We Are Emmanuel

Another oft imagined perception of Jesus is a moral teacher who dispensed guidelines for life. The moral, ritualistic context of the Feast of Tabernacles, complete with shining lamps, is the backdrop for Jesus’ mighty claim, ‘I am the Light of the World’. The religious leaders are quick to jump on Jesus here, challenging the authority of his testimony. Jesus replies, ‘you judge according to the flesh’ and instead appeals to the witness of His Father. Jesus is not a moral system. In fact he set himself as a fulfilment of the religious system of the Bible. He is not just a light that helps us navigate the world, He is the light - the source of life itself. Notice v12, when we receive Him, we won’t just avoid the darkness but will obtain the ‘light of life’ itself.