The context of the words of Jesus as he spoke of Himself as 'the light of the world' is set against an earlier incident of spiritual darkness when the religious hypocrites of the day brought before Jesus a woman who they said was caught in the act of adultery. The law said it was a sin punishable by stoning so they watched to see what Jesus would do. Of course He knew their hearts as he does ours and knew very well that they were not concerned about the law at all but their motivation was to try and catch Him out. So he simply turned the tables and symbolically writing on the ground with his finger reminded them He was the law giver. He made the law and he was also the righteous judge. He challenges them that if there was one among them 'without sin' then they should throw the first stone at the woman. It was like an arrow to their hearts. His word had exposed that they were all as guilty as the woman for there was not one that could meet the laws standard but Jesus Himself. The only person that was 'without sin' was Him! They went out one by one humiliated and Jesus was left to deal with the woman to whom he showed mercy while at the same time warning her not to sin again.
It is immediately after this that Jesus says, "I am the light of the world." He was speaking to the Pharisees and had just shown that he was able to shine a spotlight on the hearts of men and expose with blinding truth what they were, guilty sinners. But this statement also expresses who He is, He is God. Only God could make such judgments as He had done. His judgment was true for He knew where HE had come from - the Father that sent me (v16) So when He spoke of Himself as the light of the world He was referring to His Deity whereby He is God. He is the Son of God and He is the one who men should follow.
Maybe as you read this you are following religion, politics, social media feeds or a football team and it is does not satisfy you. If you were honest too you can easily point the finger at others wrong yet have never taken responsibility for the things you have done, the sins you are ashamed of?
My friend you need to follow Christ, He is the eternal light of the world but before you follow Him you must trust Him and believe who He is and what He has done. He endured the darkness of the cross for your sins and mine but from the darkness of death He came forth and rose again, the light of the world was victorious over death. Salvation is not through lighting candles it is through the light of the glorious Gospel illuminating your heart to expose your sin and as God looks at your sin, realising you deserve His judgment but on the cross His Son took your place and the darkness of hell that you deserved to experience can be avoided through salvation when you turn from your sin and place your faith in Jesus Christ. He promised, " I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life." John 8:12
It is immediately after this that Jesus says, "I am the light of the world." He was speaking to the Pharisees and had just shown that he was able to shine a spotlight on the hearts of men and expose with blinding truth what they were, guilty sinners. But this statement also expresses who He is, He is God. Only God could make such judgments as He had done. His judgment was true for He knew where HE had come from - the Father that sent me (v16) So when He spoke of Himself as the light of the world He was referring to His Deity whereby He is God. He is the Son of God and He is the one who men should follow.
Maybe as you read this you are following religion, politics, social media feeds or a football team and it is does not satisfy you. If you were honest too you can easily point the finger at others wrong yet have never taken responsibility for the things you have done, the sins you are ashamed of?
My friend you need to follow Christ, He is the eternal light of the world but before you follow Him you must trust Him and believe who He is and what He has done. He endured the darkness of the cross for your sins and mine but from the darkness of death He came forth and rose again, the light of the world was victorious over death. Salvation is not through lighting candles it is through the light of the glorious Gospel illuminating your heart to expose your sin and as God looks at your sin, realising you deserve His judgment but on the cross His Son took your place and the darkness of hell that you deserved to experience can be avoided through salvation when you turn from your sin and place your faith in Jesus Christ. He promised, " I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life." John 8:12