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John 8:12 - The Second I AM; Jesus the Light of the World!John 8:12 (NLT) 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."CONTEXT 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] WORD STUDY As the Light of the world, Christ claimed to be God, for God is light (1 John 1:5). [Wiersbe Expository Outlines] I am the light of the world - The fountain whence all intellectual light and spiritual understanding proceed: without me all is darkness, misery, and death. [Adam Clarke Commentary] As the sun is the physical light of the world, so Jesus is the spiritual light of the world. As the light of the world, Jesus exposes sin (vv. 1-11) and gives sight (9:1-7). [Nelson SB] INTRODUCTION The Light of the World Jesus Christ is the Creator of life, and his life brings light to mankind. In his light, we see ourselves as we really are (sinners in need of a Savior). When we follow Jesus, the true Light, we can avoid walking blindly and falling into sin. He lights the path ahead of us so we can see how to live. He removes the darkness of sin from our lives. Have you allowed the light of Christ to shine into your life? Let Christ guide your life, and you'll never need to stumble in darkness. [Life Application SB re v. 1:4, 5] COMMENTARY PEARLS In the manifestation of God to His people, light had ever been a symbol of His presence. At the creative word in the beginning, light had shone out of darkness. Light had been enshrouded in the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night, leading the vast armies of Israel. Light blazed with awful grandeur about the Lord on Mount Sinai. Light rested over the mercy-seat in the tabernacle. Light filled the temple of Solomon at its dedication. Light shone on the hills of Bethlehem when the angels brought the message of redemption to the watching shepherds. God is light; and in the words, "I am the light of the world," Christ declared His oneness with God, and His relation to the whole human family. It was He who at the beginning had caused "the light to shine out of darkness."[3 2 COR. 4:6.] He is the light of sun and moon and star. He was the spiritual light that in symbol and type and prophecy had shone upon Israel. But not to the Jewish nation alone was the light given. As the sunbeams penetrate to the remotest corners of the earth, so does the light of the Sun of Righteousness shine upon every soul. "That was the true light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world." [DA 463-4] Christ is the "LIGHT, which LIGHTETH every man that cometh into the world." John 1:9. As through Christ every human being has life, so also through Him every soul receives some ray of divine LIGHT. Not only intellectual but spiritual power, a perception of right, a desire for goodness, exists in every heart. But against these principles there is struggling an antagonistic power. The result of the eating of the tree of knowledge of good and evil is manifest in every man's experience. There is in his nature a bent to evil, a force which, unaided, he cannot resist. To withstand this force, to attain that ideal which in his inmost soul he accepts as alone worthy, he can find help in but one power. That power is Christ. Co-operation with that power is man's greatest need. [ED 29] COMMENTARY Follow the Son It's the source of light and life for organisms. It makes photosynthesis possible for plants to grow. It's responsible for the wind, weather changes, and ocean currents. And its gravity holds in orbit the planets, asteroids, and other objects in our solar system. The sun, 333,000 times larger than Earth, is the closest thing to a perfect sphere observed in nature. Throughout recorded history, many cultures have worshiped the sun. Yet, the Bible consistently teaches that Christ is the Creator and He alone is to be worshiped (Colossians 1:16; Revelation 14:7). The "greater light," created by God on the fourth day (Genesis 1:16), was never to be called "Sun," from the Latin name "Sol," the Roman sun god. "Hellos" was the Greek name. We look not to the sun as a creator-god, but as a created object that can teach us lessons about "the Sun of Righteousness" (Malachi 4:2). When the Sun of God returns in flaming glory, "all who do wickedly will be stubble," but "those who fear [His] name" will be healed by His warming rays. When Jesus Said, "I Am The Light Of The World," The Literal Sun Was Simply An Object Lesson To Reinforce His Words. He Was Obviously Talking About Spiritual Light. He Is "The True Light Which Gives Light To Every Man Coming Into The World" (John 1:9), and when "men [love] darkness rather than light," they come under "condemnation" (3:19). Are you walking in darkness? Accept The Son Of God Into Your Heart, And You Will "Have The Light Of Life?" Dear Jesus, You alone are my source of light and life. I look to You for life and salvation. [The Most Amazing Bible Promises by Amazing Facts] Our family enjoys going on walks. After dinner, we head outside to make a 1-mile loop around the neighborhood. While most roads have streetlights, one corner's light rarely works. Knowing this, my husband, John, carries a flashlight. As we near the darkened corner, he turns it on. The glow from the flashlight is wide enough for us to see the road and feel safe. Just as important, it also allows approaching cars to see our group. The light of Jesus came after 400 years of silence from God (Malachi 4:5-6). No prophets spoke for the Lord or led His people during that time. Yet Jesus's arrival declared a change. For all those who had been hoping and waiting for illumination from a man of God, His Son was that light. Those who followed Jesus walked with the Light of the World. Jesus brought God's presence, protection, and guidance back into the world once again. The same is true for me more than 2,000 years later. The Light Of Jesus Enables Me To See Myself As I Really Am - A Sinner In Need Of A Savior. When I Stay Close To Jesus, His Light Is A Wide Enough Circle For Me To Clearly See How To Avoid Evil And To Feel Safe With Him. Tricia Goyer [Mornings With Jesus 2020 Devotional by Guideposts and Zondervan] I went to an outdoor concert with some friends to hear one of my all-time favorite R&B groups. Before we even made it to the entrance gate, we discovered we had to return a small cooler to the car because we couldn't take it into the venue. Two of us told the others to go ahead and grab spots on the lawn for our blankets and chairs. We'd catch up with them later. By the time we returned to the concert site, the sun had set, and it was hard to find our friends in the throng of people. Luckily, our group spotted us wandering around in the darkness. They turned on their phones' flashlights and waved wildly so we could see them. Later during the show, one of the singers asked everyone in the audience to turn on their phone flashlights in a show of peace and solidarity. Suddenly, there was great light in the darkness. It was like a megawatt switch had been turned on. Those two encounters with darkness and light on a summer night made me think about Jesus. While on earth, Jesus declared that He Was The Light Of The World And Those Who Chose To Follow Him Would See And Live Differently. Indeed, Walking With Jesus Is Like Having An Ever-Ready Light At My Disposal To Guide Me Down The Right Path. Barbranda Lumpkins Walls [Mornings With Jesus 2024 Devotional by Guideposts and Zondervan] LINKS FOR FURTHER STUDY John 8:12 - The Second I AM; Jesus the Light of the World! https://www.abible.com/devotions/2023/20230705-1013.html http://www.abible.com/devotions/2021/20211226-1019.html John 10:10 - The Abundant Life! https://www.abible.com/devotions/2025/20250102-1326.html 1 John 5:11, 12 - Blessed Assurance. https://www.abible.com/devotions/2023/20230125-0942.html LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT https://abible.com/links/ |