The Light of the World

Recently I've been asking myself what Jesus meant when He said, "I am the light of the world."

In this passage, He claimed not only to enlighten those who believe in Him, but the entire world. John introduces Jesus as the True Light, and suggests that He enlightens every man. 

 "There was the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man." John 1:9

We know from many other passages of scripture that John is not indicating that all are saved. But what is the scripture saying in this regard? Is there a general enlightenment that influences the entire world and each and every person?

So, I've been asking myself, "How would the world be different if Jesus had never come?" 

Obviously, His offer of forgiveness and salvation is His most significant influence, but this would mainly affect those who believe. I wonder if there are dramatic ways He illumined the world, even for those who have not believed in Him.

Here are three I've come up with:

1. Jesus revealed God to man. 

"No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him." Jn 1:18.

Even though God reveals Himself through nature, man, and morality in general ways, these are nothing like the specific way the Father is revealed in the Son.

"He who has seen Me has seen the Father; how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?" Jn 14:9b.

Of course you may ask, how does this enlighten the entire world? 

2. Jesus brings grace and truth.

"And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth." Jn 1:14.

No other world religion emphasizes grace, God's grace, like Christianity. The very fact that God sent His Son to die on the cross for our sins- that we can be forgiven- demonstrates grace. This attitude of grace pervades most civilizations, to some extent or another. Certainly all civilized cultures have been influenced by grace, wherever Christianity has taken hold. And any culture which has experienced revival has embraced grace as a cardinal virtue.

Truth is another important value for any culture. Jesus establishes Himself not only as speaking truth, but as the very embodiment of truth.

“I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me." Jn 14:6.

 All truth is ultimately measured again the source of truth, Jesus Christ. This establishes an absolute basis for truth and eliminates the tendency towards relativism. Cultures that have embraced absolutes have flourished in math, science, and progress of all sorts. Relativistic cultures have languished. All decent legal systems rely on a strong adherence to truth. We swear on the Bible that our testimony will be the "truth and nothing but the truth". Strong cultures have truth as their foundation.

3. Jesus empowered His followers as "the light of the world". 

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven." Mt 5:14–16.

Not only does Jesus bring grace and truth, but that influence continues through all those who believe in Him. True Christians will live the way Jesus lived and will influence the world as He did. Human rights, fair legal systems, leaders who serve righteously, protection of family values, education and opportunity, health and peace in society- these are but a few of the values that Christians have supported and defended over the centuries. Our Bill of Rights and Constitution was hugely shaped by Christians and Judeo-Christian values.

Where would the world be without Christ?

Here are a few examples of cultures with little or no Christian influence…

The Nazis established killing centers for efficient mass murder. Unlike concentration camps, which served primarily as detention and labor centers, killing centers (also referred to as "extermination camps" or "death camps") were almost exclusively "death factories." German SS and police murdered nearly 2,700,000 Jews.

Many historians have suggested that Stalin was responsible for death total of around 20 million, citing much higher victim totals from executions, Gulag camps, deportations and other causes. Simon Sebag Montefiore suggested that Stalin was ultimately responsible for the deaths of between 20 and 25 million people..

The history of genocide in Cambodia, with the Khmer Rouge murdering almost 2 million in attempts to weed out insolence and members of the population with subversive knowledge and experience. 

Where would the world be without Christ? A darker and more dangerous place. Much darker.