It Starts Small

Yesterday we learned that Jesus is the bread of life. Bread is important and we learn that sunlight is also just as important. All plants, animals, and humans need sunlight. Sunlight is a needed source to live and thrive. Just as we need physical sunlight, there is another source of Light we need: Jesus

Jesus is the Light of the world.

¹² Jesus spoke to them again: “I am the light of the world. Anyone who follows me will never walk in the darkness but will have the light of life.” John 8:12

In the Old Testament the light was associated with Yahweh, the Messiah, and God’s Word. Our world, all of it, is covered in spiritual darkness. Just as we can not live without the sun, we can not live without Jesus as a guide. A preacher once said, what the sun is to the earth, Jesus is to the human heart. Today many people are living in darkness and stumbling around because of blindness. Have you ever found yourself in a dark room? The kind that has no bit of light? YOu can not see where anything is in the room. You run into objects or walls. Jesus offers Himself as the light for us.

Just as the pillar of fire was for the Israelites in the wilderness, Jesus is that light for the whole world. In the Old Testament, the light represented God’s Word and light was associated with God. When Jesus said, I AM the light, the Pharisees knew He was associating Himself and claiming Himself as the Messiah.

We Must follow the Light

What does it mean we must follow Jesus?

The Greek verb for follow is akoloutheo. It has a couple meanings. The first leans towards a military term when a soldier follows a superior. As he leads the soldier follows faithfully. Jesus is our captain and we are His soldiers. The term is also used when a servant is always ready to serve his master. As Christians, we must always be ready to serve our Master, Christ. It also describes someone who takes wise counsel. Jesus is the number one and only source of counsel we should seek.

We will not walk in darkness

When we chose to follow Jesus, we do not walk in the darkness, but have the light of life. A flower cannot blossom without light. Similarly, we can not live without the Son’s Light. Jesus, the Light, dispels the darkness of of falsehood, the darkness of sin, the darkness of sorrow, and the darkness of death. Following Jesus is not an occasional thing. We must keep following him in ALL we do.

As we follow Him, we are a reflection of His light to others.

¹² As a shepherd looks for his sheep on the day he is among his scattered flock, so I will look for my flock. I will rescue them from all the places where they have been scattered on a day of clouds and total darkness. ¹³ I will bring them out from the peoples, gather them from the countries, and bring them to their own soil. I will shepherd them on the mountains of Israel, in the ravines, and in all the inhabited places of the land. ¹⁴ I will tend them in good pasture, and their grazing place will be on Israel’s lofty mountains. There they will lie down in a good grazing place; they will feed in rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. ¹⁵ I will tend my flock and let them lie down. This is the declaration of the Lord God. Ezekiel 34:12-15

I AM who I AM
I AM: the Bread of Life
I AM: the Light of the World
I AM: the Door
I AM: the Good Shepherd
I AM: the Resurrection and Life
I AM: the Way, the Truth, Life
I AM: the True Vine