JESUS: THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD

Living Stones Series: First Published in All Around Old Bridge Publication – December 2024, Pastor Lloyd Pulley

Light is necessary to see. Jesus said, "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).

Jesus came as the Light to first expose humanity's depraved moral state. John 3:19-21 explains, "Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil." While the present culture dances to the tune of "follow your heart," Jesus exposes the darkness in the heart of humanity as desperately evil (Jeremiah 17:9), challenging us to confess and repent of sin and respond to His offer of grace.

But Jesus came into the world not to condemn the world, but to save it (John 3:17). He came to reveal the greatness of God's love, patience, and kindness by His coming as a babe in a manger to eventually die a cruel death to rescue us from that evil, sinful heart. The Light of His love shone brightest as He bore humanity's sin, demonstrating a sacrificial love unparalleled in history (Romans 5:8).

Jesus shined forth a perfect life and called His followers to be lights in the world (Matthew 5:14-16). Today, those who uphold unchanging biblical truth shine His Light. But as human culture continues to decline morally, those who believe in Him are labeled extremists like Jesus and persecuted and canceled as He was.

Jesus' Light empowers us to shine, not with condemnation, but with grace and love, inviting others out of darkness and into His marvelous Light (1 Peter 2:9). May the season of Christmas bring to mind the love and kindness of God who gave His best gift – the Light of the world that we might be saved!