7 Truths about Jesus' Light from the Gospel of John
The apostle John makes a special point in writing about Jesus’ light. Though the list below is not comprehensive, we can glean several key features and truths about the light that Jesus is and gives to his followers.
1. Jesus’ life is the light of men. (John 1:4)
There is a special connection between light and life. Jesus’ life has a certain type of feature to it—it brings people into the light. It lifts the countenance, it rebukes sin like a storm, it denotes a level of peace with God that only Jesus can give. Jesus’ light is the light of life. His life perpetuates itself into our lives such that we continue on in light forever.
2. Jesus’ light shines in darkness. (John 1:5)
Jesus has come to bring his light to a context: the world. And, this passage shows that Jesus’ thinking, his teaching, his power, his manner of being, his perfection, and his ways are not of the darkness of this world. He does not think as man thinks—his thoughts and ways are higher. When we come to Jesus, we see a stark contrast between the world and the Way.
3. Jesus’ light is hated by the world. (John 3:20)
Sadly, those who trust themselves, who live for themselves, who follow the ways of the world, who haven’t come to the light of Christ for forgiveness and cleansing—those who are caught in the cycles of working evil hate the light. Exposure of evil goes against the world’s thinking. It acts contrary to the thought of the flesh that we are “good people.” True light exposes, but those who follow the pattern of the world do not want to be exposed. May it be known that coming to the light with Jesus is not frightening—he comes with us, as the strong Savior, and looks with us at our lives so that we can know and walk in the truth.
4. The repentant come to Jesus’ light. (John 3:21)
Those who recognize that true light is found in Christ are those who see the mercy of Christ. He offers his light to cleanse and bless—to help and uplift. He offers his light so that we can enter into the fullness of his life. Those who have accepted the mercy of God are those who are repenting of sin—they acknowledge the truth of God that there is no one who is good. The good work of repentance and walking with Christ that ensues means that those who walk with Jesus love to come to the light and give him all of the credit for their works that align with his ways.
5. Jesus is the light of the world, the light of life. (John 8:12)
Jesus is the majestic and worthy one of the Scriptures—the one who has walked into a world of darkness, that he might rescue and save it. Jesus’ light is far-reaching and bold. It is a light that is not easily forgotten, and a light that illumines the heart, mind, and soul. To experience Jesus is to be changed, to be new and fresh and pure. Jesus himself is the light—all of this goodness emanates from him.
6. Jesus’ followers become sons of light. (John 12:36)
By believing in the light, Jesus’ followers become sons of light. The light of Christ shines through his people. There is sin in God’s people, there is hypocrisy, there is confession needed, there is self-righteousness and pride and a host of wrongs—but sons of light long to be in the light, that sins may be forgiven and washed away and that true light might come from within where the Holy Spirit indwells the believer. He gives power and strength for increased goodness.
7. Jesus takes believers from darkness to light. (John 12:46)
There is a concrete change that occurs in the life of the son of light. And, it is a change wrought through the compassion of God. He came into the world to bring anyone who would believe in him from the darkness to the light. In the darkness, there is stumbling, there is evil, there is all manner of wrong. Jesus knows what he created us for—for fellowship with him who is Light. Jesus came to bring us to himself.
How beautiful that Jesus came to be the light of men! That the holy God would come to associate with our race, the human race, and is a gift of mercy. He aligned himself with mankind while being the perfect Light—to lift us to the place where we could know him and rejoice in what rejoices him. He is the Light of the world; he did the “unthinkable” in coming to become man so that he might illumine for us that he is the way to God. We required a change: to love what is light and lay aside darkness—to love what is pure and set down all manner of sin. And he is that change in us through the Holy Spirit.
This Christmas season, we can rejoice that Jesus is the light of men. As we see Christmas trees, and lights on home, candles in our churches and displays of lights in our cities—we can remember the true character of light. Jesus’ is a light that is contrary to the workings of the flesh and the world—and is all about giving Jesus the credit for shining through us. To know God’s goodness is to know life, and that life is eternally ours through the gift of Jesus’ coming.