Light of the World

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

The Feast of Booths, also known as the Feast of Tabernacles or Sukkot, is a Jewish celebration that remembers the years spent in the desert on the way to the Promised Land. The name refers to the shelters they used, symbolizing the way God protected them during the 40 years of peregrination. Jesus was attending this festival, teaching in “the treasury” of the Temple when some scribes and Pharisees brought a woman who was caught in adultery to be “judged” by him. Their goal was to catch Jesus in the wrong: if he condemned the woman, they could accuse him of acting out of his authority; if he was lenient towards her, they could accuse him of disregarding Moses’ Law. Jesus’ answer caught them off-guard, though: “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her” (John 8:7). This famous passage ends with the Lord instructing her to go and “from now on, sin no more.” (John 8:11)

The treasury was an area of the Temple that was illuminated by two gigantic golden lampstands. Each of these stands contained multiple lamps that were lighted after the evening sacrifice, spreading its brilliancy all over the city. Jesus’ use of the figure of light to reveal his own character to his audience is one of the many instances in which he uses ordinary, well-known symbols to make himself understood, which is a formidable way of educating used to this day. The Light is, in fact, somewhat of a theme in the Gospel of John. The Evangelist describes Jesus as “the true light, which gives light to everyone.” (John 1:9)

An interesting thing about light has to do with what opposes it, darkness. If you light a small candle in the middle of a dark room, it is impressive how we have the feeling that the darkness flees away from it, as if it could not stand it. The darkest the environment, the more we can notice that little candle, radiating its brightness all around. 

Jesus is the Light that came to dissipate the darkness of condemnation caused by sin. In his own words, “I have come into the world as light so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness.” (John 12:46) The woman caught in adultery experienced this inevitable effect as the darkness she carried met the Light of the World: instead of condemnation, she found forgiveness. Instead of death, she found hope. 

There is a well-known Gospel song written by Harry Dixon Loes in the 1920s that was used for political engagement later on, but originally and brilliantly speaks of how we are supposed to shine Jesus’ lights everywhere we go:

This little light of mine
I’m going to let it shine
Oh, this little light of mine
I’m going to let it shine
This little light of mine
I’m going to let it shine
Let it shine, all the time, let it shine

Ev'rywhere I go,
I'm gonna let it shine,
[...]
Let it shine, all the time, let it shine

Jesus gave it to me,
I'm gonna let it shine,
[...]
Let it shine, all the time, let it shine

This dark world has been trying desperately to prevent us from recognizing Jesus as the only source of true Light. The hope we can find in Him needs to be proclaimed as we shine His light everywhere we go. The World fights against it, but it desperately needs it! I pray that you will rejoice in His light today and proclaim His hope everywhere you go.