John 8:12 (ESV)
“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.’”
DEVOTIONAL
Imagine standing in complete darkness. You can’t see your surroundings, you don’t know where to go next, and even familiar places feel unfamiliar. That’s what life without Christ is like. It’s not just difficult—it’s disorienting.
When Jesus says, “I am the light of the world,” He isn’t just offering guidance—He’s offering Himself. He doesn’t hand us a flashlight and send us on our way. He is the light. He doesn’t show us a better life from a distance; He enters our world and says, “Walk with Me.”
This moment in John’s Gospel takes place during the Feast of Tabernacles, a celebration where giant lamps lit up the temple to remember how God led Israel through the wilderness with a pillar of fire. Right there, with those glowing symbols in view, Jesus steps forward and says, essentially, “That light you remember? It pointed to Me.”
To follow Jesus is to let go of the illusion that we can figure things out on our own. It’s to admit we don’t see clearly apart from Him. But as we stay close to Him, His light changes how we see everything—ourselves, others, our purpose, even our pain.
Still, not everyone wants the light. Sometimes we avoid it—maybe out of fear, maybe out of habit. Jesus knew that, too. In John 3:19, He says people often choose the shadows because the light exposes things we’d rather keep hidden. But here’s the grace: Jesus doesn’t expose us to shame us—He shines His light to heal us.
So today, ask yourself: Am I walking with Jesus, or am I just glancing at Him from a distance? Are there areas of my life I’m keeping in the dark? The invitation is simple: come into the light. Not to impress God, but to be with Him. That’s where life really begins.
Prayer
Lord Jesus,
Thank You for being more than a teacher or example. Thank You for being the Light—the One who reveals what’s true and gives us hope when we’re unsure where to turn.
Help me not to hide from You. I know there are places in my heart that still resist Your light. Would You meet me there with patience and grace? Give me courage to follow You, even when it means letting go of things I once trusted in.
Shine through me, not so others see me, but so they might be drawn to You. Keep me close to You, because I know that’s where life is found.
In Your name I pray,
Amen.