Jesus’ Second Extravagant Claim: We can Live in His Light

Fascinating Light | First Claim | Second Claim | World without Light

Paul J. Bucknell

There is a fascination with lights, is there not? When were you last fascinated by some bright lights? Jesus said, "I am the Light of the World" (John 8:12). In fact, we find that Jesus says that He is the key component to a fulfilled life.

“He who follows Me shall not walk in the darkness, but shall have the light of life” (Joh 8:12).

Jesus interestingly connects light with life. As mentioned above, light is connected to light as it provides the basic sources of energy, direction, warmth and health. The days are getting darker now, are they not? I don’t like shorter days. My garden closes down. Instead of bright green leaves, they stop processing the sun’s energy, turn color and drop to the ground. In the winter, the sun’s warmth, unlike the summertime, is not easily felt. Nor is the sun greeting one who he or she gets up but darkness.

Jesus is stating that life, spiritual vitality, that we need is only found through Him. Yes, there are many lights around us like religions and philosophies, but they only gain their intensity from the big light the sun. The moon is not the real light to shine in our souls to make us clean and strong but a reflection and reminder of the true light.

(The Disciple 1 Digitial Library has the slides, article and audio/video of this talk.)

Jesus says that He is the only Light because He is. All other religions and moralities gain any sense of virtue only by faintly pointing to the one True Light. I still remember the day when I saw the Light.

Even though I was brought up in a church, I never really knew about the Light of Jesus. I didn’t care. I was walking in darkness without knowing it. What happens when one sees the Light? One sees how much darkness stains one’s life. I originally compared how good I was with others, but this vague grasp of morality and rightness totally dissipated once my life was seen before Him, the true Light.

Each day’s sun should starkly remind us of Jesus the One True Light. Let each festival of lights recall the joy and delight God wants to share with us through Jesus for it is only from Him we can gain forgiveness and find joy.

Two huge claims Jesus makes. What are they?

1) Jesus is the Light of the world - not just one of the lights.

2) Light and life are linked up in Jesus and that if we seek Him, we will find both.

Next => Jesus' second extravagant claim

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Scriptures typically quoted from the New American Standard Bible unless noted: (C) Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1988

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