Christ as light of the world
Jesus calls Himself the light of the world, meaning He reveals God, exposes darkness, and brings the life and truth people need for salvation.
At a Glance
Jesus calls Himself the light of the world, meaning He reveals God, exposes darkness, and brings the life and truth people need for salvation.
Description
The expression "Christ as light of the world" comes especially from Jesus’ words in John’s Gospel and draws on the Bible’s broader use of light as a symbol of God’s holiness, truth, revelation, and life. To call Christ the light of the world is to confess that in Him God’s saving self-disclosure has come into the world: He makes the Father known, exposes human sin and unbelief, and provides the true way out of spiritual darkness. This theme does not merely describe Jesus as a teacher of truth, but as the divine Son whose person and work bring life to those who follow Him. Believers are also called to bear light in the world, but only as witnesses who reflect the light that is properly and uniquely His.