The Gospel of John: Jesus, The Light of the World

Sunlight shining on blades of grass with morning dew, representing spiritual light and clarity in Jesus.

I recently moved. For almost fifteen years, we had lived in the same house. The closets in that house were afterthoughts, really. Especially my upstairs clothes closet. It was cramped, and somebody forgot the light. Seriously. The closet was a dark abyss. There was no place for my shoes except to be buried on the floor underneath my hanging clothes. 

Sitting in total darkness, my shoes were invisible unless I wore them. Out of sight, out of mind, some might say. In John 1:5, we’re reminded that Jesus, the Light of the World, shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome Him.

Let’s fast forward to my recent move. For the first time ever, I got a walk-in closet; one with lots of shelves and an abundance of light. As I was unpacking and arranging my shoes on the closet shelves, I noticed how dirty and worn they were. I was appalled and thought to myself: “I’ve been wearing these shoes in this condition? I had no idea. Look at that dirt. I need new shoes!”  You see, the darkness of the closet hid the condition of my shoes. Without light, I had no idea of their true condition. Now that I knew the condition of my shoes, I was compelled to take action. It was time to go shopping!

What the Closet Taught Me About Jesus

Woman searching through an overstuffed closet, illustrating hidden mess before light exposes it.

So what do my dirty shoes have to do with Jesus being the Light of the World? Let’s break this down.

Light. Light is energy that travels at a breathtaking speed of 186,282 miles per second. When light reaches our eyes, it causes us to see, making what we couldn’t see without it, visible. Without light, we walk in darkness, and in the darkness, we can’t see the truth.  

Jesus, says He is the light —but what does that really mean?

When Light Reaches the Heart

When the light of Jesus reaches our hearts, it enlightens our conscience, making the truth visible to us. Without Jesus, we cannot see the truth about our spiritual condition—it remains hidden in darkness. Just as light enables us to see physically, the light of Jesus enables us to see spiritually.

Once the light of Jesus illuminates our hearts, we become responsible before God.  There is no going back: we must choose between darkness and light. We either walk into His light—or hide from it in the darkness of the world. Either way, we are without excuse.

Two Responses to the Light

Some, when the Light illuminates their hearts, are so overwhelmed by the goodness and purity of Jesus. They recognize their sin and acknowledge that they fall short of God’s glory. (Romans 3:23). The weight of this revelation causes them to fall on their knees and humble themselves before the Lord.  They believe Jesus is who He says He is – they believe in His name. To those who believe “He gave the right to become children of God….” (John 1:12-13) Salvation is theirs. They see the truth and it sets them free.

Others who see the Light decide that they “love darkness instead of light…” and they will not come into the light for “fear that [their] deeds will be exposed”.  They recognize the light, but in their unbelief, they choose to walk away from the light and live in spiritual darkness.  The truth is hidden from them in the darkness, and they remain captive to the lies.

Will You Walk in the Light?

Bare feet walking through sunlit grass, representing the choice to walk in the light of Jesus and leave darkness behind.

The spiritual light of Jesus, just like the natural light of the sun, shines on everyone.  It is up to us how we respond: will we walk in the light or hide in the darkness? Jesus, the Light of the World,  desires all of us to walk in His Light. Choose His light today.

Jesus, the Light of the World, shines into every dark corner of our lives. He reveals what we could not see on our own—and invites us to walk with Him in truth, freedom, and grace.

If you’ve never stepped into His light, today is the day. And if you’ve been walking with Him for years, ask yourself—are there still places in your heart hiding in the shadows?

Want to explore more from John 1? Start with:

The Word Became Flesh – Discover the mystery of the Incarnation
In the Beginning Was the Word – See Jesus – See Christ as the eternal Word of God
What Does it Mean to Be Born Again – Understand what it truly means to step into the light and receive new life

 

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