I Am the Light Of The World!

"I AM the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life." (1)

Jesus said, "As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world." (2) What was to happen after Jesus left the world? In the sermon on the mount Jesus taught the multitudes, "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 lamp stand, 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." (3) The light referred to here gives glory to the "Father in heaven."

What is the source of this light? "He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life." The followers of Jesus reflect the light from the true source, the Light of the world.

As the sun lights up the world about us during the day, so Christ is the source of spiritual light that illumines the spiritual darkness of this world. That great light which by His own power is set in the heavens is a true representation of the glory of Christ's mission. "In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the darkness did not comprehend it… That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world." (4)

How is this light shed abroad? Again, Jesus gives an example of how His followers share the light. During His last supper with His close friends and disciples, He said, "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who receives whomever I send receives Me; and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me." (5) This is a phenomenal statement. He who receives a messenger of Christ receives Christ Himself, and more than that, he receives the Father, the Creative Source of this Universe.

A little later in His conversation with His disciples that evening, Jesus said, "He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him… If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him." (6)

Is it any wonder that the true followers of Christ, those who keep God's commandments and who have the Spirit of Christ and the Father dwelling in them, they are the light of the world. That's what the Bible teaches us. "If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever - the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you." (7)

What are these commandments that God and Christ ask us to keep? Jesus said, "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." (8)

What other commandments are involved here? One day a lawyer asked Jesus a question, "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?" Jesus said to him, " 'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.' " (9)

All the commandments of God for His people are based on love. Often we have been led to look upon God as a stern tyrant requiring of men blind obedience to His will. And yet the Word of God expresses love, kindness, mercy, and justice. If we want to know what God is like, we need only look at the life of Jesus. "I and the Father are one." (10); "The Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me and have believed that I came forth from God." (11)

"Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you; he who walks in darkness does not know where he is going. While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light… I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness." (12) Those who turn away from the light of life which God shares with us, or who neglects to seek it when it is within their reach, are left in darkness. "He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life!" (1) (To be continued)

1. John 8:12.
2. John 9:5.
3. Matthew 5:14-16.
4. John 1:4, 5, 9.
5. John 13:20.
6. John 14:21, 23.
7. John 14:15-18.
8. John 13:34, 35.
9. Matthew 22:35-40.
10. John 10:30.
11. John 16:27.
12. John 12:35, 36, 46.