During advent, let’s ponder four emphatic “I am” statements from Jesus. Four things that establish this babe in a manger was set apart from all others born before and after Him. Understanding and embracing these proclamations help us walk through hard things in life. The first “I am” to consider is Jesus declaring,
“I am the light of the world.
Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness,
But will have the light of life.”
John 8:12
What an astounding claim. That He is not only “the” light to the world, but that His light gives life. Living in the light of Christ culminates in eternal life.
Jesus spoke this bold statement at the Feast of Tabernacles. Each night during the week long celebration, a ceremony called “the Illumination of the Temple” was performed. The Court of Women, where the event was held, consisted of a huge, square courtyard measuring 233 feet on each side, with four massive, golden, oil-fed lamp-stands, 86 feet tall, in each corner. These giant menorah, lit during the ceremony and burning until dawn, diffused such brilliance they sent a blaze of light throughout Jerusalem, lighting up the entire city. In front of a great crowd gathered in the Court, the religious leaders danced with rejoicing and celebration, as they remembered the light from the pillar of fire that guided the nation in their wilderness journey, and also in anticipation of the Light God had promised to send to a sin-darkened world.
Can you picture Jesus, perhaps raising his arms in this radiant light and joyous celebration, with simplicity yet absoluteness, proclaiming, “I am the Light of the World”. The very Light they awaited with longing. A breath-taking scene of an astonishing proclamation.
This title did not astonish the crowd because it was a new idea. The prophets, including Isaiah, foretelling the coming Messiah, talked of this light many times:
“For the Lord will be your everlasting light” (Isaiah 60:19)
“The people walking in darkness have seen a great light” (Isaiah 9:2)
“I will also make you a light for the Gentiles” (Isaiah 49:6)
“Arise, shine, for your light as come. Nations will come to your light
and kings to the brightness of your dawn.” (Isaiah 60:1-3)
However, spilling from the lips of the teacher, Yeshua, it was indeed astonishing. He was claiming to be their long-awaited Messiah. And He claims to be ours.
Many facets give color and dimension to Jesus being Light. His Light reflects the character of God, who is also Light (I John 1:5) and offers salvation, rescuing us from the darkness (Ephesians 5:8, I Peter 2:9). He illuminates our individual life-paths (Luke 1:79), even as He exposes darkness and sin (Ephesians 5:13).
Do you ever find yourself sitting in darkness, swirling in confusion, hurt, uncertainty and fear? An awful place to be. A couple of years ago, God came into a dark hotel room, in the middle of a difficult night, miles away from friends and family, and shone His light through my darkness with words of encouragement and truths that busted fear to pieces, revealing a deep Love that flooded out confusion and hurt and filled my cup to overflowing with peace. I grasped with clarity in that moment of darkness, “He is my Light and He is enough”.
Take courage my dear sister. When the hard things in life bring us to a place we find ourselves fighting back darkness, with Isaiah, Micah and David we proclaim with boldness,
“I have seen a great Light. Though I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light.
The Lord is my light and my salvation – whom shall I fear?”.
(Isaiah 9:2, Micah 7:8, Psalm 27:1)
Photo by Sebastien Gabriel on Unsplash
