‘Again therefore Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world, he who follows me will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life”.'
Note that this next section commences with the introductory words, ‘Again Jesus spoke to them'. ‘Spoke to them' refers to the large crowd in John 7:43. The controversy with the Pharisees continues. Here Jesus declares openly, while speaking to the crowds in the Temple treasury (presumably the place where the large trumpet shaped collecting boxes were in the court of the women - v. 20), ‘I am the light of the world. He who follows me will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life'. This is His second distinctive ‘I am' saying, His first having been ‘I am the bread of life' (John 6:35). Here then is the One Who not only feeds the hearts of men but Who also brings the ‘life which is the light of men' (John 1:4), Who is the One Who shines in the darkness (John 1:5) and is the true light which lightens every man who is open to receive it (John 1:9).
These statements are specifically drawing attention to His uniqueness as God's revelation and source of life to man, and indicating that He is One Who cannot be ignored. Others would speak of the Scriptures as ‘a light' (Psalms 119:105) to lead men into faith and truth, but He speaks of Himself as the light. It compares with the way He could say ‘but I say to you' in the Matthew 5:22 etc. It was a claim to unique authority.
In the Old Testament God is constantly revealed as the Light (Psalms 27:1; Psalms 36:9; Isaiah 2:5; Isaiah 10:17; Isaiah 60:1-2; Isaiah 60:19; Micah 7:8-9), a light of glory which was to shine on His people (Isa 61:-1-2) and in the same way the Servant of God in Isaiah was to be a light to the nations (the world - Isaiah 42:6; Isaiah 49:6). Now the world needs to recognise that One has come Who is that Light.
The mention of ‘light' at this particular feast was especially significant. The feast was seen as a reminder of the journey through the wilderness under Moses, and a great lampstand of fiery flames would be erected in the Temple courtyard and the whole Temple illuminated as a reminder of the pillar of fire that illuminated the way for the people of Israel at the time of their deliverance. The pillar of fire had been Israel's light on the way to freedom, and it represented God Himself as present with His people. Jesus is now saying, therefore, that He is that light, seeking to lead all men to safety and a new life, and revealing the presence of God with them. Just as Israel of old followed the flame of fire as God led the way, safe and secure because God was with them, so now all who become His people can follow the new manifestation of God, Jesus Christ Himself, the light of the world, the light which springs from His life.
But once the feast was over that lamp would cease to be lighted. The courtyard in the Temple would cease to be brightly illuminated. The people would return to their humdrum lives. That light was temporary. But now Jesus, as the Light of the world, was here and would continue to shine on and within His people, shining ever brighter day by day.
By this He was claiming uniquely to present men with truth and understanding, both about God and about themselves, and to give them a new spiritual life within, by bestowing on them eternal life and shining in their hearts with the truth of God. His own life would act as a light to show men that truth, and along with His teaching would lead them ‘out of darkness into His most marvellous light' (1 Peter 2:9). Furthermore men's sins would be revealed in that light, and some would turn away from their sins and begin to live lives approved by God (John 3:19-21). Thus would they find life through faith in Him.
But His glory would also be revealed though His own life and teaching, so that John could say ‘we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only Son of the Father, full of grace and truth' (John 1:14). That is why Paul could say, we see ‘the light of the good news of the glory of Christ who is the image of God' (2 Corinthians 4:4). And, as we see this light, it shines in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God Himself in the face of Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 4:6). No one has ever seen God, but the only Son, Who came from intimate closeness with the Father Himself, makes Him known (John 1:18). So through Him as the light, God is revealed as never before to those whose eyes are opened (compare Isaiah 60:1-2; Isaiah 60:19).
These amazing benefits were and are available to all who follow Him and receive from Him ‘the light of life' (see Psalms 36:9) by responding to His words and receiving the work of the Spirit in their hearts (John 6:63). This life illuminates them so that they see His glory and come to know Him for what He is, and gain a new awareness of God. They receive a totally new spiritual and moral outlook as His light shines in their hearts, and ‘they see'. Conversely, those who do not respond fail to see. They continue to walk in darkness.
We are reminded again of those words, “the people who walked in darkness have seen a great light, those who dwell in the land of the shadow of death on them has the light shined' (Isaiah 9:2), words which as we have seen are connected with Galilee (Isaiah 9:1). In the original Greek text John 8:12 came directly after John 7:52. This was thus Jesus response to the denial of the Pharisees that a prophet could arise out of Galilee. Even Scripture had declared that the light would first shine in Galilee. And He was now here as that light, shining in the land of the shadow of death (or ‘in the deep darkness').