The light of the world

John 1:4 tells us that the life that is in Jesus is “the light of men” and verse 9 tells us that Jesus is the “True light” that “enlightens every man.” Then later, in John 8:12 and 9:5 Jesus made the amazing claim, “I am the light of the world.” And again, in 1 John1:4 we read that “God is light.” Light is arguably the most basic and yet most amazing phenomena in the physical universe.

There are several specific qualities of physical light that make it a particularly fitting illustration for God. The first is that light is an emission or radiation of energy. Another way to say this is that light is a form of energy that is given off by a source. Its not too hard to see how this is an apt illustration for God, since God is the source of everything! In fact, it was the power that was given off when God said, “Let there be light” that made light itself! For that matter, everything in the universe was created by the power given off from God. And this was not only true of creation, it is still true of the one who “Upholds all things by the word of his power.” (Hebrews 1:3)

Another quality of physical light that makes it a particularly fitting illustration for God is that it gives life to all living things. Without the light and heat given off by the sun, all plants and trees would die and, without the food and oxygen provided by the plant and trees, the animals and people would soon follow. This same thing is true at a spiritual level. Psalm 104:29-30 tells us clearly that the spirit of God is the source of life to every living thing: “You hide Your face, they are dismayed; you take away their spirit, they expire and return to their dust. You send forth Your Spirit and they are created; and You renew the face of the ground.”

Yet another quality of physical light that makes it a particularly fitting illustration for God is that is that it makes vision possible. The simple fact is, without light, we wouldn’t be able to see anything. In order for us to see something, light must be either be given off by, or reflected from it into our eyes, where it is transmitted through our optic nerve to our brain. In the same way, without God, we wouldn’t be able to see anything spiritually. The only reason we can know God is because Jesus, the light, has revealed him to us. In Matthew 11:27 Jesus said, “No man knows the father except the son and anyone to whom the son will reveal him.”

Hebrews 1:3 says that Jesus is the “exact representation” of God’s nature and the “radiance of his glory.” Because of this, it is easy to see why Jesus is referred to as the “light of the world.” Throughout his ministry on earth Jesus literally radiated the power, love, life and light of God to mankind. Every time he preached the gospel of the kingdom of God, every time he healed the sick, raised the dead and set the captives free, and ultimately through his death upon the cross, Jesus shined the light of God on the earth.

But the ministry of Jesus as the “light of the world” did not stop at the cross. Jesus continues to shine the light, love and life of God to the world today through the church, which is his body on earth. In Matthew 5:14 Jesus told his disciples that they were the “light of the world.” Then, in verse 16 he told them, “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father in heaven.” As Christians, we are the light of the world, because the Light himself lives in us. And our privilege and responsibility is to “let our light shine” in such a way that people around us will see it in everything we say and do. Keep that in mind today, because you may very well be the brightest point in someone’s day today!