John 8:12-20 Then spoke Jesus again to them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that follows me shall not walk in darkness… I. CHRIST IS THE LIGHT FOR LIFE WHICH GUIDES. 1. Christ is such grading light because He is the Light. Moral guidance shines from Him, because He is the one perfect specimen of moral living. 2. Christ is such a guiding Light because He is a light so placed that all may see it. II. CHRIST IS THE LIGHT WHICH NOURISHES AND MAKES STRONG THE TRUE LIFE IN EVERY MAN. Christ promises, if He be followed, a man shall have the light of life. Here is a pale leaf. Why is it so pale? It has been denied the sunlight. Put it in the sunlight, and it will grow green and strong. Here is a leaf of noble resolution. But it is very pale and sickly. What will give it strength and colour? Bring it into the shining of Him who is the Light. III. HOW WE MAY ENTER INTO THIS GUIDANCE AND INVIGORATION. "He that followeth Me," etc. Some one has said: "Nobody who has not tried it would believe how many difficulties are cleared out of a man's road by the simple act of trying to follow Christ." No doubt there will still remain obscurities enough as to what we ought to do, to call for the best exercise of patient wisdom; but an enormous proportion of them vanish like mist, when the sun looks through, when once we honestly set ourselves to find out where the Light is guiding. It is a reluctant will and intrusive likings and dislikings that obscure the way for us, much oftener then real obscurity in the way itself. It is seldom impossible to discern the Divine wilt, when we only wish to know it that we may do it. (W. Hoyt, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. |
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