I Am the Light of the World

 “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 (NLT)

Jesus sat on the Temple steps teaching the people. He was interrupted when the teachers of the religious law and the Pharisees thrust a woman, who had been caught in the act of adultery, in front of Him. It was a trap. She was a pawn in their game. They waited to see how Jesus would respond hoping He would say something they could use to condemn Him. The law said to stone her. What would He say? He said nothing. He stooped down and started writing in the sand. They pressed Him for answers. His reply was simple. “All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!” (John 8:7, NLT) They slowly dropped their stones, and slipped away into the crowd. What could they say? None of them were without sin. Jesus stands and looks at the woman. Her sin clings to her for all to see. She is fully exposed, cloaked only in her shame. Jesus asks, “Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?”(John 8:10, NLT). She replies, “No, Lord.” And Jesus looks at her and says, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.” (John 8:11, NLT)

Jesus then turns to the crowd He had been teaching and 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.” (John 8:12, NLT) I Am…the Light of the world. The woman had walked in darkness. We don’t know much about her aside from the fact that she was caught having sex with a man that wasn’t her husband. The reasons that drove her to his arms are unknown. Maybe she wanted to feel loved or accepted. Maybe she was looking for security. All we know is that she became a pawn in the Pharisees game only to collide with the grace of Jesus. There was no condemnation for her actions. Jesus simply told her to leave her life of sin. He wanted her to leave the darkness, and walk in the light. 

The Pharisees, who were so quick to condemn the adulterous woman, also walked in darkness. They were blind to the truth of who Jesus was. He threatened their power, and their neatly orchestrated world. Jesus did not live up to their expectations of a Messiah, and they weren’t ready to give up control.

Both the woman and the Pharisees walked in darkness. Both needed to be exposed to the light. One received what Jesus had to offer, the other did not. We can find ourselves in the story of the adulterous woman or in the hypocrisy of the Pharisees. I, like the adulterous woman, can find myself being exposed to the sin that I have hidden in my heart. As I sit before Jesus, He can reveal the places I am walking in darkness. And not for the purpose of condemning me but so that I can leave the sin and walk in the light. I too can be like the Pharisees. I can claim to believe one thing yet the way I live my life can tell a different story. I can say that Jesus is the most important thing to me but then I can seek material things above Him.

Yet we don’t have to walk in darkness. He is the Light, and He promises to lead us in a way that leads to life. We will never thrive as long as we remain in the dark. His path is that which leads to life. Today, I would encourage you to ask God to reveal to you the places in your life where you are walking in the dark? What lies are you believing, and what needs to be exposed to His light? 

“The people who walk in darkness will see a great light. For those who live in a land of deep darkness, a light will shine. You will enlarge the nation of Israel, and its people will rejoice. They will rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest and like warriors dividing the plunder. For you will break the yoke of their slavery and lift the heavy burden from their shoulders.” Isaiah 9:2-4a (NLT)

Scripture Reading: John 8:1-30