GOD'S PROMISES # 13

'I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.'

In this promise Jesus makes the second of his absolute claims. Here he states: I am the light of the world. He does not claim to be one light among a number of lights from which we might choose, but to be the light, that is, the one, true, spiritual light, for the whole world.

On the basis of this exclusive claim he makes the promise: 'whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life'.

The clear implication of this promise is that if we are not following Jesus Christ we are walking in spiritual darkness, even if we think we see.

John wrote concerning the coming of Jesus Christ: 'The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.' And 'This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.'

In Jesus Christ the darkness of ignorance of God is dispersed: he himself said: 'If you knew me, you would know my Father also', 'I and the Father are one', 'When a man looks at me, he sees the one who sent me. I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness', 'Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, "Show us the Father"?'

Never again do we need to ask the question 'What is God like?' Never again do we need to be in the dark about God. In the person of the Son, Jesus Christ, he has come to us. In Jesus Christ the words of the prophet are fulfilled: 'the glory of the Lord will be revealed ... "Here is your God!"'

Scriptures: John 8:12; 1:3; 3:19; 8:19; 10:30; 12:45,46; 14:9; Isaiah 40:5,9; 2 Corinthians 4:6.