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.
John 8:12 KJV
This is the second of 7 times when Jesus said I am _______, The 7 times he said I am ________ are as follows;
He said I am the bread of life John 6:35
I am the light of the world John 8:12
I am the door John 10:7,9
I am the Good Shepherd John 10:14
I am the ressurection John 11:25
I am the way, the truth and the life John 14:6
I am the true vine John 15:5
So what does Jesus mean when he says he is the light of the world? Consider that another name in scripture for the sun is light (Gen 1:16), and Jesus came in fulfilment of scripture, one of which says:
But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.
Malachi 4:2 KJV
Light enters the world when the natural sun rises, so to, when Jesus the sun of righteousness rises in our hearts, he brings light into “our world”.
For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
2 Corinthians 4:6 KJV
He is the light of knowledge, the revelation of God, and knowledge of God is eternal life i.e. knowledge of God is “the light of Light”
And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
John 17:3 KJV
He goes on to say that when we follow him, we will not walk in darkness. Just as the entrances of light dispels darkness, so to the entrance of Christ in our life dispels darkness in us. Our old ways of thinking and living, was in accordance with darkness, till we were transformed by his light.
Christ was very specific in how we can avoid walking in darkness, we have to follow him. What does following him entail?
Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
Matthew 16:24 KJV
To follow him, to walk in his light, is to die daily i.e. to die to the desires of the flesh and allow the desires of the Spirit to be manifest in our lives. Walking in light is living in the Spirit, walking in darkness is living by the flesh and it’s only when the sun of righteousness rises in our heart can we walk in the light. Selah!
