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Portraits of
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Throughout the four Gospel accounts Jesus speaks of himself as the light. "I am the light of the world," Jesus said, "he who follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life," (John 8:12). "As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world," (John 9:5). "I have come as light into the world, that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness," (John 12:46).
However, when we understand the setting in which Jesus made his great claim of being the Light of the world, we will have a far greater appreciation of its immense beauty and profound significance.
According to the gospel of John, Jesus came to Jerusalem for the Feast of Tabernacles (John 7:2, 10); and it was at the close of the first day of this great Feast that a most dramatic ceremony took place within the Temple grounds. As the evening sun was setting, thousands of devout worshippers gathered in the area of the Temple known as the Court of the Women until it was finally filled to capacity. Within this court there were four great candelabras, each one with four large, magnificent golden bowls filled with fresh oil. When darkness finally came over the ancient city, a signal was given for four young men of priestly lineage to walk forward and light the great candelabras. Suddenly the darkness of the night was pierced with such a brilliant light that it was said to illuminate every street and courtyard in the city of Jerusalem. As the worshippers gazed at the dazzling lights, their hearts were filled with great joy over the significance of this wonderful moment.
The Feast of Tabernacles had its setting in the rich history of Israel's past. One particular meaning traces itself back to the journeys of the children of Israel through the wilderness. This great celebration was called the Feast of Tabernacles because throughout its seven days, the people lived in small shelters, or "tabernacles," made of branches to remind them of the days when their ancestors had no houses, but lived in tents in the wilderness. During that period of their history, the children of Israel were guided through the wilderness by a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night (Exodus 13:21). The blazing light from the Temple's candelabras, piercing through the darkness of the night, brought to the memory of these worshippers the light which guided their ancestors through those years of wandering in the wilderness.
But there was another great significance to this dramatic ceremony. On the day in which the Tabernacle was dedicated in the wilderness (Numbers 9:15-22), the glory of Jehovah came to rest on that tent-like structure in the form of a brilliant, radiant cloud. Later, when the great Temple of Solomon was dedicated (1 Kings 8:10-11; 2 Chronicles 5:13-14), the same radiant cloud rested on the Temple. The light which blazed from the Temple courts on the Feast of Tabernacles reminded the people of the glory of God which dwelled among them.
And finally, that blazing light brought to memory the saying of Isaiah. "The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; they that dwell in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shined," (Isaiah 9:2). Indeed, Jehovah had been Israel's salvation, their only source of light during their moments of greatest darkness. This too was on the minds of the thousands of worshippers crowded into the Court of the Women, as their hearts filled with great joy upon seeing the brilliant flames of light dispel the darkness of night.
Jesus could not have chosen a more dramatic moment to make his great claim of being the Light of the world. Some have suggested that this statement of Jesus may very well have been made as he taught in the area of the Court of the Women known as the Treasury, and at the very moment in which the radiant light pierced through the darkness and brought comfort and hope to the worshippers of Jehovah. But regardless of the exact moment at which Jesus made his claim, no one misunderstood the tremendous significance of his words.
In claiming to be the Light of the World, Jesus was laying claim to divinity. He was claiming to be the light which guides men through the wilderness of this world, and brings them to the ultimate land of promised rest. He was claiming to be the radiant glory of Jehovah, or as the Hebrew writer records, "the brightness of his glory" (Hebrews 1:3), and therefore the very presence of Jehovah among his people. And finally, Jesus was claiming to be the light of Jehovah's salvation, shining forth to those who are walking in the darkness of sins.
However, there are other great parallels to this claim of Jesus.
For example, light is capable of revealing things which hide in darkness. Without question, Jesus is capable of revealing men for what they really are. This is the very reason why those whose deeds are evil fear the light and hate Jesus (John 3:19-21). Before anyone can awaken the desire for goodness and purity in their lives, the horror of their sins must first be revealed in the light of Jesus Christ, no matter how bitterly painful and humiliating that revelation may be.
Light is also the greatest guide in the world. If a person has light to illuminate their path, they do not have to fear stumbling in the darkness. Jesus is the light which allows us to see our way to God (John 11:9).
There are also certain limitations to light. The daytime has only a certain number of hours before the darkness finally comes. Because of this, there are certain things that must be done while we still have the light. A person must accept and obey Jesus while they still have the opportunity to do so (John 12:35-37).
There are close relationships between light and life. Growth depends on light. No plant will grow, no flower will blossom, and no fruit will ripen if it is deprived of the light of the sun. Life and light are therefore inseparable. Jesus is the only one in whom we can find life, and that life is the light of men (John 1:4).
And finally, there is a certain unconquerable quality in light. Light and darkness stand forever in opposition to each other. But the wonderful thing about light is that although there are many things which can put it out, darkness by itself can never extinguish it. Jesus is the light which darkness can never overcome.
Therefore, it is simple to see why Jesus made this great proclamation of being the Light of the World, for it is only by him that we can find our way through the darkness to finally arrive in the presence of God. |
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