"Light"

"Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, 'I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.'"   John 8:12 (NRSV)

On several occasions, my family and I have taken day trips to some of the popular caverns in Virginia.  It certainly is a joy to see the wonders of God's wonderful creation from a different  perspective.  The formations and glassy pools are a marvel to look at.  One of the highlights of the cavern tour, is when the guide will, with warning, turn out all of the lights, leaving the cavern visitors in complete darkness.  Unable to see anything, it is in the best interest of everyone to stay still.  I still remember clutching my children tightly so they would not trip or fall in the darkness.

Darkness can certainly play havoc on the senses.  At the least, one may become disoriented, lose sense of direction, and become lost.  At the most, the darkness can render one completely blind, resulting in injury or death.  This is true not only in the physical realm, but the spiritual realm as well.


In this passage, Jesus proclaims himself to be the "phos" (light) of the world.  "Phos" means to shine or make manifest.    Jesus has come to shine, expose, and illuminate.  It stands to reason that there must be some grand reason why Jesus makes this declaration.  Could it be it is because he is the light that illuminates my understanding of who I am and Whose I am?  Certainly I am capable of figuring things out on my own, right? 


Time and time again, Jesus shows himself to be for us what we cannot be in and of ourselves. It is important to note that Jesus does not merely give us light.  He is the light.  He does not shine a beam.  He is the beam.   As with most lighting, my way becomes clearer and safer when that light is applied to my path.    He is the "light of life".    In him I find "light" for traversing this rough terrain of life.  In his absence, I am left with darkness.  Without him, I may as well be trying to navigate this journey of life much like a cavern visitor would try to find his or her way out of the depths of the earth in pitch black.


Feeling in the dark?  Let him be your light!