“I am the light of the world” – religious rulers
You could have cut the air with a knife. For the onlookers, it would have been better than reality TV in the 21st century, and more significant.
It was a Sabbath morning – a holy day for the Jews. Yet rest, Jesus did not. He arrived at the temple at dawn and began teaching. At dawn?! I value my slow, restful Sunday mornings. (And yes, I realise that Sunday is not the Jewish Sabbath.) That was a different time and place, to be sure, but I’m glad I live in 21st century suburbia.
Can you imagine being part of the crowd which had gathered around Jesus that morning? You strain to hear every word. You ‘ooh’ and ‘aah’ at the theatrics of the conflict between Jesus and the religious leaders. Little do you realise that a response will be required of you and soon. (See John 9:22)
Jesus made his main teaching point for the day. It was this: “I am the light of the world” (John 8:11).
“By whose authority?,” demanded the religious leaders.
That led on to a complicated interchange, increasingly passionate, including accusations from both parties (Jesus and the religious leaders both) about the other party being demonic!
It culminated in Jesus’ claim to be divine “Before Abraham was born, I am,” he announced.
The religious leaders tried to stone him to death in response.
“I am the light of the world” – a blind beggar
Having slipped away from the murderous crowd, Jesus and his disciples came across a blind beggar. There is no record in John of this man seeking Jesus. It was all about Jesus seeking him.
Again, Jesus declared, “I am the light of the world.” He then proceeded with step one of the man’s healing.
Jesus made a mud mask for the blind man’s eyes from his saliva and dirt. But the second part of the miracle was up to the man. Would he obey Jesus’ instructions and go and wash in the particular pool expressly stipulated by Jesus?
He went, he washed, and he could see. Can you imagine seeing colour for the first time? Hurrying home along familiar streets full of unfamiliar sights? Seeing your mother’s face?
Extensive questioning by those finicky Pharisees followed. In his plain telling of truth, the formerly blind man unwittingly answered the Pharisees’ earlier questions of ‘By whose authority?’ “If this man were not from God, he could do nothing,” the young man stated simply, culminating in him being thrown out of the synagogue.
Jesus found him for the second time. Again, he explained who he was, this time identifying himself as the long-ago-prophesied “Son of Man”.
The seeing young man worshipped in response.
“I am the light of the world” – modern men and women“
The events of that Sabbath day long ago held enormous significance for the people of that time and place. But what about us?
We also have a response to make.
The same writer who recorded the events of that eventful Sabbath day so long ago would explain many years later to people who lived far away what this claim of Jesus meant for them. (See 1 John and particularly 1 John 1:5-2:11.) It boils down to making Jesus Lord of our everyday lives, especially impacting our relationships with one another.
I did not go looking for Jesus. Not at the beginning. Jesus found me. Yet although he has done everything necessary for me to have spiritual sight, I still have a part to play. May I not be blinded by a sense of self-importance or culture or learning as the Pharisees in the temple grounds were that morning. May I recognise reality for what it is, my spiritual eyes keen.
And as we ‘walk in the light’, may we ‘shine like stars in the universe as we hold out the word of life’ for the glory of God. (1 John 1:7 and Philippians 2:15b-16a)