INTRODUCING JESUS - I AM THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD.

                                FOLLOWING THE LIGHT

"In Him was life, and that life was the LIGHT of all people. THE LIGHT SHINES IN THE DARKNESS, but the darkness has not understood it.......that was the TRUE LIGHT which GIVES LIGHT TO EVERY MAN coming into the world." John 1:4,5&9 (NKJV)

Do you remember the old English expressions: "LIGHT at the end of the tunnel". It is an "expression of hope". John tells us that Jesus is a LIGHT for all men. He was sent by His Father, to bring LIGHT into our world. 

"Light is a synonym of GOODNESS AND TRUTH. A little candle can light a whole room full of darkness, and will not be dimmed by it. Light is stronger than darkness." Nicky Gumbel

1) LIGHT OF THE WORLD

"I AM THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. He who follows me shall not walk (stumble) in darkness, but have the LIGHT OF LIFE (it will flood your path)" John 8:12 (NKJV/MSG)

When darkness overwhelms us, we can become anxious or depressed. But we have a promise from the Lord - he will always be with us, to light our path. When you turn to Jesus, He can lead us out of darkness. If we follow the Lord, we have the"light of life". 

Like the Samaritan woman at the well, we too have probably been in dark places. For me, it has been a lot of grief, and also physical health. Jesus said two things to her, and they were just what she needed to hear. 

1) He did not condemn her, but He simply gave her the chance to "turn her life around", and to receive His GRACE AND MERCY. 

2) He called her into a "new life in His light". 

We too can be called to this NEW LIFE. He promises us HIS LIGHT IN THE WORLD - "a whole beautiful LIFE AHEAD.

"LIGHT is often associated with LIFE AND VITALITY. Jesus' declaration as the LIGHT OF THE WORLD, was the source of the HOLYN SPIRIT. It is important to follow Jesus as His PATH TO SALVATION. Jesus wanted His followers to be "LIGHT IN THE WORLD". They needed to reflect HIS LIGHT through their actions, illuminating the world around them."  John Piper 

2) OUR SAVIOUR

"For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to SAVE THE WORLD THROUGH HIM." John 3:17  (NIV)

"Many Samaritans of that city believed in HIM, because of the word of the woman who testified, "He told me all that I did"......Many more believed because of HIS WORD. Now we believe, not because of what you said, for we ourselves have heard HIM and we know that He indeed the CHRIST, THE SAVIOUR OF THE WORLD." John 4:39, 41&42 (NIV)

"SALVATION is found in no one else, for there is no other name under Heaven, given to men, by which WE MUST BE SAVED." Acts 4:12 (NIV)

Jesus came to SAVE everyone - Jews and Gentiles. Nicodemus came to see Jesus one night, to find out more about Him. He was a faithful servant, a good man. He was a Pharisee a prominent religious leader, a member of the Sanhedrin. He revered the LAW and loved reading the WORD of GOD. 

Jesus was "breaking down the walls of division" between the Jews and Gentiles (Samaritans). He wanted them all to be SAVED. Jesus Himself brought a message of salvation to all. Many of the Samaritans believed in Jesus because of the woman's testimony. We don't need to know the name of this Samaritan woman, but we do need to know that, like is, SHE WAS LOVED.  The people were "amazed by her transformation"; but Jesus' teaching was so powerful, and many Samaritans believed that it "pointed to Jesus' identity as the Saviour of the world". 

Peter also preached about JESUS' SALVATION. He was one of Jesus' followers, and he was told by Jesus, that he would be a leader in the Church, and a LIGHT for all God's children - including us!

                         

"Lord, thank you for the example of Jesus. Help me to LIVE IN THE LIGHT.... Help me to confront darkness, "only the LIGHT can drive out hate and darkness." Nicky Gumbel/Martin Luther King

"Holy Bible - New King James Version.", 1982, Thomas Nelson

"Holy Bible - New International Version", 2011, Biblica

"The Bible: Contemporary Language", 2018, Eugene H Peterson, NavPress/Tyndale House Publishers

GUMBEL, Nicky, 2025, "The Bible: Classic Version - It's Possible with God", Alpha/You Version

PIPER, John , 2011, "The Person of Christ - I am the Light of the World", desiringGod.com

"Jesus is the Light of the World.",2025, Bible Song Kids/You Tube

"My Jesus, My Saviour", 2006, Darlene Zschech (Composer/Performer), musixmatch/You Tube