Friday Devotional

Day 2 : “I AM the light of the world”

READ : John 7:40-52; John 8:12.

This is one of Jesus’ famous “I am” statements in the Gospel of John. He defines this in relation to his followers: we do not “walk in darkness,” but we “have the light of life.” Broadly, the metaphor makes sense. If you’re walking around in your room with the lights off, the chance of you knocking something over or stubbing a toe is pretty high. If you’re in an unknown or dangerous place without the “light of life,” the chances of your getting lost or injured are even higher. Jesus provides a way through this trouble: though he does not promise to remove us from the valley of the shadow of death, he is still with us, comforting and protecting us. That he is “the light” shows us the promise of salvation from sin and deliverance from defeat and ultimately, from death. In a word, this is the gospel.

Yet at the same time, the statement Jesus makes in John 8:12 has a more-specific connotation, not just a general message of good news. If we look at what’s happening around that verse, it doesn’t seem that the concept is addressed further. By contrast in John 15, he talks for a good while about vines and branches; but here we’re given verse 12, and that’s all anyone says about light. That is, until we reframe the passage a bit and realize that with that statement, Jesus is answering a question posed earlier on. Read 7:40-52 again. Until we get to 8:12, there’s no answer to whether any “prophet arises from Galilee” (v. 52). But then Jesus responds by saying, “I am the light of the world.”

This may seem like a non sequitur, but look at what the Pharisees in that passage are demanding: first they accuse Jesus’ followers of “not know[ing] the law,” and then they say, “Search and see.” They are convinced, based off of their own readings and knowledge, that if Jesus is the Christ (v. 41—or a prophet, v. 52), he cannot have come out of this northern province. The amazing part of this back-and-forth is that Jesus gives them the perfect answer in accordance with their command to “search and see:” he tells them the exact place to find the prophecy they’re looking for.

Read Isaiah 9:1-2. A light has shone out from Galilee! The prophet, speaking God’s words, expands on this “light” later: “I am the LORD; I have called you in righteousness; I will take you by the hand and keep you; I will give you as a covenant for the people, a light for the nations” (Isa. 42:6). “I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth” (49:6). Matthew backs up the same idea in his Gospel, quoting more directly the same words from Isaiah 9 that Jesus referenced in John 8: “Now when he heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee. And leaving Nazareth he went and lived in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, so that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: ‘The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles—the people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light, and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death, on them a light has dawned.’ From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand’” (Matt. 4:12-17).

The fact even that Jesus “withdrew into Galilee” (v. 12), and then returned to Judea to begin his ministry, reveals that he is “the light of the world.” That is, Jesus is a fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy of blessing, showing that he is working according to the Father’s will (John 15:10). His quotation helps to illustrate how all the Bible points to him (Luke 24:27; 1 Peter 1:10-11), and is a proof against the Pharisees that he is indeed the anointed one of God (see Matt. 16:16-17; John 8:58). By fulfilling them, Jesus illuminates greater truths of the Father’s plan, “into which angels long to look” (1 Peter 1:12). He brings the light of salvation not only to Jews, but to all people who have faith in him (Acts 13:46-49). In all these details the gospel is preached, softening hard hearts and bringing illumination to previously-blind eyes. Praise God for the “light of the world,” his Son Jesus, who sends the Holy Spirit to open our eyes to the mysteries in his Word!

Reflection questions:

1) Sometimes, believers describe something like, “Before, trying to read the Bible was boring; but since I started following Jesus it’s like a light-switch flipped on and I understand God’s Word more clearly.” This could also be described as an “ah-ha moment” or as “words jumping off the page.” Have you ever had that kind of experience, reading the Bible or otherwise? What might have produced that in you? (Hint: read 1 Cor. 2:10-13 or Eph. 1:17-18.)

2) In addition to God’s Word, what are some other ways Jesus reveals himself to believers? Or, to unbelievers? How do you know?

3) Read Psalm 119:11, 18-19. Why is Scripture memory important? (For example, notice that in John 8, Jesus didn’t have the scroll of Isaiah handy to pull out and reference before answering the Pharisees.) Read back through some of the verses cited in this devotional and pick one or two to memorize that would be helpful to you.

4) Pray to God for diligence to search his Word, and for his Spirit to help you see the truths there contained. Pray that Jesus’ light would fill your day with the truth of Scripture.

5) Sometime today, find someone else who did this devotional. Ask each other what verses you each chose to memorize, and why.