Son, many do not know Jesus now. We must pray for the Light of the world, Jesus, to be revealed to hearts, because those who do not follow Him will remain in darkness. The Light of the world, Jesus, leads us into eternal life with Him.
John 8:12-20 (NLT)
Jesus, the Light of the World
12 Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.”
13 The Pharisees replied, “You are making those claims about yourself! Such testimony is not valid.”
14 Jesus told them, “These claims are valid even though I make them about myself. For I know where I came from and where I am going, but you don’t know this about me. 15 You judge me by human standards, but I do not judge anyone. 16 And if I did, my judgment would be correct in every respect because I am not alone. The Father who sent me is with me. 17 Your own law says that if two people agree about something, their witness is accepted as fact. 18 I am one witness, and my Father who sent me is the other.”
19 “Where is your father?” they asked.
Jesus answered, “Since you don’t know who I am, you don’t know who my Father is. If you knew me, you would also know my Father.” 20 Jesus made these statements while he was teaching in the section of the Temple known as the Treasury. But he was not arrested, because his time had not yet come.
Prayer: Jesus, we cannot thank You enough for shining into the dark places of this world. We want to continue to follow You, so please allow the Holy Spirit to light the path that You have for us. Help us to center our lives in You. We pray for those who do not know You, Jesus. Please soften their hearts, open their spiritual ears, and eyes to see You, the One Who is Truth and the Light of the world. We love You, Jesus, and ask all of this in Your Name, Jesus. Amen.