"Light of the World" John 8:12-30

The chorus "Here I Am to Worship" begins, "Light of the world, you step down into darkness, opened my eyes let me see." We have already been told in John 3:19, "Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed." In contrast here, Jesus says, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."

I invite you to join me in reflecting on your own journey from darkness to light. Some of the clues about our darkness include the things we stumble over (attitudes, repeated behaviors and sins, resentments from past hurts). The guilt we feel about those things is meant not to condemn us, but to show us where there is insufficient light. Another clue of darkness is where there is confusion. Our minds become clouded and distracted with our many responsibilities and the crush of information we are given. We need wisdom that will help us sort what is important and what is not and find a clearer perspective on the situations we face. We need more light.

Jesus gives his opponents examples of their darkness. First, he cites darkness of judging by human standards. One of the common phrases of the book of Judges (easily the most violent and decadent time in Israel's history) was "Each one did what was right in his own eyes." From the eyes of self-indulgence and sin darkness can look like light. Second, their sin is creating a spiritual darkness that is killing them from the inside out. And from the perspective of darkness, Jesus' words are rude and arrogant. "I am from above, you are from beneath. You are of this world, I am not of this world." From the perspective of life, Jesus is inviting them to a higher way of life.

Jesus finishes this passage by talking about being "lifted up," something we will see again, a reference to his death by crucifixion. If you are like me, I'm ready to move on from this Jesus vs. Pharisee debate. Things will begin to pick up speed dramatically soon.