The Light

March 10 The Light John 8:12-20

“It is a most beautiful title of Christ when He is called the light of the world. We are all blind by nature, but a remedy is offered to rescue and free us from darkness and make us partakers of the true light. And this blessing is not offered to just one here or there, for Christ says that He is the light of the whole world.” John Calvin “Commentary on John” Vol. 4:210

During the Feast of Tabernacles three huge torches would be lit on a menorah lampstand situated in the women’s court of the Temple. At certain times, worshippers would enter bringing torches, light them and then join the crowds in singing psalms of praise. It was against this backdrop that Jesus made the third claim that linked Him to Moses and the Exodus, while at the same time claiming divinity. “I am,” He said, “the Light of the World.” He had compared Himself to manna in the wilderness in calling Himself the Bread of Heaven; He had compared Himself to the water which flowed from the rock, by proclaiming Himself the source of Living Water. Now, Jesus reminded His hearers of the pillar of fire that had led their ancestors – He was the Light of the World.

Light had often been associated with the presence of God. In the beginning, God created light and so dispelled the darkness. God had been made known as a flame to Moses in the desert of Midian, and had led them through the wilderness as a fiery pillar; He had appeared on Mount Sinai in the fire. Light represented both the holiness of God, in which impurities were burned away, and the revelation of God, in which darkness and ignorance are banished. Prophecy also pointed to the coming Messiah as a light to the nations (Isaiah 49). Many Jews understood these prophecies in terms of the cosmic struggle between the forces of darkness and the light of God. Jesus was, therefore, making a claim that it would have been difficult for anyone to misunderstand. He was challenging them. Increasingly, John would portray Jesus’ ministry as the struggle with the scribes and the Pharisees; between those dwelling in darkness and those to whom the Light had come.

His accusers claimed that Jesus’ words could not be authenticated because they had the witness of only one person, whereas the Law required two. Jesus responded that this simply showed how little they understood Him. He did not need two witnesses because God was His witness. Despite their earlier jibes about the man from Nazareth, they really didn’t understand where He had come from. They were attempting to judge Jesus by human standards; these standards simply do not apply to Jesus.

The Pharisees were judging Jesus, as though anyone can judge God. At this time, Jesus was not judging anyone. This does not mean that Jesus will, forever, refuse to judge us; quite the opposite. We know that the Father has committed all judgment to the Son (5:27). The Day will come when we will all have to stand before the judgment seat. On that Day, Christ will be our judge. Until then, we judge ourselves by our response to Him, and to His claims.

For further reading: Psalm 86