As I write this, our country and our world are going through a crisis which many thought could never happen. Major events canceled; large gatherings stopped.
In our passage we see religious people doubting the truth about who Jesus is. The main objections came from those who had the most to lose, religious leaders who made pretty good lives for themselves. Jesus boldly proclaimed who He was.
Read MoreLight and dark. Blindness and sight. These themes have come up before, and here they are again. Clearly, the topic of vision matters to Jesus. Clearly, there is something important about seeing correctly that Jesus wants us to understand.
Read MoreIn John 8 and 9, light and seeing are central. Jesus proclaims, “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12). He talks about truth in terms of light: “You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32). In chapter 9, Jesus gives a man light—the ability to see. To know Jesus is to experience light shining in darkness.
Read MoreIf you have ever flown at night, you can see pinpoints of light miles away as your plane ascends into the sky. The darkness is not complete but is invaded by the light. Those points of light are evidence of life: Someone is there who has turned on the lights!
Read MoreJohn begins his Gospel in John 1:4-5 stating that the Word (Jesus) is, “…the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” Now in chapter 8, we see Jesus proclaim, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life” (v.12). This bold statement by Jesus did not sit well with the religious establishment of that day.
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