John 8:12 – 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.
Under the dispensation of Grace—the present era where salvation is offered freely through faith in Jesus Christ, apart from works of the law.
If you’ve ever experienced pitch-blackness for an extended amount of time, you know it can bring an unsettled, claustrophobic feeling that’s hard to endure for long.
Back when Jesus walked the earth, there was no electricity, leaving a stark contrast between night and day, between darkness and light.
In this Grace dispensation, Jesus isn’t just the Light to the Jews, or a prophet among many—He is the universal light and final revelation of God’s love and truth to all humanity. Through Grace, Christ’s light is not earned; it is ‘given’—to anyone who believes (Ephesians 2:8-9). It is available to both the righteous and the sinner.
Recorded in the gospel of John is Jesus giving seven “I am” statements, one of which says: “…‘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 NIV
Under the dispensation of Grace, John 8:12 is a powerful reminder that Jesus is our light not because we deserve it, but because Grace brought Him to us. Our hearts are illuminated by the presence of God. Our walk with Him is secure, not by legalism, but by relationship. We are no longer in darkness—we are children of light (Ephesians 5:8).
Jesus didn’t say He had a light or could shine a light, but “I am the light”—which is a pretty bold claim, if you think about it. It would be arrogant and ridiculous to say that unless, of course, it were true. Unless, of course, Jesus was God in the flesh, and the true light of the world.
The significance of light in darkness is self-evident and yet difficult to fully articulate. It means vision instead of blindness, truth instead of confusion, hope instead of despair.
And when Jesus fulfilled those Old Testament prophecies of a coming Savior, everything became clearer.
So what does this truth mean for us? For you?
If you’re feeling lost, disoriented, or stuck in the dark, start by saying His name: Jesus. You can take another step too, by stepping toward Him—the light. After all, Jesus said that whoever follows Him “will never walk in darkness.” We don’t have to stumble around in the dark because we have the light of the world. We have the light that leads to life with us at all times.
The life we now live, we live ‘by faith in the Son of God’, who loved us and gave Himself for us (Galatians 2:20).Amen
