John 8:12-30
Reflect
I often don’t realize how essential light is until the power goes out! At the beginning of the passage today, Jesus claims that He is the light of the world. He makes this claim right in the middle of an important Jewish festival called Feast of Tabernacles. During this eight day celebration people would live in little huts, booths, or tents to remember when their ancestors did the same on the way to the promised land. They would also remember how God chose to live among His people in a tent called the Tabernacle.
One important ritual was called “The Illumination of the Temple” and it would happen during the light ceremony. Four huge candelabra were lit to signify God leading the Israelites through the dessert. This would have brought a lot of light to Jerusalem! It was on the last day of this festival after the lights had gone out that Jesus tells the Jewish people, “I am the light of the world.” William Barclay paraphrases Jesus’ words as, “I am the light that never goes out.”
Apply
How does following Jesus as the light impact how we live our daily lives?
Erin Gibbard
Pray
- Pray for Pastor Dan, our Lead Team Pastor and his family.
- Pray for our Young Adults Pastor, Nathanael Trinh, his ministry, and his family.
- Pray for our Congregational Life Pastor, Melissa Chaffee and her family.
- Pray for our church Groups Assistant, Noah Okken.
- Pray for our Young Adults Ministry Assistant, Ethan Okken.
- Pray that God’s Spirit would work powerfully and effectively in all the various ministry groups in our church this week.