“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.’” —John 8:12
When I wake, the house is dark, and the hush of early morning wraps around me. I strike a match, and the wick of a candle flickers to life. The small flame casts a warm glow on my Bible, its light steady against the lingering night. I sit in the quiet, meditating on Jesus’s words: I am the light of the world.
In the dim stillness, I think of how often I try to navigate life in the dark—stumbling through uncertainty, weighed down by fear, tempted by sin. But Jesus’ words invite me into something different: a path illuminated by His presence, where I no longer have to grope for direction.
Light and darkness form a central theme from the opening verses of Scripture. “Let there be light,” God declares in Genesis 1:3, and chaos gives way to order with that command. Centuries later, Isaiah prophesies a coming light: “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light” (Isaiah 9:2). Jesus, the Word made flesh, steps into history to fulfill that promise. “The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world” (John 1:9).
Yet His light is not only about revelation—it is about transformation. Just as the pillar of fire led Israel through the wilderness (Exodus 13:21), so Jesus guides us, leading us away from sin’s shadows into the brilliance of His grace. He calls us to admire the light and walk in it. “You are the light of the world,” He tells His followers in Matthew 5:14, inviting us to reflect His radiance to a darkened world.
As I watch the candle’s glow soften the room, I pray:
Jesus, Light of the World, illumine my path today. Chase away the shadows of sin and fear. Help me to walk in Your light and reflect Your love.
This Lent, may we turn our hearts toward the One who shines in the darkness—and follow Him into the light of life.
