I Am the Light of the World

 

The book of John has seven I Am statements. They are, I Am the Bread of life, I Am the Light of the world, I Am the Good Shepherd, I Am the Resurrection and the Life, I Am the Way the Truth and the Life, and I Am the Vine. Although there are seven I Am statements in the book of John, this paper will focus on just one; I Am the Light of the world, found in John 8:12. Jesus says, “I Am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in darkness, but will have the Light of life” (NASB). There are some significant events surrounding this statement; this statement also points back to God in the Old Testament, as well as shows Christ’s Deity.

Events Surrounding I Am Statement

Jesus made this I Am statement, “I Am the Light of the world” as He was teaching in the temple. Jesus was teaching and answering questions when He was approached by some of the Jewish scribes and Pharisees; they brought in a woman who was caught in the act of adultery. These people were bringing her as a test to Jesus; they were trying to set Him up. The Law of In Moses said anybody found guilty of committing adultery must be stoned[1]. Jesus responded by saying the first person who had not sinned, possibly this same sin, should throw the first stone. He then wrote in the dirt with His finger. It is unknown what Jesus wrote, but there are many theories. He possibly wrote the sins of the accusers in the dirt because they left one by one, rather than in a big group. It would appear they each left as their sins were written in the dirt[2]. When there was nobody left to accuse the woman, Jesus said He would not condemn her and told her not to sin anymore.

Jesus spoke to the crowd again, including those who tried to set Him up. He told them, “I Am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in darkness, but will have the Light of life[3].” The Pharisees called Jesus a liar, they said He was testifying about Himself. One needed to have two or three witnesses to confirm what they were saying, but obviously He is God so it did not apply[4]. Jesus continued to speak about being the Savior and equal to God the Father, but they could not comprehend what He was talking about. However, there were many that were in the temple that day that did come to believe in Him.

When Jesus says He is the Light of the world, He is saying the world is dark with sin. Jesus uses ordinary items, such as bread, light, and water, to help us understand His extraordinary way. Jesus picks an opportune time to describe Himself as the Light. He had just exposed the sins of the Pharisees and scribes that brought the adulteress woman to Him. Darkness does not exist where there is light; the two cannot co-exist. Just as light and darkness cannot co-exist, sin cannot exist in the presence of God. Similar to a cockroach that flees when turning on the lights, the Pharisees fled when Jesus exposed their sins. These Scribes and Pharisees were no better than the woman, so they scattered like cockroaches as the Light of the world, Jesus, exposed them.

Light brings life. Darkness is the absence of light; therefore, without light we do not have life. Just as a plant cannot live without being exposed to light, man cannot have eternal life, without being exposed to the Light of Jesus Christ.

When Jesus says he who follows Me will not walk in darkness, He is saying man will not walk in the sinful ways of this dark world, because he has the Light of Christ. Man cannot know where he is going in the dark, he needs to be guided by a light. A light illuminates the path, showing dangers and obstacles in the way, keeping one from harm. One that walks long enough in darkness will surely die, both physically and spiritually. Without light one could walk off a cliff, or into a number of deadly obstacles; this is why it is so fitting that Jesus referred to Himself as the Light of the world.

Relates to God of the Old Testament

Jesus using the I Am statements is reminiscent to the God of the Old Testament referring to Himself as I Am. God said, “I Am who I Am.” When Moses was talking to God at the burning bush, he asked God who he should tell sent him. God told Moses to tell them, “I Am has sent you.”

When Jesus made the statement that He is the light of the world, it was during the feast of Tabernacles[5]. The feast of Tabernacles is a celebration from the Old Testament; Leviticus 23 describes the Feast of Tabernacles. This feast is a celebration of how God protected the Israelites while they spent forty years in the wilderness. The Feast of Tabernacles is also known as the Feast of Booths, because the Jews live in tents or booths during the feast to symbolize how they lived during their wilderness journey[6]. One of the rituals the Jewish people do during the feast is to illuminate the inner court with torches to symbolize how God provided a pillar of fire to guide them in the wilderness at night[7]. Towns said most Jews would have considered the pillar of fire a theophany, in which case this was Jesus claiming His deity[8]. When Jesus made the statement that He is the Light, it was His way of saying, “I’m back.[9]” If that is true then He was saying He was with them in the wilderness as well.

Light and darkness are used throughout the Bible to contrast good and evil. Psalm 84:11 describes God as a sun and shield; in the same way Malachi 4:2 describes Jesus as the Sun of righteousness. Light is often described overcoming darkness, which is a symbol of God overcoming evil. It is also a symbol of Christ overcoming sin, through His death on the cross. Isaiah talked about those walking in darkness seeing a great light (Isa 9:2). The great light that Isaiah was referring to was Jesus Christ, the Savior. Once again light is used to describe eyes being opened to the truth of salvation. Verse six should clear up any confusion on whether or not Isaiah was referring to Jesus. “For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; and the government will rest on His shoulders; and His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace”(NASB).

               Showing Deity of Christ

Light is referred to describe both God and Jesus throughout the Bible, both the Old and New Testament. Jesus uses this I Am statement (Light of the world) to clearly show His deity. One of the strongest verses to prove this is 1 John 1:5, where it says that God is Light. Jesus called Himself the Light and God is also called the Light; therefore, if one believes Jesus does not lie and the Bible is true, He must be God. Nowhere after Jesus says, He is the Light of the world does it distinguish a difference between His light and God’s.

Jesus says that He is the Light and those who follow Him will not walk in darkness, but have the Light of Life. His deity is shown through this, as He has the ability to give life. Those who turn away from their evil ways of darkness and start walking in the light of Jesus will have eternal life in heaven. If Christ were not one with the Father, He would have no authority to say life was granted through Him and Him alone.

All of the I Am statements are significant. Jesus described Himself using the events surrounding Him. In this case, He used the Feast of Booths. Jesus used this statement symbolizing that He is one with the Father of the Old Testament. Jesus pointed out that He is the Light in a fallen and darkened world. He said all those who obey Him and live according to His direction will not live in darkness, but will have light, which brings life with it.

[1] Deuteronomy 22:22-24

[2] Towns, Elmer L. In The Gospel of John: Believe and Live. (Chattanooga, TN.: AMG Publishers), 2002.

[3] John 8:12

[4] MacDonald, William, and Arthur L. Farstad. Believer’s Bible Commentary. (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers), 1995.

[5] Morris, Leon. Jesus Is the Christ: Studies in the Theology of John.(Grand Rapids, Mich.: W.B. Eerdmans Pub). 1989.

[6] MacArthur, John F. John (Macarthur Bible Studies). Csm ed. (Grand Rapids: Thomas Nelson), 2006.

[7] Exodus 13:21

[8] Towns, Elmer L. In The Gospel of John: Believe and Live. (Chattanooga, TN.: AMG Publishers), 2002.

[9] Courson, Jon. Jon Courson’s Application Commentary: New Testament. (Nashville, Tenn.: Thomas Nelson Publishers), 2003.