Day 247.
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 ESV)
In this chapter Jesus engages the Pharisees in discussion about the truth of his words and their need for the truth. The trouble is, they don’t want to hear what he has to say. They don’t want to hear that they are slaves to sin and are children of the devil. Nobody wants to hear that. Nonetheless he speaks truth. If they would listen they would also hear him explain that he is the light of the world. There is hope. Sin keeps them enslaved and their refusal to admit this keeps them in the dark. They cannot see the folly of their way and the dangers before them.
Sin does this to all of us. The light often hurts the eyes when it is first turned on. When Jesus exposes your own heart, it hurts. It leaves you feeling naked and exposed, vulnerable and guilty. What will you cling to? Some cling to their own virtue, defending themselves and their choices. Some try and turn the light toward someone else to get out from underneath it’s stare. Some try and dim the light by throwing up smoke that would distort good and bad, truth from fiction. Or some will break and cling to Jesus. when that happens, the light also shows them how to live as it reveals the path of righteousness. Jesus not only rescues us from our slavery to sin, but enables us to live apart from sin altogether.
What will you choose?
McCheyne’s Bible Reading Plan: 1 Sa 28, 1 Co 9, Ez 7, Jn 8
Jesus. fenton