Wednesday, June 18, 2025

Tonight’s Study, Session 21: Light of the World

Introduction: According to Jewish tradition, one of the names for the Messiah is “Light.” How fitting, then, that Jesus is called the “Light of the world.” John’s gospel portrays Jesus as the light that vanquishes the darkness brought on by sin – a darkness that ends in death. Christ has opened the eyes of a sin-darkened world to the truth of the gospel. We who believe in Jesus have moved from darkness to light, from death to life. When we pray to Jesus as the Light of the world. Let us remember that we are calling on the one who was so determined to draw us into His light that He spent nine months in the darkness of His mother Mary’s womb in order to become one of us. Let us ask Jesus, our Light, to make us shine with His reflected glory.

Lets See What John’s Gospel Says About The Light Of The World

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world. (John 1:1-9)

Key Scripture Where Jesus Says He Is The Light Of The World:

Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” (John 8:12)

“I am the Light of the world” is the second of the seven “I AM” statements of Jesus, recorded only in John’s gospel, that point to His unique divine identity and purpose. In declaring Himself to be the Light of the world, Jesus was claiming that He is the exclusive source of spiritual light. No other source of spiritual truth is available to mankind.

Understanding The Name

The Hebrew Scriptures are full of images that link God with light – pillars of fire , burning lamps, consuming fire. Such images are often associated with God’s nearness or His presence. John’s gospel portrays Jesus as the embodiment of the divine light, a light so powerful that it cannot be overcome by the darkness of sin and death. Though Satan tries to disguise himself as an angel of light,* he is the opposite – the prince of darkness.

*2 Corinthians 11:14 – And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light.

When Jesus declared in John 8:12 that He was the Light of the world, metaphorically this verse speaks of the light of His truth, the light of His Word, and the light of eternal life. Those who perceive the light will never walk in spiritual darkness.

When we turn on a light switch in a dark room, the light that comes on dispels the darkness, the darkness cannot dispel the light. Likewise, the Light of Jesus Christ has to be taken into the darkness of sin that engulfs the hearts and lives of those who are not following Christ. That’s the condition behind having this light – that we follow Him. If we do not follow Him, we will not have this light, this truth, this eternal life.

1 John 1:5-7 – This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.

Physical light is necessary for physical life. The earth would certainly change very rapidly if there were no longer any sunlight. A forest full of trees with very thick canopies of foliage high above has very little plant life on the ground except for moss or lichen (a hybrid colony of algae or cyanobacteria), which needs very little sunlight. Plants never move away from the light – they are said to be positively phototropic, drawn to the light. In the same way, spiritual light is necessary for spiritual life, and this can be as good test* of our standing in Christ.

*2 Corinthians 13:5 – Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified.

The believer will always tend toward spiritual things; he or she will always tend toward fellowship, prayer, the Word of God, and so on. The unbeliever always does the opposite (John 1:5; 3:19-20) because light exposes his or her evil, and he or she hates the light. Indeed, no one can come into the true spiritual light of Jesus Christ, unless he or she is enabled (John 6:37,44).

John 1:5 – And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

John 3:19-20 – And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.

John 6:37 – All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out.

John 6:44 – No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day.

Following Jesus is the condition of two promises in John 8:12. First, His followers will never walk in darkness, which is a reference to the assurance of salvation we enjoy. As true followers of the Light, we never habitually follow the ways of sin, never live in a state of continually sinning. Rather, we repent of our sin in order to stay close to the Light of the world. The second promise is that we will reflect the Light of Life. Just as Jesus came as the Light of the world, He commands us to be “lights” too.

“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14-16)

Just as the moon has no light of its own, reflecting the light of the sun, so are believers to reflect the Light of Christ (the Son) so that all can see His light in us. The Light is evident to others by the good deeds we do in faith and through the power of the Holy Spirit. All this is done for the glory of God.*

*1 Corinthians 10:31 – Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

The emphasis here is maintaining a credible and obvious witness in the world, a witness that shows us to be faithful, God-honoring, trustworthy, sincere, earnest, and honest in all that we do. Also, we should always be ready to give an account of the hope that we have (1 Peter 3:15).

1 Peter 3:15 – But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;

Conclusion: Knowing Jesus as the Light of the world means that believers who know and follow Him, no longer live in darkness. The world that doesn’t know Jesus is filled with people who walk in darkness. But, the Light of the world has overcome the darkness when He overcame death, the grave, and hell itself. The gospel Light that we have in us as believers is not to be covered, but made obvious for all to see and benefit from, that they, too, may leave the darkness and come into the Light.

Next week, Session 22: Lamb of God