And Jesus cried out and said, “Whoever believes in me, believes not in me but in him who sent me. And whoever sees me sees him who sent me. I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness. If anyone hears my words and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day. For I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment —what to say and what to speak. And I know that His commandment is eternal life. What I say, therefore, I say as the Father has told me” (John 12:44-50).
Francis of Assisi said, “All the darkness in the world cannot extinguish the light of a single candle.”
Jesus did not come with a candle, but rather He is the source of all light. He spoke light into existence in the beginning. He said, “Let there be light” and there was light. His words are powerful. His words bring light, life, and salvation. He is the Light of the world and He wants to enter into your world, to bring clarity, vision, and eliminate the darkness that hinders you from seeing His power at work in your life.
In this passage, the words that Jesus spoke were not in hushed tones, but rather He cried out, so all would hear His message of truth that dispels the darkness. His message was not just for those within range of His cries, but also, for us, who have the Word of God and have read His message. He cries out for us today, “Believe is Me. Believe in God the Father. Believe that I am the Light that vanquishes all darkness.”
Jesus hears and obeys the voice of His Father and on that authority offers all who will listen and believe this Word of Truth, eternal life. “…but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment —what to say and what to speak. And I know that His commandment is eternal life.
When we do believe, this promise of eternal life begins immediately. It is not something we wait for, but rather our never ending life starts right at the moment of belief. Not only do we begin to live in eternal life, but we also begin to live in eternal Light and the darkness that once controlled and colored our existence is forever vanquished at the name of Jesus.
Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12