Friday after Epiphany - John 8:12–19

The Set-Up

Jesus is continuing his…engagement…with the Pharisees in the Temple following the Feast of Tabernacles. In the Treasury of the Temple he says, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.” Essentially - the same pillar of fire that guided them through the wilderness.

The Pharisees can’t take it: they deny his testimony (the law requires two witnesses). Jesus’ 2nd witness? His Father. THE Father. And when they ask where he is:

“You do not know me or my Father.”

You can memorize the Torah, run the Temple, and police the people, but if you don't recognize the Light standing in front of you, you are spiritually blind. You know the text, but you don't know the Author.

The Takeaways

The Party Lights Fade.

Jesus is the only Light that doesn't burn out when the festival ends.

Don't Litigate the Truth. 

You can't trap the Divine in a procedural error.

Judge Not by the World. 

The Kingdom judges by heart and deed.

Walk in the Light. 

Discipleship is about following the Light so you don't trip in the dark.

Know the Author.

You can know the Bible inside and out and still completely miss God.

The Good News

Darkness is not the default setting anymore. You don't have to stumble through life guessing where the furniture is. The Light of the World has turned the switch on.

The Good News is that this Light isn't a spotlight of interrogation. Jesus says, "I judge no one." It’s a guiding light. It’s the campfire in the wilderness. It’s the glow that promises you are never truly alone, even when the religious elite have moved on.

(Artwork: The Light of Life - Mark Lawrence)