David Bahn – Reflections

John 8:12

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.”

See John 8:12-20 below

I had an interesting and on-going conversation with a family member several years ago. He contended that Jesus had come into the world to show us how to live; that he was primarily our example. This teaching took the cross out of the equation; sin was a problem, but not the fundamental problem. In essence we simply needed to learn how to get along and treat one another kindly. He would quote passages such as John 8:12 to make his point.

It is proper for us to teach others kindly, and Jesus is in fact an example for us. When we walk in the light of Christ we will have the light of life. But the purpose of Jesus’ life – even his destiny was to die as the “lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” (cf. John 1:29) That reality is strongly hinted at in the closing words of this passage:

These words he spoke in the treasury, as he taught in the temple; but no one arrested him, because his hour had not yet come. (John 8:20)

Jesus came into the world to seek and save the lost. He did this by shining the light of grace and truth on people, sin, the devil, and God. That led him to the cross, and in his hour he bore witness to the Father’s love for the world, and his love for the Father and for us. He calls us to walk in the light of life. That should make a difference for us who know his salvation, who have been forgiven of their sins. We honor his death whenever we witness to God’s love, act kindly toward others, and love and serve our neighbor.

John 8:12-20

 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.” ¹³So the Pharisees said to him, “You are bearing witness about yourself; your testimony is not true.” ¹⁴Jesus answered, “Even if I do bear witness about myself, my testimony is true, for I know where I came from and where I am going, but you do not know where I come from or where I am going. ¹⁵ You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one. ¹⁶Yet even if I do judge, my judgment is true, for it is not I alone who judge, but I and the Father who sent me. ¹⁷ In your Law it is written that the testimony of two people is true. ¹⁸I am the one who bears witness about myself, and the Father who sent me bears witness about me.” ¹⁹They said to him therefore, “Where is your Father?” Jesus answered, “You know neither me nor my Father. If you knew me, you would know my Father also.” ²⁰These words he spoke in the treasury, as he taught in the temple; but no one arrested him, because his hour had not yet come.