The Second of the Seven I AMs
Again, therefore, Jesus spoke to them, saying, I AM THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. HE WHO FOLLOWS ME WILL NOT WALK IN THE DARKNESS BUT WILL HAVE THE LIGHT OF LIFE.
(John 8:12)
The Feast of Tabernacles, also known as the Feast of Booths, was celebrated to remember the fire that guided the Israelites after they escaped Egyptian captivity and were in the wilderness. At the Feast of Tabernacles, there was a ceremony called The Illumination of the Temple. When the dark came the large lampstands were lit up in the temple area. It is said that the light from the large lampstands was so bright that it lit up every courtyard in Jerusalem. In this setting, Jesus once again takes the opportunity to say: I AM THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD.
In response to this phrase, William Barclay says Jesus was saying, “You have seen the blaze of the Temple illuminations piercing the darkness of the night. The light in the Temple is a brilliant light, but in the end, it flickers and dies. I am to men the Light which will last forever and forever.”
The phrase, I AM THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD, also highlights what is said in Psalm 27:1. “Yahweh (the Lord) is my light and my salvation. Whom shall I fear? Yahweh is the strength of my life. Of whom shall I be afraid?”
WALKING IN THE DARKNESS. The Apostle Paul says, for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 6:23). At times, even we who profess to be Christians are guilty of walking in the darkness. It is the symbol of sin and sin is rebellion against God. King David was known as a man after God’s own heart, but he was guilty of sexual sin with Uriah’s wife Bathsheba. David tried to keep his sin a secret but to accomplish that David ordered Joab to make sure Uriah was killed in battle (2 Samuel 11). It wasn’t until Nathan confronted King David about his sin that he repented (Read 2 Samuel 12:13). One sin leads to another. “A true believer may backslide and fall into a terrible sin that warrants physical death” (Merrill F. Unger).
Jesus says HE WHO FOLLOWS ME WILL HAVE THE LIGHT OF LIFE. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his works may be revealed, that they have been done in God
(John 3:21).
LIGHT IS A SYMBOL OF PURITY AND HOLINESS.
It has been said,
THE BELIEVER WHO FULFILLS THE CONDITIONS OF BEING GUIDED
BY HIS (Jesus’) LIGHT REFLECTS HIS CHARACTER
-All Scripture passages are based on the World English Bible (WEB)-
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