Day 2

The Light of Life



John 8:12, John 3:1-21

BY Amanda Bible Williams

Section 1: The Light of the World 

Jesus declared Himself to be the Light of the World. Apart from Him, we live in darkness. 

But this story of light didn’t begin with the birth of a baby boy under a shining star in the city of Bethlehem. From creation to the incarnation to the coming eternal city, Scripture speaks of our God as light in a world prone to darkness. In the midst of the sin and sorrow of this world, His light is a reminder of His life-giving presence and His power over sin.

In the first section of the plan, we’ll explore together the role of light in Scripture to better understand the gift of Jesus, reading how God used light to remind His people of His presence and His promises. 


Have you ever been afraid of the light? When I was a kid, I would run to my bedroom window at night and pull down the shades as fast as I could. It’s true that I wondered what might be lurking in the darkness outside. But more than that, I was afraid of being seen. Whatever was out there was hidden by the darkness, but standing on the inside of that bedroom window, I was in plain sight—every move exposed by the light. 

Nicodemus was a Jewish religious leader who had his own fears of being found out. Like the other Pharisees, he had taken notice of the signs and wonders Jesus was performing among the people. He wanted to know more about this controversial rabbi, but the text makes a point to tell us he came to Jesus at night, perhaps indicating he didn’t want anyone to know. It’s to this covertly curious Pharisee that Jesus makes one of His most famous statements of the Gospel: “For God loved the world in this way: he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). 

But that mic drop moment wasn’t the end of the conversation. Jesus went on to speak a truth that fascinates me, especially considering when and to whom He said it: “The light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the light and avoids it, so that his deeds may not be exposed. But anyone who lives by the truth comes to the light, so that his works may be shown to be accomplished by God” (vv.19–21). 

This may sound like Jesus is condemning the very person He’s talking to—a man who came to Him under the cover of darkness. But I don’t read it that way. I read this as an invitation. Jesus is inviting Nicodemus—and us—into the light. No more sneaking. No more hiding. No more running to pull down the blinds of our homes or our hearts because we’re afraid of being found out. In Jesus Christ, the Son of God who came to be the Light of the World, we are given new life in the light of His mercy, forgiveness, and love. When we come to the light, we are set free. Notice that Jesus tells Nicodemus that the light has already come into the world. Jesus has come, and He has overcome the darkness! This is the good news of great joy for all people; the same news the angel proclaimed to the shepherds that holy night in a field outside Bethlehem.

The light of life has come! Thanks be to God. 

Post Comments (144)

144 thoughts on "The Light of Life"

  1. Katie Burch says:

    The Chosen has helped me visualize this so much better

  2. Christina Vingerud says:

    I love reading this through the lens of an invitation, not condemnation!

  3. Sydney Lee says:

    Lord Jesus you are SO good! You are our only light Jesus!

  4. Jess Morris says:

    As I was reading what came on in the room “wave maker, miracle worker, light of the darkness, that is who you are”

  5. Mariah Finley says:

    ♥️

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