It was the last day of the Feast of Tabernacles, a celebration of God’s provision in the wilderness during the Exodus. Earlier in the day, Jesus had promised the crowd that “rivers of living water” would flow from their hearts if they would only follow and trust in Him (see the previous post). Division arose among the crows about His identity.

Jesus continued teaching later that day, probably in the evening, for He says in John 8:12, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” One of the hallmarks of the Exodus was God leading the Israelites in the wilderness going before them as a pillar of cloud in the day and pillar of fire at night (Exodus 13:21). In Exodus 14:19-20, the pillar of fire moved between them and the pursuing Egyptians, giving light to the Israelites and casting darkness on the Egyptians. Thus we see both judgment and salvation of the Lord.

God’s glory and His presence is often referred to in terms of light. When God first declared that He was “I am that I am”, He was appearing to Moses as light in the form of a burning bush. God is the source of true illumination. The prophet Isaiah recorded, “I form light and create darkness, I make well-being and create calamity, I am the Lord, who does these things.” (Isaiah 45:7). Earlier he had recorded God’s plan for a new covenant to be a light to the nations. (Isaiah 42:6) —“I am the Lord; I have called you in righteousness; I will take you by the hand and keep you; I will give you as a covenant for the people, a light for the nations.” John reminds us in John 3:16-21 that God so loved the world that He sent His Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life . . . the light has come into the world . . . But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”

In John 8:20, we have an interesting statement. John records “These words He spoke in the treasury.” Now, why did John include that statement, just out of the blue? A little research reveals that the temple treasury is in the Court of the Women. Now in the Court of Women stood four 86 foot high lamp stands, each with a golden bowl in which a fire could be hosted, perhaps similar to the bowl of the modern Olympic flame (see the illustration below from the ESV Study Bible linked from http://www.boundless.org/2005/images/articles/1863_complex.jpg). The temple stood as the highest point in Jerusalem and the light of these four lamp stands would be seen from the entire city, reminiscent of the pillar of fire in the Exodus. On this last night of the Feast, a torch parade would take place, ending in the Temple where the four lamp stands would be lit. It was in this setting that Jesus that Jesus spoke of Himself as the Light of the World.

Herod's Temple

Note the four pillars (lamp stands) in the foreground of the Court of Women (click the image to see a larger view)


Jesus did not proclaim Himself just the Light of Israel. He was indeed Israel’s long awaited Messiah. But He was more than that . . . He was the Light of the World. Simeon in performing the traditional sin offering for Mary’s childbirth uncleaness on the 40th day after Jesus’ birth, issued this prayer of Thanksgiving, “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.” (Luke 2:29–32). Paul summarizes the effect of the Jesus; redemption of man in Romans 10:12 – “For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. ”

To a world stumbling about in the darkness of sin, Christ offers Himself as a constant guide. And as followers of Him, we should reflect His light. Matthew 5:14–16 reveals, “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, 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 who is in heaven.”

God has given us a marvelous object lesson in His creation of our relationship to the Son in terms of light. Astronomically, we have two sources of natural light on earth . . . the sun and the moon. But the moon emits no light. There is no light in and of itself. It simply reflects the sun. Some days we have full moons, other new moons, and we’re occasionally treated to a lunar eclipse. What makes the difference in how much light the moon reflects? How much of the world is in the way! Looking at the moon should cause us to think about the sun. Our lives in Christ should cause those who see us to ascribe glory to God. It’s not us. It’s not our light but his.

Is something keeping you from being reflective? The world gets in the way. We get in the way. Even ministry and all kinds of “good things” can get in the way, if our focus is not on Jesus. The solution to being more reflective? Reflect on the relationship, not on your behavior. Hebrews 12:1–2 cautions us, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”