I Am the Light of the World
In John’s Gospel, Jesus proclaims several “I am” statements revealing His identity as God. After proclaiming, “I am the bread of life” in John 6:41, 51, Jesus proclaims in John 8:12, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
This is unusual because, in the other Gospels, Jesus says to us, “you are the light of the world” (Matthew 5:14-16), but we can only be lights in the world if our light originates in the Divine Light of the world, Jesus Himself.
Yet, what does Jesus mean that He is the light of the world? John 8 begins with the famous story of the woman caught in adultery. Jesus is at the Temple when the scribes and Pharisees drag her in. They test Jesus: “Moses commanded we stone her. What do you say?” Jesus famously replies, “Let him who is without sin cast the first stone.” Realizing that none of them are innocent of sin, they walk away. Jesus looks at the woman and says, “Go and sin no more.”
And then Jesus says, “I am the light of the world.”
In the Old Testament, Israel was called to be a light to the nations. The source of their light was God’s majestic glory in the Temple. When they encountered God in His Temple, they would be transformed to be His light and gather the world to worship Him.
Jesus proclaims that He is God’s glory in the Temple that gives light to all people and transforms them with His presence. Apart from Him, we are all lost in the darkness of sin and self-righteousness, like the scribes and the Pharisees. This is why they are eager to condemn the woman because they are oblivious and blind to their lack of righteousness. Yet, in the light of Jesus’ words, they are just as guilty of their sins as the woman caught in adultery. The only person who is more than righteous to condemn her is Jesus. And even He does not do so.
What does this mean for us? Christians, unfortunately, are labeled as judgmental and condemning of others. The world often perceives us as hypocrites. Yet, the only way we can be freed from the darkness of self-righteousness is to come into the light of Christ.
He does not condemn us, but rather transforms and sends us into the world, saying, “Go and sin no more.” And in doing this, we become lights that shine with the Divine Light of Jesus Christ our Lord.
