Today we explore one of Jesus' most profound declarations. We'll discover what it truly means for him to be the
light of the world, witness the varied responses of those who heard his words, and examine our own relationship
with sin.
John 8:12-38
Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness,
but will have the light of life.” So the Pharisees said to him, “You are bearing witness about yourself; your
testimony is not true.” Jesus answered, “Even if I do bear witness about myself, my testimony is true, for I
know where I came from and where I am going, but you do not know where I come from or where I am going. You
judge according to the flesh; I judge no one. Yet even if I do judge, my judgment is true, for it is not I alone
who judge, but I and the Father who sent me. In your Law it is written that the testimony of two people is true.
I am the one who bears witness about myself, and the Father who sent me bears witness about me.” They said to
him therefore, “Where is your Father?” Jesus answered, “You know neither me nor my Father. If you knew me, you
would know my Father also.” These words he spoke in the treasury, as he taught in the temple; but no one
arrested him, because his hour had not yet come. So he said to them again, “I am going away, and you will seek
me, and you will die in your sin. Where I am going, you cannot come.” So the Jews said, “Will he kill himself,
since he says, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come’?” He said to them, “You are from below; I am from above. You
are of this world; I am not of this world. I told you that you would die in your sins, for unless you believe
that I am he you will die in your sins.” So they said to him, “Who are you?” Jesus said to them, “Just what I
have been telling you from the beginning. I have much to say about you and much to judge, but he who sent me is
true, and I declare to the world what I have heard from him.” They did not understand that he had been speaking
to them about the Father. So Jesus said to them, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know
that I am he, and that I do nothing on my own authority, but speak just as the Father taught me. And he who sent
me is with me. He has not left me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to him.” As he was saying
these things, many believed in him. So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word,
you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” They answered him,
“We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, ‘You will become
free’?” Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. The
slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be
free indeed. I know that you are offspring of Abraham; yet you seek to kill me because my word finds no place in
you. I speak of what I have seen with my Father, and you do what you have heard from your father.”
I AM
The Only Light
The Challenge
God's Timing
Some Believe
Slaves to Sin
Where do you find your sense of worth—feelings, society, or God's truth revealed in
scripture?
How does our culture's view of human value differ from what the Bible teaches about our
identity?
What did Jesus mean when he called himself 'the light of the world,' and why is this
significant?
What spiritual darkness has Jesus come to rescue us from, and how does it manifest in
our lives?
Consider your life's direction—are you moving closer to Jesus or drifting away from
him?
What does it look like to truly abide in Jesus' teachings, and how can you tell if
you're doing so?
Are you enslaved by sin or walking in freedom? What evidence in your life confirms your
answer?
Let your heart overflow with gratitude for Jesus Christ, the radiant light who entered our sin-sick world. Ask
the Father to illuminate your path, that you might walk confidently in his light and experience the profound
freedom from sin that he offers.
The Meaning of "I AM"
The "I AM" Sayings of Jesus
What Did Jesus Mean, "I Am the Light of the World"?
"If You Abide in My Word, You Are Truly My Disciples"
Slaves to Sin or Slaves to God?
Set Free from Sin
I Am the Light of the World
The Light of the World
A Plan for Dying in Your Sins
If My Words Abide in You
Are You Struggling Against Sin or a Slave of Sin?