Short meditation on John 8:12 for Holden Prayer

 

Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘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

Jesus is speaking these words during the Festival of Booths. This was the biggest festival of the three major festivals during the time of Jesus. It was originally a harvest festival, but it came to have a number of other elements as well. The people would set up booths, or huts, to remember the Hebrews living in the wilderness after they were rescued from slavery in Egypt. … Light was also an important part of this festival. People would dance and sing in the temple courtyards with torches. Four huge menorahs were lit and placed in the court of the women. It was said the light was sufficient to illuminate all Jerusalem.

In Isaiah, Israel is described as “a light to the nations” (42:6) that [the Lord’s] “salvation may reach to the ends of the earth” (49:6). Isaiah encourages the people “Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you” (60:1). “Nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn” (60:3).

This is a continuation of the thread of the blessing of Abraham that is woven through Scripture. God says to Abraham, “… Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing” (Gen 12:1-2); “and by your offspring shall all the nations of the earth gain blessing for themselves, because you have obeyed my voice.” (Gen 22:18). Israel inherits the blessing of Abraham and so hears God’s call through Isaiah, “I will give you as a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth” (Is 49:6).

Light is a major image running throughout John’s gospel. In John’s first chapter, referring to Christ we read, “in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it” (Jn 1:4-5). John describes judgement in the context of people’s response to the light- “And this is the judgement, that the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. For all who do evil hate the light and do not come to the light, so that their deeds may not be exposed. But those who do what is true come to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that their deeds have been done in God” (Jn 3:19-21). … Nicodemus comes to Jesus by night, symbolically, from a place of ignorance. Judas leaves the table and goes out into the darkness to betray Jesus. And in many other places we see John use the images of light and darkness to refer to the work of God and people’s response to God’s work.

John is telling us that Jesus, the Messiah, is the Light to the nations, whose salvation will reach to the ends of the earth (Is 49:6). He is the embodiment of Israel. He is the ultimate inheritor of the blessing of Abraham to be a blessing to all the nations of the earth (Gen 22:18).

Christ says, “I am the light of the world”, …

and in Matthew (Strangely) he says to his disciples, “You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hidden. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven” (Matt 5:14-16). Christ shares his light with us, that we might share it with others (Jn 12:36).

One of my favourite moments in a baptism is when we light the Baptismal Candle. It is lit from the Paschal Candle, which represents the light of the resurrected Christ. The lit baptismal candle is given to the newly baptized as a symbol that they are bearers of the light of Christ, and they are called to shine that light into whatever dark corners of the world they venture into as members of the Body of Christ. As they receive their candle we say to the baptized, “Receive the light of Christ, to show that you have passed from darkness to light. … Let your light so shine before others that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven (BAS).

May we all be so overwhelmed by the blessing of the light of Christ, that we reflect that blessing into the lives around us, as the moon reflects the sun’s light onto the dark world. Amen