Then spake Jesus again unto them saying, I am the light of the world, he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
We were discussing this in Sunday school yesterday. What does it mean that Jesus was the light of the world? This was the question. We talked about being an example--a lighthouse on a hill, that sort of thing. I'm agreed that that is part of the meaning here, but this section goes way beyond that meaning, in my mind.
He said somewhere else:
"I am the light and life of the world."
Light=Life
Light is the source from which life springs.
Light is the energy source for life on this planet--the sun gives light to all the earth, which literally creates warmth, provides growth, and makes possible our existence on this planet. Light = Life. It is literally the source of energy that allows life to exist and in extension learning and growth.
I think Christ was comparing himself to light in this way, that he was the source of life, not in this instance, the exemplar, but that through him we may receive light and have life.
Other scriptures in the section include these:
"I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins, for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.
If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. And the servant abideth not in the house for ever; but the Son abideth ever. If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death.
Then said the Jews unto him, Now we know that thou hast a devil. Abraham is dead, and the prophets, and thou sayest, If a man keep my saying, he shall never taste of death. Art thou greater than our father Abraham, which is dead? and the prophets are dead: whom makest thou thyself?
Jesus answered, If I honour myself, my honour is nothing; it is my Father that honoureth me; of whom ye say that he is your God: Yet ye have not known him; but I know him; and if I should say, I know him not, I shall be a liar like unto you; but I know him, and keep his saying. Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day; and he saw it, and was glad.
Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham?
Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, before Abraham was, I am.
He was teaching the Jews in this instance that He was Moses' God. That he would overcome death, and that through Him they could also overcome death, and sin, but they wouldn't understand his teachings because they would only look at the literal meaning of his words, and they rejected that He was the Son of God because they were liars, and deceivers.
Therefore, when Christ said he was the light of the world, in this case, I think he intended it to mean much more than He was to be our example. I think he meant that Light=Life. He is the Light and Life of the world. The one through whom all men can live again and find remission of sin, the chosen one of God, to whom God gave authority and power to perform His work and who honored God through His entire life and through His complete obedience and sacrifice. He only ever did what the Father would have him do, thus He gave his will over completely to the Father. He was always the servant, but through that complete sacrifice of self He gained power over all. Great paradox
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