Light

Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world.

Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

John 8:12

In the bustling temple courts of Jerusalem, amid heated debates with religious leaders, Jesus made one of the most profound declarations in Scripture: "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life" (John 8:12, ESV). This "I AM" statement echoes God's self-revelation to Moses at the burning bush (Exodus 3:14), positioning Jesus as the eternal divine presence breaking into human history. For anyone yearning to deepen their relationship with Jesus, this verse is a divine invitation. It promises transformation—not through fleeting emotions or self-effort, but through abiding in the One who illuminates every corner of our existence.

Jesus expands this light-darkness reality elsewhere. In Matthew 6:23, He warns, "but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!" And in John 3:19, "And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil." These truths reveal light's power, our choice, and darkness's deception. In a world shadowed by confusion, sin, and despair, Jesus offers Himself as the antidote. Consider light's remarkable properties—its unchanging speed and stark contrast with darkness—enriched by Psalm 23:4 and Einstein's insights. These will draw us closer to His heart.

Jesus, the Timeless Presence

One of the universe's most reliable constants is the speed of light—approximately 186,282 miles per second. Remarkably, this velocity remains identical regardless of the source. Whether from a distant star or a flashlight, light travels at this precise pace. No external force alters it; it's immutable, a fixed point in a relativistic cosmos.

Jesus embodies this unchanging constancy. Hebrews 13:8 declares, "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." In life's flux—when relationships falter, health declines, or circumstances shift—Jesus is the unwavering Light. He doesn't dim with our doubts or accelerate with our zeal; His presence is steady, inviting us to follow without fear.

Einstein's theory of relativity deepens this truth. He theorized the faster we travel the slower time moves and if we could approach the speed of light, we would be timeless. At light speed, time ceases—you become timeless. Pause to consider: God is light (1 John 1:5). Yes, Jesus, the true Light, is eternally timeless. "Before Abraham was, I am" (John 8:58). He entered time yet remains unbound, redeeming our fleeting days.

Light Versus Darkness

Light's second wonder is its absolute contrast with darkness. Where light penetrates, darkness flees, there’s no compromise. This drama captivates culture and philosophy. For example, in Star Wars: the Jedi’s blue and green lightsabers are pitted against the Sith’s crimson blades. It was hope versus rage. Luke chose light; Yoda warned, "Fear leads to the dark side." Light triumphed.

Jesus frames this cosmically: "The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it" (John 1:5). In John 8, after forgiving the adulterous woman and exposing Pharisees, He declares Himself Light. Yet John 3:19 unveils judgment's tragedy: "people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil." Darkness isn't mere absence—it's a chosen rebellion. Sin's works hide from exposure; we cling to shadows concealing shame.

Matthew 6:23 pierces deeper: "If the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!" The eye—the window of your soul—determines illumination. A "bad eye" clouds even God's light into darkness. Jesus warned: internal darkness multiplies catastrophically.

But there’s hope. The shadows reveal God’s light. Psalm 23:4: "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me." The shadow forms because the Shepherd's brilliance looms behind. If there were no light, there would be no shadow—just void. Shadows prove His nearness; darkness bows to His presence.

Light or darkness, the choice is yours. Darkness promises autonomy but isolates; light demands surrender and delivers freedom.

Jesus says, “For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God” (John 3:20-21 ESV).

Examine my "eye." Is the light in me darkness? Do I love the darkness? Or is my eye focused on the Light, filling my life with light?

I pray: “Lord, heal my eye. Pierce the darkness that I foolishly love. Fill my life with light.”