Statement two... part 2...

We've seen the personal aspect of Christ as the Light of the world for us all in a very individualistic sense, and now we must look to the corporate side of it.  So many people decide they have no need for corporate worship, and no need to join as a member of a church... but there is strength in numbers, always, and what better strength in numbers could you have than in a crowd of people who are ALL blessed with the Light of the world in them?

"Then Jesus spoke to them again: 'I am the light of the world. Anyone who follows Me will never walk in the darkness but will have the light of life.'"

John 8:12, HCSB

I must make one opening disclaimer in this section: this is not intended to support any theological position on election for any of the possible positions that exist.  What follows is simply extrapolation on the words used in the Word, by the Word, in this portion of Scripture.  Please do not read any further into it than that.

Jesus reaches down to us as individuals and offers this light, the "light of life," as it is described in John 1:4, but He also points out here that "anyone who follows" will have this light.  It may seem like He is again speaking to the individual, and in a way, He is.  However, since He is addressing a group, He is making a blanket statement to the crowd for any individuals who wish to be saved.  Further, as anyone there was able to step forward, it would follow that since Christianity has spread as far and wide as it has in the last two millennia, that there is a fairly vast group who are blessed to have the Light.  That group is one that I am proud to associate with, both physically in worship and small groups and life groups and ministry teams, and spiritually as I serve by writing and thinking and praying for all I am blessed to know.  My individuality and personal relationship are better each day, because I have Christ (first and always), and because I am surrounded in corporate worship by others who also made the decision to follow Him.

Also, it is important to note that no matter what dictionary you look into, the term "darkness" has no actual definition.  Regardless of volume, you will only find phrases similar to "a lack of or total absence of light."  Light, on the other hand, has a plethora of definitions, all boiling down to two main things: without it, nothing on Earth could survive, and it makes things visible.  Given that the entire Bible is replete with references to the differences between light and darkness, and that THE LIGHT is now seen openly as being Christ, in His absence we can only assume that there would be darkness.  In that darkness, sin and lies and deceit and satan would be allowed to reign free, and we would all stumble, and not know what caused anything to happen.  Yet Jesus IS light, He is OF light, and He is THE light that brings us awareness of who we are, what we are, Whose we are, and what we're doing.  Through Him, and through Him alone, we are able to see.  He illuminates beyond what the darkness can cover, and the darkness cannot sustain itself as the Light can.  (For those of you who felt like you understood the world all on your own, I must apologize for bursting your bubble... all true knowledge and blessing come from above, and no one is smart enough to figure it out without Christ.)

So it's really no wonder that Jesus would choose this statement to share with the people, right?  The world had been in darkness, spiraling ever-deeper into the pit of despair as the leaders attempted to "teach" the Law of Moses through their own increasingly poor interpretation of it.  That interpretation twisted and turned many times, as well, and ended up with the Pharisees placing the law in the place of God, instead of seeking God to abide by His law.  Jesus brought this to light by and through His very presence, and shines for us, even today, so that we can see through things like hypocrisy. 

On a side note, I saw on facebook one day that someone posted something that said (paraphrasing, and not an exact quote), "I'd rather be known as an honest sinner than a lying hypocrite."  I remember being a tad confused, because I would think that all Christians would rather be known as REDEEMED SINNERS, and do their very best to live a life free of any hypocrisy.  I mean, really... honest sinner?  All that is required there is for any person to admit once, "Yes, I am a sinner," and that accomplishes the goal.  However, to go forward and have redemption and salvation and freedom and grace upon grace upon grace upon grace that we can NEVER EVER UNDERSTAND, one MUST have the Light shone upon them.  Without that light, one remains in darkness, and only comes to the place of admission, rather than reaching the place of submission.

God bless you all!!!