Advent: Light of the World

Jesus said, “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

I walk down a path among Ponderosa Pines. With every step the gravel slowly crunches under my feet. I hold my hand in front of my face and I can barely see its outline. I look down and I feel my feet but I cannot see them. My senses are on full alert. Curiosity massages every step. I listen. I squint. I pause. I reach. I engage the darkness.

We cannot consider light without contemplating its opposite. In the beginning, darkness was over the surface of the deep. And God hovered over it. And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was; and it was good. Since darkness existed before sin entered the world, darkness itself is not evil; but somehow, darkness became a common metaphor for evil and light was equated with goodness and life itself.

There is nothing which produces darkness; it simply exists when all sources of light are removed. Light cannot exist without a source.

The light of a candle comes from the flame and it dispels darkness from the room.

The light of a flashlight comes from the bulb and it chases away darkness from the tent.

The light of the world comes from Jesus and he drives out darkness from the world.

Darkness disappears when light arrives. Light does not appear because darkness has been removed. Darkness is always at the mercy of light. It is not we who must remove our darkness to make room for the Light. It is the light and life of Jesus which ousts our sin.

He is the light of the world—not light for the world or light to the world, but light of the world. Whoever follows him will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life. The light of the world is not a distant, far away light, but rather a light which emanates from everyone who follows Jesus, who lives the light of his life in the world today. Wherever peace, healing and wholeness are breaking into the world, that light is Jesus. The light of the world comes from Jesus through you and me to drive out darkness from the world.

I walk down a path among Ponderosa Pines. With every step the gravel slowly crunches under my feet. I hold my hand in front of my face and I see its familiar lines, wrinkles and scars. I look around at the surrounding mountains and distant lake. My senses are on full alert. Expectancy engages every step. I hesitate. I listen. I squint. I pause. I reach. I walk in the Light.