John 8:12 He That Followeth Me Shall Not Walk in Darkness

John 8:12 (KJV)  Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

Our Lord declared that He is the light of the world and all who follow Him shall not walk in darkness but have the light of life. What is this light of life? It speaks of spiritual life, life with God. This life is described as light as opposed to darkness. In other words, Jesus came to give us spiritual life, to deliver us from spiritual darkness, which is alienation from God. And spiritual life is superior to this physical life, it is eternal and its eternal blessing!

This light is Christ Himself, the Giver of life – John 1:4-5 (KJV)  In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. 

Light is also symbolic of holiness while darkness is a picture of sin, misery and death. Jesus says He that followeth Me shall not walk in darkness. We are to acknowledge Jesus as the Saviour, the only Saviour of the world, whom God the Father sent to save men from sin and eternal death.

John 1:12-13 (KJV)  But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. 

Receiving Jesus means acknowledging our sinfulness and believing that in His life and death on the cross and resurrection after three days, our sins were dealt with by Christ on our behalf. Having been freed from the bondage of sin by Christ’s atoning sacrifice, we now walk in the newness of life following Jesus.

This light lastly is God’s Word, the written Word from which we find life in the Living Word, Jesus Christ – Psalm 119:105 (KJV)  NUN. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. 

Amen.