Scripture: John 8:12-20
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.”
The Pharisees challenged him, “Here you are, appearing as your own witness; your testimony is not valid.”
Jesus answered, “Even if I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is valid, for I know where I came from and where I am going. But you have no idea where I come from or where I am going. You judge by human standards; I pass judgment on no one. But if I do judge, my decisions are true, because I am not alone. I stand with the Father, who sent me. In your own Law it is written that the testimony of two witnesses is true. I am one who testifies for myself; my other witness is the Father, who sent me.”
Then they asked him, “Where is your father?”
“You do not know me or my Father,” Jesus replied. “If you knew me, you would know my Father also.” He spoke these words while teaching in the temple courts near the place where the offerings were put. Yet no one seized him, because his hour had not yet come.
Consider:
This verse may be amogst the most misunderstood verses in the Bible - right next to the one in Philippians which says “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Or that other one from Paul’s letters (I can’t remember which one at the moment) that says “God will not give you more than you can handle.”
Context in the Bible is so important, because if you take a verse out of its context you can make it mean almost anything you want. On its own, Jesus’ claim “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” can be interpreted to mean nothing bad will ever happen to you and if it does it’s because you did something wrong.
But, if you read the verse in the context of its chapter, the meaning completely changes. Turns out, this verse isn’t about the circumstances of your life at all. In fact - you are not even mentioned any where in this chapter. This is about a discussion between Jesus and the Religious Establishment. Jesus is challenging them because, he claims, they don’t know what the Bible actually says… in other words, they don’t have the “light of God” which allows them to see the deeper meaning and the truth found in their own scriptures and beliefs. It’s their minds in darkness - not their lives.
We can and do read the Bible to try and understand our lives, but it should be with the awareness and knowledge that the Bible isn’t about us
It’s about God.
And humans have been in the dark about the true nature of God since the Garden of Eden, maybe even before then. But we do catch glimpses of God every day. The light does shine in the darkness. Maybe we are just confused about it sometimes.
Respond:
What is the “idea” you have about God which you think might be the most wrong or What is something someone else taught you about God which now you know is wrong?
Sit a moment with that idea and ask yourself why do you think this wrong interpretation is so appealing? Next - consider, if the opposite were to be true, what would that be saying about God?
Pray:
Divine Love, forgive my tendency to trade your vastness for a God made in my image—small, transactional, and concrete. I repent of believing your grace must be earned. Guide me into the freedom of your boundless, unfettered heart. Amen.
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