Jesus As Light of The World

What are we to understand by this term? What was the foremost meaning in the thoughts of the gospel writers as they employed this phrase in relation to Jesus Christ? What traversed the minds of the original hearers of this phrase? The latter could not misunderstand or overlook the necessary link established between the historical Jesus and the God of the Old Testament. The New Testament writers adopted the very language that is used of God who is described as and symbolized as light, for example, “The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?..” Ps 27:1; etc. Light is the Old Testament’s premier description of the very Presence and the glory of God by which he accompanies his people in their journeys as a pillar of cloud by day and as a pillar of fire by night, Ex 13:21-22. It is depicts the divine glory cloud occupying the completed tabernacle, Ex 40:34-38; etc.

The light of God or rather, the God of light, is also termed the Father of lights, Jas 1:17, who lives in unapproachable light, 1 Tim 6:16, and who is essentially light, that is holy: “This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all..” 1 Jn 1:5. God’s light also signifies his favor and goodness to his people as his shown by the benediction which the High Priest proclaimed upon God’s covenant people: “The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you;” Num 6:24-25. In contrast to this blessing lies the foreboding darkness of God’s just judgment: “Woe to you who desire the day of the LORD! Why would you have the day of the LORD? It is darkness, and not light,” Amos 5:18. In summary, we can safely say that the Old Testament often associates light with God and his Word, his salvation, his goodness, his truth and with life. “For with you is the fountain of life; in your light do we see light…For you have delivered my soul from death, yes, my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of life.” Pss 36:9; 56:13; etc.

In the New Testament, John, in particular, incorporates the above understanding of light in his description of the Person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ. Of the 72 occurrences of this word in the New Testament, John employs 33 of them. Jesus is emphatically declared to be the light of the world, John 8:12; 9:5; etc. He is the incarnate Word of God who comes (from above) as the light that enlightens all people, 1:4-14, so that those who place their trust in him alone for eternal life, no longer live in darkness, 12:46. In borrowing language from the creation account, the apostle Paul establishes divine salvation in Christ. “For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” 2 Cor 4:6. As with God in the Old Testament, Jesus is the light of the world is in stark ethical contrast with a darkened, sinful world, Jn 3:19-21. He is the life-giving light, in whom is life (Jn 1:4), and those who follow him “will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life”, 8:12. Those that believe in his Name are called sons of light, 12:36; Eph 5:8; 1 Ths 5:5. They therefore conduct their lives by displaying and conforming to the ethical standards that are characterized by light, Jn 12:36; 2 Cor 6:14; Col 1:12-14; etc. They enjoy the light of life in this present age, 1 Jn 2:10, and their lives are markedly different from the old life they once lived, Eph 4:17-24.

Believers gain or become this light through faith alone in Christ alone. He is the light to all nations from which all his elect eagerly anticipate his Second Coming at which time they will dwell with him in that well- lit celestial city in eternal peace and glory. “And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb. By its light will the nations walk, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it,” Rev 21:3-4.

This Light of the world whom we celebrate at Christmas is the Lord Jesus Christ, the very Son of God who has written Christmas as well as eternity in our hearts. Clearly, Christ and Christmas are no light matter.

Have a great, godly and delightful Christmas.