WEDNESDAY

John 8:12; 9:5; 1 John 1:5-7 (NIV)

The other image that we talked about last Sabbath, which Jesus used to describe how we are to interact with the world, is that of light. In our Scripture passages for today, Jesus clearly proclaims that He is the light of the world. John, in chapter one of his gospel, says that Jesus is the light shining in the darkness (John 1:5), and that John the Baptist was not the light, but only bore testimony to the light (John 1:8-9). 1 John 1:5-7 talks about how we need to walk in the light as Jesus is in the light. And then in Matthew 5:14-16, Jesus tells us that we are the light of the world, and we need to let our lights shine! As you reflect on these passages, consider the following:

• How would you explain the connection between Jesus being the light of the world and us being the light of the world? How can we both be “not the light” (as in John the Baptist) and be the light?

• What does all of this suggest about what we are invited to reflect to others?

• Are there other things that we might find ourselves reflecting to others if we are not focused on Jesus as the light? What kinds of things might block that light and result in us reflecting something else?

• What is uniquely different about Jesus as the light of the world and our invitation to shine that same light through our lives? How would things look different if we are not “walking in the light”? (See 1 John 3:11-24 for a conversation about how we can get off track.) 

• Does the idea of you being one of the ways that God shares love and grace with the world sound exciting, scary, overwhelming, inviting, or something else?

Take a few moments to talk with God in prayer about what it means to you for Jesus to be the light of the world, and for Jesus to invite us to be the light of the world as well.