Then spoke Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that follows me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. (John 8:12)

I recounted my “testimony” in my last post, the story of my coming to a “saving” faith in Jesus Christ. I cannot tell you why I sought it, but I came to this faith because I was seeking “truth.” When I wrote that piece I had not yet looked again at this account in John where Jesus announced that he was the light of the world. I just remembered it was in John somewhere and that this needed to be the next “I AM” statement I presented. I had not even planned to give my testimony when I began to write. It just seemed to be the thing to do and, of course, the theme of my testimony is seeking the truth. How interesting, then, when I saw the Pharisee’s response to Jesus’ statement that he was the light of the world.

The Pharisees therefore said unto him, You bear record of yourself; your record is not true. (John 8:13)

This tells me that light and truth relate to one another, perhaps even, are synonymous with one another. Consider this entire passage:

Then spoke Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that follows me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. The Pharisees therefore said unto him, You bear record of yourself; your record is not true. Jesus answered and said unto them, Though I bear record of myself, yet my record is true: for I know from where I came, and where I go; but you cannot tell from where I come, and where I go. You judge after the flesh; I judge no man. And yet if I judge, my judgment is true: for I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent me. It is also written in your law, that the testimony of two men is true. I am one that bear witness of myself, and the Father that sent me bears witness of me. Then said they unto him, Where is your Father? Jesus answered, You neither know me, nor my Father: if you had known me, you should have known my Father also. These words spoke Jesus in the treasury, as he taught in the temple: and no man laid hands on him; for his hour was not yet come. (John 8:12-20)

This passage deals almost entirely with the idea of whether or not Jesus’ testimony about himself is true, that is, this passage concerns truth. This correlation between light and truth proves important for understanding more about God’s creation of heaven and earth and his plan for mankind. Consider now the opening verses of John again.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in darkness; and the darkness overcame it not. (John 1:1-5)

And now return again to the beginning,

In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness. And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day. (Genesis 1:1-5)

Isn’t the parallel nature of John 1:1-5 and Genesis 1:1-5 very interesting? This symmetry did not occur by accident or coincidence; it reveals the very hand of God in its telling. First, understand that the “light” revealed in Genesis 1:3 is not the luminous light that we equate with being able to see in the natural. That light originates with the sun, or the moon, or the stars, or some type of lighting device like a light bulb. No, the light of Genesis 1:3 must have nothing to do with that which we consider luminescent. God did not create that type of light until the fourth day. John 1:1-5 and 8:12-20 lead me to believe, then, that the “light” portrayed in Genesis 1:3 must be of another nature than physical, natural light. I believe the nature of this light to be spiritual.

Jesus’ words to the Pharisees also help us see this. He said, “You judge after the flesh.” (John 8:15) On the other hand, he said, “I judge no man.” Jesus meant that he judged no man after the flesh, for later he tells them that his words judge them, and he is the Word. But, his words are spiritual. Spiritual words judge all men.

All of these things show us that the darkness covering the earth in Genesis 1:2 must have been a spiritual darkness. We saw that God’s light equals God’s truth. Now we see that spiritual darkness must be the realm of spiritual lies and deception. Creation’s first day thus pictures the beginning of man’s salvation, the day when God reveals his truth, his light, to a man. On that day God separates the light from the darkness within his soul. On that day spiritual day and night exist as separate places within him. On that day truth begins to shine into the darkness that still exists in his perverted and weak mind, will, and emotions. And that darkness that remains will never overcome this light which now shines!

“I AM the Light of the World,” Jesus said. Let that light, let the truth that IS Jesus, shine into every dark crevice of your being and, like him, become full of light!