Welcome to Day 144 of the “Manna for the Mind” devotional! This series is about finding nourishment in the Word of God to get us through the day. In each devotional, I take a variety of scripture passages (typically 1-3 verses each) and build our understanding of what they teach via their context and connecting scripture. My goal is to help you understand how to be the type of human God created you to be.

Today’s passage is John 8:12. We will dive into Jesus’s “I am the light of the world” passage.

John 8:12

NASB	NLT	VOICE
12 Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world; the one who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.	12 Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.”	12 On another occasion, Jesus spoke to the crowds again. Jesus: I am the light that shines through the cosmos; if you walk with Me, you will thrive in the nourishing light that gives life and will not know darkness.

What does it mean to follow the Light of Life? As a soldier follows his captain, we should follow Jesus as our commander. As we follow the advice of our trusted counselor, we should follow the teachings of Jesus found in Scripture. We follow the source of light to keep us out of the darkness. Like we use a flashlight for physical darkness, we have Christ to guide us through our spiritual darkness.

Isaiah 9:1-2

NASB	NLT	VOICE
1 But there will be no more gloom for her who was in anguish. In earlier times He treated the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali with contempt, but later on He will make it glorious by the way of the sea, on the other side of the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles.	1 Nevertheless, that time of darkness and despair will not go on forever. The land of Zebulun and Naphtali will be humbled, but there will be a time in the future when Galilee of the Gentiles, which lies along the road that runs between the Jordan and the sea, will be filled with glory.	1 But there will be no more gloom for those who knew such hardship. In times past, God humbled the land of Zebulun and Naphtali; later, He will restore the honor and glory to the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee, home of the nations.
2 The people who walk in darkness Will see a great light; Those who live in a dark land, The light will shine on them.	2 The people who walk in darkness will see a great light. For those who live in a land of deep darkness, a light will shine.	2 The people who had been living in darkness have seen a great light. The light of life has shined on those who dwelt in the shadowy darkness of death.

In our gloom and despair, we believe that the chaos of life will never end. Find comfort in this: although God does not always spare us from trouble, he will lead us safely through it if we follow him intentionally and wholeheartedly. In the comfort of the darkness of life, we find God’s guidance, motivation, and energy. The apostle John called Jesus the “true Light.” Jesus called himself “the light of the world.” The lights of the Christmas season should remind us that Jesus is our true light. He came into a spiritually and morally dark world and, through his sacrifice, gave the world a place of light that all people are welcome to. We can show that light to the people around us. We are to reflect that light as God’s creation to the world through how we speak, think, and act.

John 1:4-5

NASB	NLT	VOICE
4 In Him was life, and the life was the Light of mankind.	4 The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone.	4 His breath filled all things with a living, breathing light –
5 And the Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not grasp it.	5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.	5 A light that thrives in the depths of darkness, blazes through murky bottoms. It cannot and will not be quenched.

Why does Jesus’ life bring light to everyone? Because our physical death brings eternal darkness (see more about this in the first three parts of my “What the..?” series to learn more about Gehenna and the eternal darkness), and only his light, Jesus’ eternal life, that lives within us can keep us alive until we reach the Kingdom of Heaven.

Jesus is eternally alive because he is fully God. He came to earth to offer humankind the hope and the light of eternal life. We cannot buy or earn it but receive it as a gift. Jesus gives it only to those who want it – those who choose to live the way God’s citizens will live in his future eternal Kingdom. It is a choice to be in a relationship with God, just as with any relationship you have. You can be connected to someone, like your parents, but choose not to actively involve yourself in the relationship. God created you, which means you are actively connected to him. Still, until you choose to create a partnership and a relationship with him, you will not see the benefits of the true gifts he can offer. That is why a relationship with God is important. “Well, if it’s so important, then why doesn’t God just force it on me or force me to be in a relationship.” Because it is not a relationship when you remove the ability to choose.

The light of Christ is so powerful that the darkness can never be extinguished. Evil has not been so powerful that it swallows up the light of Christ. The chaos of your life has never been so powerful that you cannot get back up again and continue forward with even a sliver of hope. The faith of the size of a mustard seed is all we need to fight against the forces of darkness. Jesus is the creator of life, and his life is the light found in all humans. In this light, we find ourselves as we are – broken people needing a savior. None of us are perfect or are so perfect that we do not need God. There will always be things we struggle with, we are tempted with, we suffer with, and the hope to overcome all that is found in the victory of Jesus.

When we follow Jesus, the true Light, we can avoid walking blindly through the spiritual darkness that sin brings. Jesus lights the path ahead of us, illuminating the truth and clarifying our thoughts so we can see how to live. Inviting the light of Christ into our lives removes the darkness of sin from our lives. This does not mean we will never sin again, but it means that the guilt and shame are washed away, and we are found pure and perfect in the eyes of God. It is the main reason for the sacrifice of Jesus and why it was so important that he followed God’s plan for it.

John 12:35-36

NASB	NLT	VOICE
35 So Jesus said to them, “For a little while longer the Light is among you. Walk while you have the Light, so that darkness will not overtake you; also, the one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going.	35 Jesus replied, “My light will shine for you just a little longer. Walk in the light while you can, so the darkness will not overtake you. Those who walk in the darkness cannot see where they are going.	35 Light is among you, but very soon it will flicker out. Walk as you have the light, and then the darkness will not surround you. Those who walk in darkness do not know where they are going.
36 While you have the Light, believe in the Light, so that you may become sons of Light.” These things Jesus proclaimed, and He went away and hid Himself from them.	36 Put your trust in the light while there is still time; then you will become children of the light.” After saying these things, Jesus went away and was hidden from them.	36 While the light is with you, believe in the light; and you will be reborn as sons and daughters of the light. After speaking these words, Jesus left the people to go to a place of seclusion.

Jesus said he would be with them in person for only a time, and they should benefit from being in his presence while they had it. He would point out how they should walk like a light shining in a dark place. If they walked in his light, they would become “children of the light,” revealing the truth and pointing people to God. As Christians, we are to be Christ’s light bearers and let his light shine through us. Jesus wanted his disciples to hang around him for as long as possible to understand what it meant to live like he did and to believe in the missions and will of God so that when Jesus returned to heaven, they could continue the plan here on earth. We are called on that same path to walk with Jesus and to learn his ways so that the light reflects on others and we can lead them down that same pay.

BREATHE IN:                    Jesus is…

BREATHE OUT:               …the light

Until next time, stay blessed!