I Am The Light of the World! by James Ryle

Jesus said, “I am the Light of the World.” (John 8:12)

Our premise for this posting is both simple and profound. In the beginning God said “Let there be light!” From that moment it has been His will that all creation serve as a revelation of His love to those He has created.

Paul tells us that God has shown what He is like by everything He has created — “the invisible things of Him are clearly seen in the things that are made” ( Rom.1:20).  God is powerful. God is thoughtful. God is awesome. We see all this and more in creation. But God, in all and above all, is LOVE — that’s the one thing He wants us to know above all others.

And that is the life-force behind, ”Let there be Light!” In other words, “Let there be a revelation of My love!”All creation is now marshaled in a concerted compliance with that single decree.

And, the crowning moment in the unfolding process of that singular revelation happened when Jesus came. Paul tells us that Jesus was “the image of the invisible God” (Colossians 1:15). Jesus Himself said, “He that has seen me has seen the Father.” On one occasion when speaking to a large crowd gathered in Jerusalem, Jesus said “I am the light of the world.” In other words, “I am the revelation of My Father’s love.” At last, a true and unmistakable display of the one thing God has wanted all along — LIGHT shining in the darkness!

God loves you. Yet, it is possible that sin may have so wrecked your life that you cannot see God’s love for you in the things that are around you in your world. But, if you will only look to Jesus then the scales will fall from your eyes and you will see clearly the great love of God for YOU!

“The people who lived in darkness have seen a bright light. Yes, a light has risen for those who live in a land overshadowed by death” (Matthew 4:16, God’s Word Translation). We will talk more about this tomorrow…

“In Him was life; and the life was the light of men.” (John 1:4)

Jesus is the Light of the World. He came into this world as a light shining in darkness, and brought us the one true revelation of God; showing us the love of the Father, and changing our world forever. But, He means for us to take this personally.

John says, “In Him was life; and the life was the light of men” (John 1:4). One translation puts it this way, “The Word gave life to everything that was created, and His life brought light to everyone.” This means even you and me!

And, remember from our previous postings, the light He brought to us is “the revelation of God’s love.” God wants us to be fully alive in the light of His love.

Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” Jesus is the way, that we might be saved; the truth, that we might be sure; and the life, that we might be satisfied! Practically speaking this means that when you open your heart to Jesus, His life will enter fully into you and bring the revelation of God’s love throughout your whole world – changing everything. Saving you; securing you; and satisfying you!

“I once was blind, but now I see!” the man shouted after Jesus healed him.

“And what is it that you see dear brother?”

“I see the love of God everywhere I look!”

May the Prayer of Paul the Apostle be answered in each of our lives:

“I pray that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height—to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” (Ephesians 3:16-19).

Or, if I may sum it up in four words — “Let there be light!”

“If we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.” (1John 1:7)

In light of what we have seen over the past few days, consider this as a fresh way to look at this verse –

“If we walk in the revelation of God’s love as made known to us through Jesus, then we have fellowship with one another; we share in life with each other. And in this dynamic friendship we continually experience the cleansing power provided by Jesus, setting us free from all those things that have held us back and kept us down.”

Are you a loner? If you stay that way you will be a gone-er! (and I know that was a groaner)

But, you cannot make it on your own. “It is not good that man be alone,” God said. He created us for fellowship – with Him, and with one another. Satan works relentlessly to destroy our relationships, and to isolate us in solitary confinement. We do not have to accept this.

Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil. He has saved us, and brought us into the Kingdom of Light – that place where the reality of His love over-rules all others things. Now, by the power of God’s Spirit in us, we can “walk in the revelation of His love” with one another. And His love will lift us to higher ground.

Our friendships will be true and lasting, and our lives will be enriched in every way.

Ask God to lead you into a true friendship with others who know and love the Lord Jesus. He will do it; and your life will flourish in ways you could never imagine.