“Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, ‘I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.’”
John 8:12 (NLT)
When Jesus calls Himself the light of the world, He isn’t just offering guidance—He is offering freedom. Following Jesus isn’t losing anything good; it’s escaping the prison of darkness. Darkness is not a “get to.” It’s a “have to.” But when we follow Him, we receive the light that leads to life.
And that light doesn’t stop with us. In Matthew 5, Jesus calls us the light of the world. How? His light fills us, changes us, and shines through our good deeds, kindness, generosity, and the gospel we share. His light in us leads others to praise the Father.
This is why the Pharisees couldn’t receive Jesus’ claim. They judged by human standards and couldn’t see the Father standing with Him. And because they didn’t know Jesus, they didn’t truly know God. That warning matters today: knowing about God isn’t the same as knowing Him.
When we follow Jesus—not just believe—we walk out of darkness and carry His light into the world.