Names of Jesus: Light of the World

Jesus Christ has many names. Many of His names teach us about His role and character as the Son of God, others as the Son of Man, some as our Savior, and many as the Truth. As we focus on Jesus’s names that teach us of His identity as the Truth, His name as the Light of the World stands out as one often referenced but that holds a deeper significance than this name usually seems to bear.

¹² Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”

John 8:12 NKJV

Light of the World

Looking at the original Greek, Light here refers to the saving truth that is manifested in Jesus Christ, that is bestowed on people by His love and His works. It is the light by which true spiritual life is acquired by the balance of truth, knowledge, and spiritual purity. The World here from the Greek can be explained as people who inhabit the earth and is accompanied by the presence of evil, sin, and death.

⁵ As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”

John 9:5 NKJV

• Light – G5457 – phōs
  •  truth and its knowledge, together with the spiritual purity congruous with it
    • especially the saving truth embodied in Christ and by his love and effort imparted to mankind
    • the light by which the true life is gained

• World – G2889 – kosmos
  • the inhabitants of the earth, men, the human race
    • to invade, of evils coming into existence among men and beginning to exert their power
    • of sin and death

In context, the Light of the World is the saving truth personified in Jesus Christ that He bestows on sinful people who have knowledge of His love and works, and to whom He has given spiritual life.

1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life— ² the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us— ³ that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.

1 John 1:1-3 NKJV

¹⁴ And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

John 1:14 NKJV

²⁵ Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. ²⁶ And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”

John 11:25-26 NKJV

Follow Jesus

• Follows – G190 – akoloutheō
  • to join one as a disciple, become or be his disciple; side with his party

To acquire this light is an active receieving. It is to make a decision to follow Jesus. To follow Jesus is to become His disciple, and to be a disciple is to be a student of Jesus. When you receieve the knowledge of the gospel that leads to eternal life and salvation, you don’t just have the knowledge but you accept it, believe it, and apply it to your life and self.

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⁶ yet for us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and through whom we live.

1 Corinthians 8:6 NKJV

When Jesus said “those who follow me” He didn’t just mean wander behind and speculate. Jesus is refering to those who choose to enter into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, to learn from Him, live by His example, and become more like Him each step of the way. To follow Jesus is to live life Jesus inside and out.

Never Walk in Darkness

• Walk – G4043 – peripateō
  • to frequent, stay in
    • to be subject to error and sin

• Darkness – G4653 – skotia
  • ignorance of divine things, and its associated wickedness, and the resultant misery

Jesus said that those who follow Him will not walk in darkness. Those who become a disciple of Jesus by faith in Him will not remain in their sin, and they will not remain ignorant of the things of God. In following Jesus, Christians embark on the journey to being made spiritually pure, holy, and more like Christ Himself. Those who are following Jesus no longer remain in their sin, and they strive to learn more about the things of God and how to live like Jesus, and they apply what they learn to their own lives.

⁴⁶ I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness.

John 12:46 NKJV

To abide in darkness is to stay in your sin and to fail to learn and grow in your faith, knowledge, and relationship with the Lord. Those who are truly followers of Jesus are called to not remain in the dark.

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NKJV Thompson Chain-Reference Bible, hardcover By Zondervan Bibles

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Have the light of life

• Light – G5457 – phōs
  • truth and its knowledge, together with the spiritual purity congruous with it
    • especially the saving truth embodied in Christ and by his love and effort imparted to mankind
    • the light by which the true life is gained

• Life – G2222 – zōē
  • life real and genuine, a life active and vigorous, devoted to God, blessed, the portion even in this world of those who put their trust in Christ, but after the resurrection to be consummated by new accessions (among them a more perfect body), and to last forever
    • the light illumined by which one arrives at life

Those who choose not to remain in the dark, in sin and ignorance of the teachings and ways of God, recieved the light of life that leads to spiritual purity, and genuine life. When you come into the light, you learn about God, you become like Christ, you grow in faith, you are made holy and pure, and you will be blessed by God in this life and given eternal life with Him.

²⁶ For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself, ²⁷ and has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man.

John 5:26-27 NKJV

When we have the light of life, we are repentant and sanctified by the light that is Jesus Christ, and allow Him to work in us, preparing us. We become dedicated to learning from His Word, growing in relationship with Him through prayer, and living like Him in every area of life.

¹¹ And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.

1 John 5:11 NKJV

His light is a lamp to our feet, guiding our steps, instructing our decisions, guarding our minds and words. When Jesus is the light of our life we allow Him to lead the way and let His light shine on the right path to follow.

¹⁰⁵ Your word is a lamp to my feet
    and a light to my path.

Psalm 119:105 NKJV

Those who have actively recieved the knowledge and truth of Jesus, who have determined to follow Jesus by faith in Him and His sacrifice for their own sake, are set free from the bondage to their sin, evil, and darkness and begin to live a life of spiritual purity in preparation for eternal life.

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