“When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” -John 8:12
Have you ever experienced darkness? I remember the night after a terrible storm hit our community, when we were all without power. There were no lights in our home or on the streets. We knew the storm had caused severe damage, but there was no way to see it. We had to wait until the sun rose to understand what was going on. It was a long, dark night.
The gospel of John is an invitational book. John records Jesus inviting the disciples to “come and see.” (John 1:46) It is John’s hope for the reader to be swept up in the story and follow Jesus, just as the original disciples did at first. John, like so many of us, witnessed a troubled world but knew that Jesus was the reason for hope as we face an uncertain future. John would write, “In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” (John 1:3-4) Sometimes life can feel like a long night of darkness, but there is hope; there is a light that leads us to life.
In the difficult times of life, God provides a way for us to find connection with Him. When the Hebrew slaves fled captivity in Egypt, they were led by smoke during the day and a pillar of fire at night. (Exodus 13:31-32) This was the spirit of God leading the people to a new life in a promised land. Whether by day or night, God was with the people. The people were not lost, even as they traveled a strange and dangerous wilderness.
When Jesus was speaking with the people in Jerusalem, he reminded them of God’s leading grace and told them that the light was still present for God’s people today. Now, the light was present in the very presence of God found in Christ Jesus. His words would now lead the way. Our close connection with Jesus provides a comforting reminder that we are not alone. No storm could knock out this light. No distance could separate us from the guiding presence of God. The Great I AM is “the light of the world.” (John 8:12) From a burning bush to a pillar of fire to the One who calls us to “come and see,” we have a light that leads the way. God is with us in the desert. God is with us in the storms. If we look to Jesus, we will find the “light of life.”
-Rev. Ketih King, Pastor of Worship
