John 8:12, “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.’”
This is the second of seven of Jesus’ famous “I am” sayings. The first one was in chapter 6, where he says, “I am the bread of life.” And now he’s revealing himself as the “light of the world”—meaning, he’s the light that illuminates the world.
Light shines. It illuminates. It reveals. It helps you to see things that you otherwise would be unable to see. When Jesus says that he is the light, he is the great revealer of God to a world that can’t otherwise see him anymore. They are blind to the divine reality that Jesus’ light now reveals to them. “No man has seen God at any time; the only begotten God, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him” (John 1:18).
Also, Jesus says, “Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” Walking in darkness refers to living your life without the saving revelation that comes from Jesus. Walking in darkness means walking in your sin–being a slave to your sin.
John 3:19-20, “19 And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. 20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed.”
If you follow Jesus, you don’t walk in darkness anymore. You don’t conceal your sin from the light of day. No. You are happy for people to see your life because Jesus is now in control of it, and you have nothing to hide. Why? Because you have what Jesus calls “the light of life.” Just like Jesus’ “bread of life” is bread that gives eternal life, so also this “light of life” is light that gives you eternal life. Jesus’ light reveals what you need to be saved from your sin and from judgment. And once you receive that light and are saved, you begin to walk in that light. No more darkness.
[You can listen to the rest of the sermon at the Spotify or Apple Podcasts links below.]
