JOHN 8:12-20 CELEBRATE THE LIGHT

12 When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
13 The Pharisees challenged him, “Here you are, appearing as your own witness; your testimony is not valid.”
14 Jesus answered, “Even if I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is valid, for I know where I came from and where I am going. But you have no idea where I come from or where I am going. 15 You judge by human standards; I pass judgment on no one. 16 But if I do judge, my decisions are right, because I am not alone. I stand with the Father, who sent me. 17 In your own Law it is written that the testimony of two men is valid. 18 I am one who testifies for myself; my other witness is the Father, who sent me.”
19 Then they asked him, “Where is your father?” “You do not know me or my Father,” Jesus replied. “If you knew me, you would know my Father also.” 20 He spoke these words while teaching in the temple area near the place where the offerings were put. Yet no one seized him, because his time had not yet come.

Like the pillar of fire in the exodus or the great lamps lit in the Court of Women during the Feast of Tabernacles, Jesus is the light. By associating himself with these lights, Jesus is saying that he is the salvation that the Jews celebrate in remembering those lights. But, while the former lights were for a nation and a people, Jesus is the light of the world. As the Prophet Isaiah described the suffering servant, Jesus is the “light to the nations” (Isaiah 49:6). The Scripture is a lamp to our feet and a light for our path (Psalm 119:105), but Jesus is the living light that illumines every valley and obstacle and drives away all rebellious forces and evil in the world. “Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (v.12).

This light is the light of truth, as well as salvation, both of which emanate from God. Jesus came from the Father and has illuminated the path to the Father for us. It is the image of a crowd of people trapped in a windowless and lightless room. Suddenly there is a new voice among them and they hear him say that he has just come in from the outside and if they follow him they will escape. When he flicks on his light they see that the walls are covered with doors and are confused, each in his panic runs for the nearest door, but finds it to be a door with a wall behind it. In the midst of the chaos, the voice cries out, “No! Follow me, I know the way for I just came to you through the door that leads to the outside.” Those who heed the voice are delivered from the suffocating darkness, while those who do not, remain trapped within. The immediate proof of the validity of his message is that he does indeed lead them out. In addition, when they listen he tells them that he knew the way in, and therefore the way out, because the architect had given him the plan.

The Light has come into the world. The Old and New Testaments, the history of the Church and the inspiration of the Holy Spirit all testify to Jesus as the Light. But as the light of a camp fire can attract some animals and repel others, the Light does not make our choice, it just presents us with the choice. Which will it be?

May my desire be to ever walk in the light and according to the light. Jesus you are the light, may I follow you faithfully. When your light illumines my sins, keep me from going into hiding and help me repent and stay in the light. Amen.