The Seven “I AM” Statements in the Gospel of John PART 3

 The Seven “I AM” Statements in the Gospel of John PART 3

I AM the Light of the World (John 8:12)

[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” (John 8:12)][1]

            Moses begins writing the book of Genesis by telling the story of creation which details the beginning of all things.[2] God, having made the heavens and earth, knew that something else was needed for His work to truly begin, so He said, “ ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light.”[3] The darkness that once filled the earth received a cancellation notice upon the utterance of those four words, “Let there be light!”[4] The light was needed not for God to see, but for His creation to be able to flourish upon the land. God continued with His creation process and everything that He made was deemed as being good; therefore, upon completion, He rested from His work.[5]

            God has always been the Light and He gave His light unto a world that was night and full of darkness. God used His great intellect and divine powers to create the light for the daytime which is the sun and the light for the night which is the moon and stars.[6] Just as God created light for the day and night, God sent His son, Jesus, to come to earth in the flesh to be the Great Light in a spiritually dark and wicked world. Most people during His time could not identify Him as being the Light because they were spiritually blind. The Jews had preconceived expectations for what the Messiah would be and were unwilling to see God’s fulfillment of His promise.  Nevertheless, the Messiah was a the Light to shine in the darkness for all who would accept Him. David, the psalmist, said, “Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path" (Psalm 119:105).[7] The Word, who was from the beginning, was with God and was God made flesh to be a guide for those who would follow Him to the path of eternal life. In order to understand the Light, one must first realize what darkness is.

            The Merriam-Webster Dictionary partially defines darkness as being a devoid of light; lacking knowledge; depressing circumstances and showing evil desires.[8] If one was to redefine this description spiritually, it would be defined as a spiritual state in which someone lacks knowledge and is in danger of perishing, due to their inability to accept the Light of Knowledge, as described by the Prophet Hosea.[9] When Jesus came to earth as the Light, He was offering people the chance to receive knowledge of God from Him so that they would no longer dwell in the darkness. That darkness, being the works of evil that appeases the sinful nature, includes such acts as: sexual immorality, murder, witchcraft, jealousy, idolatry, selfishness and the lack of self-control – just to name a few.[10] Many rejected His knowledge which was demonstrated through His teachings and preferred to live in the darkness, while others allowed His light to permeate on the inside of them by embracing what they learned.

            Embracing the Light meant making what had been made known to them applicable in their lives, so that they could get out of the darkness and be a light unto others. One of the many lessons that Jesus taught to show people how to get out of darkness was His teaching on the Beatitudes. Jesus taught that His children would be blessed if they were poor in spirit; comforted if they grieved; receive the earth if they were meek; be made full if they hungered and thirsted for what was right; be shown mercy if they were merciful; see God if found to be pure in heart; be called the sons and daughters of God if they were peacemakers and would receive the kingdom of heaven if they were persecuted for His name’s sake.[11] Everything about darkness is contrary to the traits of this Light. Jesus called His children the light of the world for it was they whom the world would see as a reflection of Himself after He was gone.[12]

 

            Today, many people are living in darkness because they are unable to see the Light due to their rejecting Him, or not having been told of the Light. They tend to see what they want to see and ignore the rest because they are stuck in their own ideologies with resistance to change.[13] Jesus, who is the Light of the world, gave His disciples the command to go and preach the gospel into all the world for He is the Word.[14] The whole world needs to know who the Light is, but the only way they can know is by Jesus’ followers of today actively being a reflection of His light. The Prophet Isaiah says that one day, there will be no need for the natural light of the sun, moon and stars because the Lord will be the Everlasting Light who will never grow dim for He is the Son of God.[15] Everyone who accepts the Light of the World will never have to search around in the darkness, for He is the everlasting Word who came to light the path for all who will obey. This is why it is important to for Christians to let their lights shine so that others may see the path that leads to eternal life.[16]

A.    Overview of Divine Qualities as the Light of the World.

a.)    Oneness with the Father

aa.) Jesus is the Light of the World who came down from Heaven to rescue man from the darkness of sin just as God separated the darkness from the light during the start of creation.

b.)    Incarnate nature

bb.) Jesus being the Light enables the believer to spiritually discern the things of God who lightens the path for the world to come to Him.

c.)    Transcendent qualities

cc. Jesus is the Light who transcends a world engulfed by the darkness of sin just as God spoke light unto the earth that was once surrounded by darkness. 

d.)    Redemptive works

dd.) Jesus gave his life so that believers all around the world could show His light through them for the world does not know the Light until they see the lessor lights. 

B.  Application of the Believer 

  a.) Believers have been shown the Light of Jesus and as followers of His, it is important  that the light shine for the lost to see the blessed hope that come from the Light that never grows dim.

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[1] John 8:12 (New Living Translation).

[2] Martin Luther, Luther's Works: Volume 35 (Philadelphia: Muhlenberg Press, 1960), 235-248

[3] Gen. 1:3 (New International Version).

[4] Ibid.

[5] Gen. 2:2 (New International Version).

[6] Gen. 1:14-19 (New International Version).

[7] Ps. 119:105 (New Living Translation).

[8] Merriam-Webster, "Definition of DARKNESS," Dictionary by Merriam-Webster: America's Most-trusted Online Dictionary, last modified 2018, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/darkness.

[9] Hosea 4:6 (New International Version).

[10] Gal. 5:19-21 (New International Version).

[11] Matt. 5:1-12 (New International Version).

[12] Matt. 5:14-16 (New International Version).

[13] McKinnon, "Contemporary Church Problems," 32.

[14] Matt. 28:19-20 (New International Version).

[15] Isa. 60:19-21 (New International Version).

[16] Matt. 5:16 (New International Version).