The Light of the World

John 8:1–30

The Jewish religious leaders wanted revenge on Jesus. He had exposed their hypocrisy and made them look foolish in front of a large crowd. They wanted to return the favor. They came up with a plan to embarrass Him in a public setting.

They caught a woman who was having an adulterous affair and brought her to the temple, where Jesus was teaching during the Jewish Festival of Shelters. They asked Jesus what He thought they should do with her. This was a trap. Under Jewish law, a person could be stoned to death for adultery. However, the law was rarely enforced.

If Jesus said, “Let her go,” He would be breaking Jewish law. If He said, “Stone her to death,” He would be breaking Roman law because the Romans didn’t allow Jews to carry out religious executions.

Instead of passing judgment on the woman, Jesus turned the tables on her accusers. “All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!” (verse 7 NLT). The accusers had sinned by hatching the plot in the first place. And by bringing the woman to Him publicly to humiliate her. And by ignoring the man who had committed adultery with her. And by not really caring about her. They didn’t even try to argue with Jesus. Instead, they just slipped away, one by one. Defeated. Again.

Jesus resumed His teaching with an amazing claim: “I am the light of the world” (verse 12 NLT). His words had special significance during the Festival of Shelters. The Jewish people celebrated God’s pillar of fire that gave light to the Israelites on their way to the Promised Land. Jesus wanted the people to understand that the same light that guided their ancestors centuries before was available to them.

And it’s available to us too. Anyone who follows Jesus will not walk in darkness. Jesus illuminates the way to God. The way to eternal life. The way to lasting joy, peace, assurance, and fulfillment.

Not everyone appreciates that light. Certainly not the men who had just brought the woman to Jesus. There are certain things people prefer to do under cover of darkness. Things they want to keep hidden. Things that might change people’s opinion of them if they were discovered.

So they resent the light. They stay as far from it as possible, for fear of being exposed. They don’t realize that having their sins exposed is the first step of a life-changing process. When we acknowledge our sins, we can ask God’s forgiveness for them. We can break free from their power over us.

Everyone who chooses to walk in Jesus’ light, to turn away from darkness and put their trust in Him, will be saved. And they will walk with Him forever.

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