By saying “I am the light of the world,” Jesus made several claim:
- He is the very presence of God (John 8:58; 1 John 1:1).
- His ministry consisted of guiding people to the Truth (John 8:31-32).
- He brought light and life to those living in darkness and death (John 3:19-21).
In Christ, the full light of God’s love and compassion shone forth with power and clarity. Jesus’ light reveals our true need for God’s forgiveness and shows us the path to God and eternal life. Jesus’ light also gives us knowledge of God and his will (2 Corinthians 4:6).
HANUKKAH
The word Hanukkah means “dedication or consecration.” It refers to the re-dedication of the Temple in Jerusalem.
The events celebrated at Hanukkah took place nearly 170 years before Jesus was born. Antiochus “Epiphanes.” the King of Syria, defiled the temple in Jerusalem. He placed a statue of the Greek god Zeus in the temple and ordered the Jews to worship it. He also sacrificed a pig inside the temple-the Old Testament considered pigs unclean animals (Leviticus 11:7).
This action angered the Jewish people. The priest Mattathias Maccabee and his sons organized fellow Jews and fought a series of battles against Antiochus’ army. By a miracle of God the Jews defeated the army of Antiochus and marched into Jerusalem victorious.
Hanukkah is also known as the Feast of Lights of Feast of Dedication in the New Testament because of a legendary miraculous provision of oil for the eternal light in the Temple. After cleansing the Temple, the supply of oil to relight the eternal flame (the symbol of God’s presence) was only enough for one day. But God performed a great miracle, and the flame burned for the eight days necessary to purify new oil
ISAIAH 9:2 – 2 The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.
JOHN 8:12 – 12 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.
ISAIAH 60:19 – 19 The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: but the Lord shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory.
REVELATION 21:23 – 23 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.