1.8.26 - Lisa Liou
Thursday, January 8, 2025
John 8:12
The devotions this week are written by Lisa Liou. Lisa is the founder and executive director of All Gen Movement, a Christian ministry dedicated to healing the generations and renewing the Church. She previously served over 20 years with InterVarsity, most recently as Regional Director in the Western US. She is married to Jeff, an ordained CRC minister, and together they live in Monrovia, CA with their two teenagers.
When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
As we begin this devotional on the theme of light, consider lighting a candle.
As we saw earlier this week, John introduces Jesus as the light of the world. Here in chapter 8, Jesus begins his statement with “I am the light of the world” As you may recall from Moses and the burning bush, I AM, often translated Yahweh, is the personal name God revealed to Moses. Every time Jesus introduces himself using I AM, he communicates that he is God.
These I AM statements abound in the Gospel of John, including, I AM the bread of life, I AM the resurrection and the life, and I AM the true vine. Each time Jesus uses the I AM statement, he reveals himself as God through contextual truth, relevant to the scene.
Here, Jesus reveals himself as the light after a scene with a woman caught in adultery and about to be stoned. Since Jesus tells the crowd that whoever is without sin can cast the first stone, she walks away and Jesus tells her to sin no more.
Just as the story shows, Jesus offers a pathway of light, rather than a continuation in the darkness–a life of freedom in Christ, rather than in sin. Here, he offers it not only for the woman, but for the crowd, who has been reminded that they too are sinners.
John began his gospel by telling us Jesus is the Word. Psalm 119:105 says “Your word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.” Jesus is the embodiment of the Word and, therefore, the embodiment of this light. We can follow him, rather than walking on a dark path of sin.
What do you think it means to follow Jesus and receive the light rather than walking in darkness?
Where in your life do you need to be realigned to the light of life in your habits and ways?
Let this be your prayer today. As you breathe in say, Light of the world, and as you breathe out say, let your light shine.