John 3:12, I Am the Light of the World
12 Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."
The Old Testament is filled with symbolic images of light. There is the pillar of fire in Exodus 13, David’s assertion that “the Lord is my light” in Psalm 27, the promise in Isaiah 49:6 that the Servant of the Lord will be a light for the Gentiles. Additionally, there is this incredible prophecy from Zechariah (14:7c-9):
Then the Lord my God will come, and all the holy ones with him. On that day there shall be no light, cold, or frost. And there shall be a unique day, which is known to the Lord, neither day nor night, but at evening time there shall be light. On that day living waters shall flow out from Jerusalem, half of them to the eastern sea and half of them to the western sea. It shall continue in summer as in winter. And the Lord will be king over all the earth. On that day the Lord will be one and his name one.
The two symbols of the feast of Tabernacles come together in this prophetic passage, which may have even been read as part of the temple liturgy during the feast. The first symbol was the bowl of water poured. Here is the second symbol: light.
In the court of women in the temple were four golden lampstands that were lit during the feast with singing and dancing in the celebration of this feast. Each night of the feast this continued with the light from the temple illuminating the city. On the last night when the lights were at last extinguished, Jesus declares, “I am the light of the world.”
We can see in Jesus the fulfilment of this prophecy as he claims to be the source of living waters and the light of the world. The symbolic light that gave light to the people and led them in worship in Jesus finds an eternal, everlasting reality. He is the true light that will guide those who follow him, leading them out of the darkness and into real life. This claim changes the world and the people of God. It is perhaps the boldest claim Jesus has yet to make in public, especially in the temple where God has met with his people for centuries. What will be the response of the people? Of the leaders? Come back tomorrow and see.
Heavenly Father, whose Son Jesus is the true light of the word: Grant that we, illumined by your Word and enlivened with your Spirit, may shine with the radiance of Christ’s glory, that he may be known, worshiped, and obeyed to the ends of the earth for the sake of his glory. Amen.