John 8:12 - The Second I AM; Jesus the Light of the World!
John 8:12 (ESV) Again Jesus spoke to them,
saying, I am the light of the world. Whoever
follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have
the light of life.
INTRODUCTION
Twenty-three times in all we find our
Lord's meaningful "I AM" in the Greek text of this
Gospel 4:26; 6:20, 35, 41, 48, 51; 8:12, 18, 24,
28, 58; 10:7, 9, 11, 14; 11:25; 13:19; 14:6;
15:1, 5; 18:5, 6, 8). In several of these, He
joins His "I AM" with seven tremendous metaphors
which are expressive of His saving relationship
toward the world.
"I AM the Bread of life" (6:35, 41, 48,
51).
"I AM the Light of the world" (8:12).
"I AM the Door of the sheep" (10:7, 9).
"I AM the Good Shepherd" (10:11, 14).
"I AM the Resurrection and the Life"
(11:25).
"I AM the Way, the Truth, and the Life"
(14:6).
"I AM the true Vine" (15:1, 5).
[MacArthur Daily Bible 2003]
COMMENTARY PEARL
Every evening, moths gather outside the
window of our downstairs family room. They beat
against the glass, trying to get to the lamp inside.
Sometimes after our dog Sarge has gone out, he stalls
at the door, playing with them, and they manage
to flitter inside and dash themselves against
the lightbulb.
Remember the bug zappers that were once
popular? The false light attracted moths and insects,
electrocuting them when they came close.
People can be like moths, going after
false light. The prophet Isaiah begged the
Israelites not to do this: "If you are walking in
darkness, without a ray of light, trust in the Lord
and rely on your God. But watch out, you who
live in your own light and warm yourselves by
your own fires" (50:10-11). He wasn't talking
about building a campfire. He was talking about
rejecting God and worshiping idols - something the
Israelites had been doing off and on for hundreds of
years, even before they entered the Promised Land.
Idol literally means "little nothing." An idol is
not only a graven image; it is anything that
replaces the living God in our lives. That could be
status, family, reputation, material possessions, or
anything else we hold first in our hearts and trust
to improve our lives.
This world is a dark place. We need light
to guide us, to get us through safely. Our
problem is when we try to manufacture our own light
rather than turning to the true light. Like moths,
we often pursue that false light of "little
nothings" until we're in danger of ending up in
flames. We must learn to worship only our true
Savior and Lord.
Christ is the Light of the World - the
Light that illumines our daily faith walk. When we
draw close to Him, we won't be burned. We'll be
equipped to travel in this dark, fallen world,
carrying that Christ-light inside that will draw
others. And ultimately, that Light "leads to life."
It shows us the way to our true home, where we
will forever be in the presence of Light, Christ
Himself.
Lord Jesus, You are the Light of the
World. Only through You can we see where we're
going. Forgive me for turning to lesser things -
"little nothings" - that will never satisfy and that
will lead me away from You. I want to walk in
Your light that leads to life. May Your light
shine inside me, and may others see it and be
drawn to You. [Earth Psalms by Francine Rivers]
COMMENTARY
Faith: Leap Into the Light
Faith is believing what God says. Some
people think faith is like taking a leap in the
dark, that faith is blind.
But the Bible says its the opposite.
Away from God we are in the dark. Thats when
we are blind, stumbling around.
John Newton was a notorious slave trader
- but coming to know Jesus changed him
forever. He spent the rest of his life working to
free slaves and wrote the hymn Amazing
Grace:
I once was blind, he sang,
but now I see!
When we come home to God it is not a leap
into darkness. It is a magnificent leap into
light - the light of Gods love for us! "Jesus
[said], 'I am the light of the world: he that
followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall
have the light of life.'" John 8:12 (KJV) from
Thoughts to Make Your Heart Sing by Sally
Lloyd-Jones.
Faith is not blind! It is believing that
God is who He says He is... It is being sure of
what we hope for and certain of what we do not
see (Hebrews 11:1). How are you learning to have
faith right now? What is God teaching you?
[Devotionals Daily]
Reproducing Healthy Choices
There was a time in my life when I was
completely wrapped up in myself. My selfish pride
pushed me toward unhealthy choices - lying and
manipulating situations, for example - and then
reproducing them in my life. Soon those unhealthy
choices became unhealthy habits and my life was
headed for emptiness and destruction. I tried to
white-knuckle my way through my hurts, hang-ups, and
habits, but the same pride that brought me to that
place, kept me there, even dug me in deeper.
My life was miserable until I finally
surrendered myself to Christ. I learned that while
unhealthy choices, once initiated, reproduce
themselves in my life, so do healthy choices. Those
good choices help me replace old destructive
patterns with new life-giving patterns.
Pride blinded me and held me captive to
the hurt and dysfunction in my past, but Christ
opened my eyes, freed me from the past, and gave me
hope. God repeats his wonderful acts of kindness,
grace, goodness, comfort, courage, love,
forgiveness, and so much more until a positive cycle is
established. Then we begin to reproduce those same good
acts on behalf of others. The key is to banish
pride and live in a state of constant surrender to
God.
Lord, help me to banish pride whenever it
shows its ugly head. Instead, may I encourage
humility and surrender to you. In Jesus' name, Amen.
[Celebrate Recovery Daily Devotional by John & Johnny
Baker]
PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS
I am the light of the world, my followers
will not walk in darkness, but will have the
Light of Life. Even though there is much darkness
in this world, you always have access to Me. So
you are never in total darkness. The trail
before you may look obscure, especially as it
disappears into the future. You would like it to be
floodlit so you could anticipate what's up ahead. But
I tell you: I am enough! I am with you, and I
also go before you - illuminating the way. Your
assignment is to trust Me and follow the Light I
provide. No matter how dim it may seem, it is
sufficient for your journey through today.
Someday you will be with Me in heaven,
and there you will see My Light in all its
Glory. Darkness will be a thing of the past, and
you will see everything clearly. There will be
no more night. You will not need the light of a
lamp or of the sun, for I will give you Light -
beyond anything you can imagine! Live close to Me,
and you will have the Light of Life. (John 8:12;
Pro. 4:18; Rev. 22:5) [Jesus Today by Sarah
Young]
I turn your darkness into light, after
all, I am the Light of the world, and I am both
with you and within you. Every day, you encounter
darkness in the world - and in your heart - but
remember that I have overcome the world. You can
choose to focus on hurtful, wrong things or to
focus on Me - the brilliant Overcomer!
I am calling you to walk with Me along
the way of Peace. I know that many things tug at
your consciousness and you have very real
responsibilities in your life. However, I am training you to
turn your thoughts to Me more and more - enjoying
My Presence in tough times as well as good
times. You will not be able to do this perfectly,
but you can make progress bit by bit. As you
direct your attention to Me, I push back the
darkness with My invincible Light! This is how you
walk in the way of Peace. This is how I turn your
darkness into Light. (2Sa. 22:29; John 8:12; 16:33;
Luke 1:76, 79) [Jesus Today by Sarah Young]
In closeness to Me, you are safe. In the
intimacy of My Presence, you are energized. No matter
where you are in the world, you know you belong
when you sense My nearness. Ever since the Fall,
man has experienced a gaping emptiness that only
My Presence can fill. I designed you for close
communication with your Creator. How I enjoyed walking in
the garden with Adam and Eve before the evil one
deceived them!
When you commune with Me in the garden of
your heart, both you and I are blessed. This is
My way of living in the world - through you!
Together we will push back the darkness, for I am the
Light of the world. (Psalm 32:7; Genesis 3:8-9;
John 8:12) [Jesus Calling by Sarah Young]
Be willing to follow wherever I lead.
Follow Me wholeheartedly, with glad anticipation
quickening your pace. Though you don't know what lies
ahead, I know; and that is enough! Some of My
richest blessings are just around the bend: out of
sight, but nonetheless very real. To receive these
gifts, you must walk by faith--not by sight. This
doesn't mean closing your eyes to what is all around
you. It means subordinating the visible world to
the invisible Shepherd of your soul.
Sometimes I lead you up a high mountain
with only My hand to support you. The higher you
climb, the more spectacular the view becomes; also,
the more keenly you sense your separation from
the world with all its problems. This frees you
to experience exuberantly the joyous reality of
My Presence. Give yourself fully to these
Glory-moments, awash in dazzling Light. I will eventually
lead you down the mountain, back into community
with others. Let My Light continue to shine
within you as you walk among people again. (2Co.
5:7; Psa. 96:6; John 8:12; Psa. 36:9) [Jesus
Calling by Sarah Young]
LINK FOR FURTHER STUDY ON THIS PASSAGE
John 8:12 - The Second I AM; Jesus the Light
of the World!
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2015/20150611-2126.html
YOUR COMMENTS
If anyone has a paraphrase, commentary or
testimony on this passage of Scripture, either
personal or otherwise, I would be interested in
hearing from you. Thanks in advance and let's keep
uplifting Jesus that all might be drawn to Him. Fred
Gibbs
LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT
Most Important Decision in Life:
http://www.youtube.com/embed/WGnEuGwvXqU?rel=0
A Man without Equal by Bill Bright:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiVa7UoruIo
Seeking God Made Real:
http://vimeo.com/31489782
Prayer Made Real:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tc8VdMV26VE
Importance of Choice:
http://creationhealth.com/CREATION-Health/Choice [click on video]
Medical Seminar on Healthful Living by David
DeRose, MD, MPH:
https://www.smartlifestyletv.com/lifestart
LINKS FOR BIBLE STUDIES
Lifting Up Jesus Bible Studies:
http://www.liftingupjesus.net/
Amazing Facts Bible Studies:
http://www.amazingfacts.org/bible-study/bible-study-guides.aspx
Hope Awakens Bible Study Guides:
https://www.hopeawakens.study/lesson-header;id=2
Glow Tract Video Bible Studies:
http://www.bibleresearch.info/
LINKS FOR BIBLE PROPHECY SEMINARS
Unlocking Bible Prophecies by Cami Oetman of
Adventist World Radio (currently live):
https://bible.awr.org/the-warning/
Hope Awakens by John Bradshaw of IIW:
https://itiswritten.tv/programs/hope-awakens
The Last Day of Prophecy by Pastor Doug
Batchelor:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLmGvdtMCf1aJTiC59-lPtuUMEq_uEn0BK
Prophecies Decoded by Pastor Ron Clouzet:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1A435C5373550657
