“I Am The Light Of The World”

The Appomattox Court House Presbyterian Church Pulpit
Rev. Cameron S. Smith
Christmas Eve, December 24, 2005
Exodus 34:29-35
John 8:12

"I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." John 8:12

To Begin With...
In our New Testament lesson from the Gospel of John, Jesus uses a simple, yet profound metaphor to describe himself: "I am the light of the world." It is simple in that it communicates that Jesus gives human expression to the goodness, righteousness and truth found in only God. But on another level, it is quite profound in its application.

Here's what I mean by application: When Jesus claims that he is "the light of the world," he declares that it is God's compelling desire that you be changed; or to put it another way, it's an invitation to come out of the darkness of your sins to live in the glorious light of the Son of God.

Context: The Woman & The Religious Leaders
Let me begin by first drawing your attention to the context of the Lord's response in John 8:12. Note well that the story that brings about this self-disclosure from Jesus is set up, so to speak, by the rescue of an anonymous woman, known only as "the woman taken in adultery." This woman's accusers, professional, religious leaders who ought to have known better, are ultimately shamed by Jesus for their hypocrisy in condemning the woman. But don't forget that the woman too is admonished by the Lord to "go, and from now on sin no more" (Jn 8:11). On the heels of this encounter, expanding on this encounter, capitalizing on this teaching moment, Jesus says, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."

I find it instructive that whenever people encounter Jesus, there is either an open embrace or a cold shoulder. You might say that the response is either one of transformation or one of hardening; worship or continued rejection. There's really no middle ground when it comes to accepting Jesus Christ.

As for the woman, we don't know how she responded to Jesus because John doesn't tell us, but I think it's a safe bet that she responded with an open, worshipful embrace. On the other hand, we know full well that the religious leaders responded with open hostility.

With those leaders, I would also venture to suggest that they didn't accept Jesus because he wanted them to change. When "the light" was turned on, so to speak, they could see that their own ways were found grossly wanting in God's sight; but instead of responding in praise to God for his grace and mercy through repentance, their hearts were hardened because they "loved the darkness rather than the light" (cf. Jn. 3:19).

Further Context in John 9
Pursuing this line of thought even further, we find that the account of the blind man from birth in John 9 sheds even more light on God's desire for us to change. John connects the blind man's healing to the woman taken in adultery with these words prior to the blind man receiving his sight, "As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world" (Jn 9:5).

Interestingly, this little reminder comes at the conclusion of a fascinating exchange between Jesus and his disciples: As the disciples see the blind man standing by the side of the road, they ask, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" Now listen to how Jesus responds to this blunt question: "It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him" (Jn 9:2-3).

Jesus says that they've got it all wrong. Their focus is off the mark because it wasn't a particular sin in this case that caused his blindness. No, what Jesus is teaching here is that all of us, without his light, are just like that blind man. It is a "work of God" for those who are able to embrace the light of Jesus Christ because they are then literally transformed from blindness to sight; changed from cold indifference to sincere worship. That's the whole point here.

What It Means For You
The practical upshot is this: Truly believing that Jesus is the light of the world means you can't love darkness at the same time. The same thing's going on when Jesus warns about loving God and money equally: "No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other" (Matt. 6:24).

Let me hasten to add, that coming into this light is a dangerous thing to do. I say dangerous because it is life-changing: It can either transform you or blind you. Accepting Christ is a serious matter! It reminds me of a classic line from C.S. Lewis' book, The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe: Mr. and Mrs. Beaver tell the Pevensie kids about Aslan, the Christ-like lion king of Narnia, the Son of the Emperor beyond the sea. Lucy and Susan nervously respond by asking, "Is he quite safe?" to which Mr. Beaver responds, "Who said anything about safe. 'Course he isn't safe, but he's good."

My friends, that is a perfect description of the Lord Jesus Christ; he isn't safe, but he's good. When "the light of the world" finds rest in your heart, you can never be the same. I love the story from our Old Testament lesson in Exodus 34:29-35: Moses encounters the Lord on Mount Sinai and the result is that his face, after gazing upon the glory of the Lord, can't help but reflect that glory. I like how the NIV captures it, "his face was radiant" (vv.29, 30, and 35). There's actually some humor in this story; the glowing Moses scared the people so badly that they ran from him in terror! Moses had to wear a veil over his face to contain the glory! But I think that one of the main points of the story is that Moses was never the same again after encountering the light of God on Sinai. You can't encounter Jesus, "the light of the world" and stay the same; you will change.

I implore you on this Christmas Eve; welcome that light that put on flesh in Bethlehem. Receive the light of grace and redemption that shone brightly at the cross and that now presently shines at the right hand of God the father. But be warned, he isn't safe, but he is good. Amen