Jesus, the Light of the World

 John 1:1-4:    In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  The same was in the beginning with God.  All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made.  In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
John 1:9-10:  That was the true Light, which lights every man who comes into the world.  He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.

John 1:34    And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.


     The world is full of darkness.  We see the results of this darkness all around us with discord and hate in every corner of our existence.  Being surrounded by darkness, we can shine with hope.  This hope isn’t in the promises of politicians which we know are only words of deceit; my hope is in Jesus, the Light of the world.  This Light shines and spreads as more turn in faith to God.  Even with the current news of oppression around the world and of our current political climate, I’m confident Jesus is near.

     When Jesus came into the world, many did not recognize him as God’s Son.  The Roman Empire ruled over most of the land, and the religious leaders were more concerned with their own power.  They were not expecting God’s Son to come as a poor carpenter.  So, as Jesus healed the sick, fed the thousands, and preached God’s message, some believed but not all.  It is hard to believe that actual witnesses of Jesus’ works could not believe.  It was because their hearts were in deep darkness and could not see the true Light of the World.

     John the Baptist was sent to prepare the way for the true Light of the world.  He preached about the Light of the World, and he baptized many as they believed his message.  Then one day, John the Baptist saw Jesus coming and said, “Behold the Lamb of God which takes away the sin of the world.  This is he of whom I said, ‘after me comes a man which is preferred before me, for he was before me.’” (John 1:29, 30)   Jesus came to John the Baptist to be baptized.  When Jesus was baptized, the heavens opened and the ‘Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: and lo a voice from heaven saying, “this is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”(Matthew 3:16, 17)

     There were witnesses that day when John the Baptist baptized Jesus.  The writer of the book of John writes, “I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.” (1:34) John followed after Jesus and continued to witness all Jesus did and taught as Jesus’ disciple.  He recorded all he witnessed as he followed and served Jesus.  John’s written words gives us hope.  Because, the Lamb of God came to be the propitiation for our sins in order to give us life.  He died on the cross for our sins.  As recorded by the prophet in Isaiah 53:6 and 7, “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.  He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he opened not his mouth.”  Jesus died, and on the third day we arose from the dead.  John recorded all this in chapters 19 through 21.  Jesus lives and continues to be our Light.

     We can have the light of Jesus within us.  Jesus said, “I am the light of the world: he that follows me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” (John 8:12)  With the light of life in us, we shine reflecting God’s love.  God’s love is great and has defeated darkness through Jesus, the Light of the World.

John 3:16, 17 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.  For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.”