John 8:12 – Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
Everything in God’s creation is designed by God specifically to display the glory of God, in many instances referring directly to Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God. In today’s scripture Jesus refers to Himself as the light of the world. We often take light for granted since it is so consistent, the sun lights up the world everyday. But just as the sun lights up the physical creation, Jesus enlightens everyone who comes to Him. We spent our lives in the past overcome by darkness but now Christ has come and opened our eyes and flooded our being with light. We not only see Him now but we also see all of His creation from this new perspective. Jesus is truly the Light of the World. Here is how Jonathan Edwards explains the beauty of Christ.
“THERE IS SCARCELY ANYTHING that is excellent, beautiful, pleasant, or profitable but what is used in the Scripture as an emblem of Christ. He is called a lion for his great power, victory, and glorious conquests; he is called a lamb for his great love, pity, and compassion: for that merciful, compassionate, condescending, lamblike disposition of his; for his humility, meekness, and great patience, and because he was slain like a lamb. He was brought as a lamb to the slaughter, so he opened not his mouth. He is called the bread of life and water of life, for the spiritual refreshment and nourishment he gives to the soul; he is called the true vine, because he communicates life to his members, and yields that comfort to the soul that refreshes it as the fruit of the vine doth the body; he is called life, for he is the life of the soul. He is called a rose and lily, and other such similitudes, because of his transcendent beauty and fragrancy. He is called the bright and morning star, and the sun of righteousness; and in our text, the light of the world, of which it is our business at present to speak.”
I love this quote from Edwards; Christ is the power of our life shown in the lion, He is our compassion and meekness seen in the lamb, He is our food and drink that nourishes us every day, He is the sweet fragrance that makes our lives sweet and pleasant, and He enlightens everyone who welcomes Him into their life. Maybe you have lost the sense of His beauty and majesty, step into the light of Christ, draw near to Him in His word. Worship Him in His magnificent beauty. He is the light of the world that shines constantly into every broken heart and life that turns to Him.
