Bible study of the use of “light” in John’s gospel

In him was life, and that life was the light of men. – John 1:4

Jesus is life; God is the bringer of life who created the world, the stars and the heavens, the animals and the first human life. And Jesus follows in His Father’s footsteps, becoming instead the bringer of eternal life. This verse suggests that Jesus came as one of us, a human, to live life similarly to us but die for us. Notice that when Jesus died, the skies turned dark. Yet when Jesus came back, it was light. Jesus had made the sacrifice for the world, and many accepted the light. The life Jesus gave is the light in us. We can only live in true light because of what He has done for us. Because if we belong to Jesus, we do not belong to the world; we belong to Jesus, who took away our sin and moved us into the light. 1 John 2:15 says: “Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you.” Without light you cannot see, just as without Jesus you cannot live forever in the light. So consider, “Jesus, light of the world” to be instead, “Jesus, light of the world, yet not from the world. Saving the world, brightening the world, restoring the world.”

The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it. – John 1:5

Jesus is a light shining in a dark world, and seeing as Jesus is not of the world and is a totally different concept, the world cannot understand or accept Him. Instead of being welcome, the light seems blinding, as it is too much to cope with. And if we live with the Holy Spirit in us, sometimes our ideas and opinions are thrown aside and laughed at. But do not lose your faith, because your faith is what has saved you. The world just finds it hard to see; yet the light is shining right at them. True understanding involves knowing, which involves believing. This is hard for a lot of people to grasp because how can they possibly believe something new and perhaps strange, when they have never seen it for themselves? The truth is, the light is right in front of their eyes – they just need to open them. The Holy Spirit in many Christians today is proof of a shining light in the world’s darkness. And when we plug in our light and speak to God in tongues for example, Satan cannot understand what we are saying. That’s how intense the separation of darkness and light really is. When there is light, there is no room for darkness. And for many people that is a sacrifice – but nothing close to the sacrifice Jesus made for us.

He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light – John 1:7-8

This talks of John the Baptist, Jesus’ cousin. He came to witness Jesus as a real man, and like we can give testimonies of what God has done for us in our lives, likewise John was to do the same. With his testimony, many people were saved. I believe that if we ask Him, God can help us through hard times. And we can use those times to look back and say, “God changed my life… and He can change yours too.” He witnessed the light, but was not the light, because the Holy Spirit has not yet come upon God’s people, and also he wasn’t holy. He was able to preach about Jesus in all aspects of his life, and even by baptizing people. Faith in action. I believe that we need to be like John, be a witness to what God has done for us – open our own eyes and step into the light, rubbing them to see clearer. And when we see clearer, we can use our faith and knowledge to step out and baptize others with the Word of God, bringing many to salvation in Jesus Christ. Moving the shadows and blockages and helping people step into the light. When it says all men, it means do not be judgemental or choose. The Word is for everyone. Salvation is for everyone. Jesus paid much too high a price for us to pick and choose. When the sun comes up, ultimately it is up to us individually to choose whether to go out into the light or stay in the dark with the curtains shut. Unless you did that to someone – which I’m sure is a criminal offence. Well it’s worse than that when it’s literally a matter of eternal life or death. It’s your choice. Give them a choice too.

The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world. – John 1:9

Jesus is the true light. We can fill our lives with false comforters – there are many I could list – but none will satisfy when the Day of Judgement comes. No false comforter will save you then. The false lights will be darkness compared to the light of Jesus. Also because all false comforters are not of God and are therefore of the world, which means involving with them is separation from God. And Jesus gives light to every man; again it’s our choice as to whether to take the light or not. But the alternative is once again darkness. He came into the world, but was not of the world. There is a difference. We should be Christ-like in choosing to be not of the world, but to impact the world through bringing light into especially dark situations and communities. When Jesus came into the world, He was the perfect example of the fact we have a choice. He gave up all He had to choose life for us, and He was tempted with everything but never once sinned. This shows us that with the Spirit in us, we also have the choice to give up everything we have in the world and choose Jesus, eternal life and eternity with God in Heaven, or choose to be a slave for sin. That involves no reward, just harm. Jesus came to take all our punishment and wounds, so why inflict them on yourself when Jesus took the pain for you? And Jesus’ light cannot be lost – i.e. if you put it down and ignore it, it will keep coming up in random places. Because Christians are all over the place, and the Spirit in them is light through Jesus. Therefore, although you may have more than one chance to take hold of the light, you never know when your last chance will be. So take hold, and let the light overflow into your heart. Be a light for others around you.

This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. – John 3:19

The judgement has been made by God – Jesus was the ultimate sacrifice and bringer of salvation for all who choose it, but it is still human nature to love turning away to other things, because we sin and are tempted. We need to exercise self-control, a fruit of the Spirit that remains very important. Jesus did not refuse to die; imagine what that must have been like (Isaiah 53). Yet not once did He resist His father’s will. We should be the same, do not resist God’s will – instead, take it on board and use your life to glorify God in every aspect of your life. Thank God for all He has blessed you with, keep close to Him, and His plan for you will unfold. Think about how many people you see each day. How many of those people could you share Jesus with? A lot of these people need salvation. And instead of choosing the world instead of Jesus, the darkness instead of light, the pride instead of love, choose to love your neighbour and you can only truly do this by telling them about Jesus. God is love – now the phrase “sharing the love” takes a new meaning, eh? When men love darkness, they do not love God, which is the most important thing of all. It’s called missing the point. If you turn away from God, you are choosing to take your worldly possessions onto the streets instead of the home God has provided for you. And when the possessions go all rotten, what do you have then? You can choose then to go back and the Father will rejoice. (Luke 15:11-31) The warm, lit home is much more appealing than the dark, dangerous streets. Agreed? And if we are like the other son and are close to the Father, we should not go all green-eyed monster, but instead, keep on loving our brothers and sisters in Christ, and rejoice with God. None of us are perfect. That is why Jesus had to die.

Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. – John 3:20 Picture a vampire. They are stereotypically foul creatures that live in coffins and cannot stand the light. That is like us if we turn from Jesus. Eternal death and darkness. Sound appealing? Not to me. Some people are ashamed, though, to come into the light because they are too scared to be shamed and exposed to the truth behind their worldly deeds. Although they have a fair point, and the world may condemn them, it is the very world that brought them this far in the first place. Yet it is also the world Jesus overcame and took our sin from. And fear, aside from fear of God – which is a different kind of fear, is not from God. Along with doubt, fear is from the world, and from Satan: darkness himself. However, we have Jesus. When you shine light into a dark place, it is instantly lit up – nothing can prevent that. It’s the same with Jesus. God’s will is to be done. Therefore it shall happen. And if your deeds are exposed, Jesus came into the world to save it not condemn it. He took the punishment each of us deserves. I mean, who is not a sinner apart from Jesus? Who can cast that first stone? Jesus said that – we should follow His attitude. Ultimately, we choose our own punishments through the path we choose to take. More importantly, where it ends up. We could take the easy path but end in destruction. Choose the thorny path, clear the way through slowly and end up with Jesus. Step into the light, and let God cleanse you and make you pure. If it’s too dark to see the dirt, how can you dust yourself off? (Isaiah 1:18) God takes away all your shame, if you admit to it and ask for forgiveness. Repent, and your sins shall be washed away.

But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God." – John 3:21

If you live by God’s word, you are stepping into the light, and then you can see clearly what God is doing, how Jesus is moving in society both on a general and more personal level. If you are saved, you are an example to others of how amazing God’s love is, and if you humble yourself, people will see that anyone can receive His love, not just the fortunate, rich or people of certain race. One size fits all. And notice, through God. Not through the world. This is God’s doing. The light. No shadows present, because the light is simply so bright that it eradicates all hint of shadow. And we have to move in God’s word and plan for us to glorify God’s name. We cannot sit and say “Jesus loves you” to an empty room by the television screen. We need to get up, go out and meet people. And show God’s love to them. Even through helping them, kind words, a compliment, a hug, a smile – all of these things God blessed you with the ability to do. So why hold back? Jesus certainly didn’t. Although He was criticised and we can expect judgement too, God’s judgment is far more important, and rewarding, than that of any other human. Also, people can be kind and set out to do good, but if they do not know God, it is for nothing. It saves peoples lives in their current situation, but it saves no one for eternity. Just as Jesus was the ultimate solution, be the aid to those who need it by bringing God’s agape love, not just worldly necessities. I love the fact that this verse is John 3:21 because it’s a verse stating that the light needs to be put into action – use your torch when it’s dark, my friends. 3,2,1… go!

John was a lamp that burned and gave light, and you chose for a time to enjoy his light. – John 5:35

At the time John the Baptist was preaching, God’s light shone in his words and actions, and in his deep faith in Jesus. Although we can choose to listen to many great preachers, and hold on to their words and teachings, the thing we must do most is hold on to God’s word, for His light is brightest, and most direct and accurate. People can make mistakes; God cannot. So although you can use “temporary light” which is sufficient for the time being, do not hold on to these words because only God is the bringer of true light. Also, it again is a choice that we make. Who we listen to, whom we meet with and whose word we take as the truth. Truth is, you can only really trust God. Some people do wrong on purpose, speak lies that are to destroy people; others do it subconsciously or by accident. But God will never lie or put you down, because He has a special place for you in His heart, a deep love for you that has no match in the universe. Yes, another word: enjoy. God didn’t give us a set of rules, rules, and rules. Instead, He asks us to help Him reach out to His children, and promises us joy and blessing. So it’s not duty, it’s love. God chose you to do something special. A significant mission – that will make you happy. And when you burn light, energy is released. You, likewise, may tire and become weary, but let God lift your burdens and worries away from you, so you can be full of life and energy like He intended. Also heat is released, suggesting “heated discussions” and disagreement. Just trust in the Lord, let him fuel you up with the truth, and the truth will set you free.

[ The Validity of Jesus' Testimony ] When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." – John 8:12

Jesus spoke directly to the people, but we must understand that we too are His people. When He talks, we listen. He is the light of the world, He set us free and placed us out of the shadows to be seen, saved, and cleansed in His name. We are placed in the middle of things to shine like stars and be noticed as a light. If you follow Jesus, you will be led down a lit path that leads to eternal life in Heaven, and you will be rescued from the dark path, which leads in the opposite direction. At a crossroads in your life? Light path or dark path? I’m going with light. In a dark path you can lose your footing, fall, trip up, get hurt and get lost. But in a light path you know where you are going. You can see where you are being taken. And you can see the beauty and radiant light of the One you are following. He addresses you directly to follow Him, take His hand and also pull someone else along behind you so they can come too. The light of life does not necessarily mean good things will happen to you. Stones are still on the path. It’s just up to you whether to let God carry you over the stones, or let go of His hand, get lost and graze your feet.

While I am in the world, I am the light of the world." – John 9:5

While Jesus was on Earth, He led the way for many to come to salvation. Many people witnessed His life, His death and His resurrection. The light of the world is the Son, not the Sun. Without God there would be neither of these things. And the world is darkness, but Jesus came to rescue the people hidden in the dark and bring them into the light. Technically, the Spirit lives in us, so Jesus is the light of the world. “While,” suggests that this will not be forever, indicating a reasonably short time that will seem long. To me, anyway. And we must show patience, let the batteries get their full use – they are long-life batteries! So use them, use them to glorify God’s name in all you do, bringing light and life to those who need it most. If you get everyone in the world to turn on their lights at the same time, the world would be lit up. Now imagine sharing God’s love to the ends of the universe and back. The universe is going to shine pretty brightly! One word could change someone’s life. Jesus.

Jesus answered, "Are there not twelve hours of daylight? A man who walks by day will not stumble, for he sees by this world's light. It is when he walks by night that he stumbles, for he has no light." – John 11:9-10

There is a word of truth in answer to every question. Although it states that the world’s light will not stumble, that means that they will be okay during the good times, but what about when darkness creeps in? Then you cannot see where you are going, which is blindness. Blindness allows sin and temptation to be practised almost subconsciously. The world can satisfy sometimes, but will never be enough. Take Jesus as the light of the world – He is everlasting; therefore you will not need to worry about becoming blind and stumbling because Jesus will guide you. Take the world’s light, it is part of God’s plan although it does not belong to Him – if you are doing well in something you feel God has planned for you in life, do not stop because you are becoming involved with other people who aren’t believers. Stop and share with them the Good News that brought you to them in the first place. You may influence people my being a light in other ways, too. Music, perhaps, can influence so many people. The words of truth can be spread in beautiful melodies. Also, walk in God’s light, for when testing times come you will see them and know to tread over them carefully. Do not let shadows overpower your life, because shadows are subtle beginnings of darkness. When you have no light, there is no hope. Where can you go? What can you do? Nothing, for you cannot see your hand in front of your own face. When you are given a hand to take in the darkness, wouldn’t anyone take it? But how are you to know whose hand you are taking? Take the light, stay in the light, and remain in God’s peace in the darkness because your faith in Jesus will overcome the bad times. Those three days of darkness compensated for every bad thing. Compensated for Satan. Cut your ties with Him, and He remains in the past. But God will live forever.

Then Jesus told them, "You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. The man who walks in the dark does not know where he is going. Put your trust in the light while you have it, so that you may become sons of light." When he had finished speaking, Jesus left and hid himself from them. – John 12:35-36

Jesus was illustrating His authority as the light of the world. He was showing how he was to die, and was saying to move forward and do great things for Him before they lost faith and Satan would move back in, trying to trick them into doubting God. If you trust in the light while it is there, then you can be sure and know that lies are lies so they cannot get in. If you become a “son of light”, you are becoming Christ-like and living like He did, healing the sick, sharing love and hope with everyone and living for a divine purpose to save many others that would have otherwise have been overcome by the world. Jesus hid himself to show that He was instructing them and there was no other option for them. This was their “dare” if you like, they could not exchange it. If you follow Jesus, you know where you are going when you die. But if you don’t choose to follow Him, you are blindly let somewhere unknown, dark, and therefore I would imagine pretty darn terrifying. Instead, become a “son of light” and let God’s light shine out from you (Philippians 2:12-18.)

I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness. – John 12:46

Jesus came as a light, visible and bright, and if you believe in Him and His sacrifice, you will be close to the light, close to Him, and the darkness will be left behind you. With light, there is no room for darkness. With God, there is no room for Satan. So, in Jesus’ name, I pray that God may bless you, open your eyes to Him and let you feel His grace working within your wonderfully hand-crafted heart. <3