JUNE 1, 2015
Light in the
Darkness
I
have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not
abide in darkness. John 12:46
Read:
John
12:42-50
During a trip to Peru,
I visited one of the many caves found throughout that mountainous country. Our
guide told us that this particular cave had already been explored to a depth of
9 miles—and it went even deeper. We saw fascinating bats, nocturnal birds, and
interesting rock formations. Before long, however, the darkness of the cave
became unnerving—almost suffocating. I was greatly relieved when we returned to
the surface and the light of day.
That experience was a stark
reminder of how oppressive darkness can be and how much we need light. We live
in a world made dark by sin—a world that has turned against its Creator. And we
need the Light.
Jesus, who came to
restore all of creation—including humanity—to its intended place referred to
Himself as that “light” (John 8:12). “I
have come as a light into the world,” He said, “that whoever believes in Me
should not abide in darkness” (12:46).
In Him, we not only have the light
of salvation but the only light by which we can find our way—His way—through
our world’s spiritual darkness.
How have you seen
God’s light displayed in our broken world? In what ways have you shared His
light?
When we walk in the Light, we
won’t stumble in the darkness.
INSIGHT:
The imagery of Jesus as light (v.
46) is the key feature of today's text, but it is also a key feature in the entire
gospel of John. In fact, John uses the word light to describe
Jesus twenty times, clustered into several key parts of the book: chapter 1
(six times), chapter 3 (five times), chapters 8–9 (three times), and chapter 12
(six times). In each instance, except for references in chapter 1, Jesus is the
one speaking, using light as a self-portrait.
Source: Our Daily Bread 2012