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“The Light of Life”
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the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”
Colossians 2:3
. “He who
follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”
When Jesus said, “I am the light of the world,” the people could
not fail to recognize His claim to be the Messiah, the Promised One.
To the Pharisees and rulers this claim seemed arrogant. They could
not tolerate that a mere Man like themselves would make such bold
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claims. They demanded, “Who are You?” They were determined
to force Him to declare that He was the Christ. His sly enemies
believed that His appearance and work were so different from the
people’s expectations that a direct announcement of Himself as the
Messiah would cause them to reject Him as an impostor.
But Jesus replied, “Just what I have been saying to you from the
beginning.” He was the embodiment of the truths He taught. “I do
nothing on my own,” He continued, “but I speak these things as the
Father instructed me. And the one who sent me is with me.” NRSV.
He did not attempt to prove His Messianic claim but showed His
unity with God.
Many of His hearers were drawn to Him in faith. To them He
said, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And
you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
These words offended the Pharisees. “We are Abraham’s de-
scendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can You
say, ‘You will be made free?’” Jesus looked on these men, slaves
of hatred, and sadly answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, who-
ever commits sin is a slave of sin.” They were in the worst kind of
slavery—ruled by the spirit of evil.
All who refuse to give themselves to God are under the control
of another power. They are in the deepest slavery, their minds under
the control of Satan. Christ came to break the chains of sin-slavery
from the heart and mind. “If the Son makes you free, you shall be
free indeed.”
In the work of redemption there is no forced obedience. We
are left free to choose whom we will serve. When we surrender to
Christ, there is the highest sense of freedom. Expelling sin is the
act of the soul itself. When we desire to be set free from sin, and
we cry out for a power outside of and above ourselves, the powers
of the soul receive the energy of the Holy Spirit, and they obey the
instructions of the will to fulfill the will of God.