The Light of the World is Jesus

“There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe. He (John) was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world” (John 1:6-9)

What is the significance of light, and especially of the Son of God being designated as “the Light of the world?”

Here is an apt illustration from our Jewish friends: They have a special celebration called “Chanukah,” which pictures this image so vividly: During this holiday, they have a candelabra with 8 candles to be lit – – one per night, to commemorate how God miraculously provided for the oil needed to light the Temple. The middle light in their Menorah or Chanukiah is called the “Shamash,” the light that lights the other candles – – night by night for eight consecutive nights. What a beautiful picture of Jesus lighting every man coming into the world.

So, in what sense are we to understand this Light? Well, light is used to dispel darkness. We live in a very dark world, and when we speak of Jesus being its Light, I believe we should understand it as God-consciousness. Everyone who is born into this world has an inherent God-consciousness placed in him by Jesus Christ. One is made aware of and given spiritual insight of Who God is and what He requires of us. Jesus dispelled the darkness of this world through Himself and His Word, the Bible. In John 8:12 Jesus reminds us that “I (Jesus) am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of (abundant and eternal) life!”

An old chorus we used to sing reads something like this:

“Come to the Light, ‘tis shining for thee! Sweetly the Light has dawned upon me; once I was blind, but now I can see – – the Light of the world is Jesus.”

(Words by Philip Bliss)