What Does John 8:12 Mean?

Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, "I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life."

John 8:12(NASB)

Verse of the Day

Christ is the image of the invisible God. He is the Son of God, Who is God the Son, and He came to earth to shed the light of the Father to the far-flung corners of the universe. That light shines in the darkness, but darkness and evil cannot quench the light of His love. He is the shining Light, that alone enlightens the darkened soul of man. He is that gentle Light, that pours warmth into the chilled human breast.

He is that gracious Light, that streams eternal love into the broken lives of Adam's fallen race, and He is the pure Light - the redeeming Light, Who speaks new-life into the one who is dead in trespasses and sins. He breathes His sanctifying-life into the one that trusts Him as their Saviour, their Jesus, their Lord, and their God. For God is the Light of lights, and there is absolutely no darkness in Him.

Christ is the Word of the invisible God, Who created light and life when the earth was spoken into being. And He is the incarnate Word - the Light and the Life of God, Who clothed Himself in human flesh, so that mankind could be redeemed, by faith in Him. He is the One Who gives light to all men coming into the world, and He is the One Who speaks the light of life into whosoever will believe in Him for salvation.

When a woman caught in adultery was brought to the Lord Jesus, He exposed the darkness lurking in the sinful hearts of all the men, elders, Scribes, and Pharisees who were accusing her. A little later that day we read that, "Jesus spoke to the Scribes and Pharisees... and said to them, 'I am the Light of the world. He who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.'"

Jesus is able to shine that pure light of truth into the hearts and consciences of everyman who believes on Him. Jesus was able to expose the hypocritical sin that was lurking within every man, elder, Scribe, and Pharisee that stood before Him that day. He had come to open their eyes to the truth. He had come to enlighten them, and show them the way of salvation, but their hearts were hardened to the incarnate Word of God. Jesus was offering these hard-hearted men the light that comes from God's presence - the light that produces eternal life - but they resisted His invitation, and remained dead in their sins.

The Lord Jesus was the Light about Whom David wrote, for He is our Lord, our Light, and our Salvation. "Let there be light", was the first Word God spoke at creation and light played a vital role in the Temple rites and rituals of the Mosaic Law. Light was very prominent in all of Israel's feast days and festivals, and Jesus revealed Himself as the "Light of the World", during the Feast of Tabernacles. The Light of the World had come into the world to tabernacle with His people - and they refused to believe.

Christ is the true Light of the World, but we who have received His new-life have been entrusted to carry the testimony of His light, His life and His love into a darkened world, and He has commanded us to live out our lives in a manner that is well-pleasing to Him. We are to walk in the light as He is in the light and we are to point lost souls to the One Who lightens our darkness and breathes life into the lifeless soul.

Today, the world is in deep darkness, and submerged in sickness, sin, evil, and ignorance... yet in His goodness and grace, Christ stripped Himself of His glory and clothed Himself in human flesh. He was born into this fallen race so that the saving light of His truth and love could shine into the recesses of man's blackened heart and rekindle a spark of hope in the soul of men - so that whosoever believes on Him by grace through faith, would be removed from the kingdom of darkness, and placed into the brightness of God's eternal kingdom of light.

Man has been given a free will to accept the light of the glorious gospel of grace, and all who trust in Him for salvation will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life as an abiding presence within. Jesus is the only Way, the only Truth, the only Life, and He is also the only Light. Jesus is the one and only true Light from above that shines His saving light and life into the hearts of all who believe in Him - for salvation is found in no other name, but the wonderful name of JESUS.

My Prayer

Thank You, Father, for giving me the Light of life in Jesus. I pray that I may so concentrate my gaze upon Him day by day, that I may live and move and walk and pray in a manner that is well-pleasing to You. In Jesus’ name I pray, AMEN.

Choose a Verse from John 8