#11 The light of the world!

[It is no coincidence that this passage for today begins, "But in the morning [Jesus] was again in the temple, and all the people came to him, and he sat down and taught them." (Jn 8,2) I firmly believe that the same is true word for word here, now, in this temple. That Jesus, who was here last night and so many times last year, has come here again this morning, on the morning of this New Year, and is sitting here among us, willing to teach us again. Something fills my heart with a reverent, great gratitude that on this New Year's morning my first journey can lead me to where Jesus is. It is not something to be taken for granted, but the greatest privilege to be free to begin this year with Him. So let us gratefully acknowledge that the Lord is present and teaching us!Behold, His first teaching for us this year is this: 'I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.' (John 8:12) That is a powerful statement! Listen to this: he does not say that I want to be the light of the world, or I want to be the light of the world, or I want to bring a little light, a little light into this world, but he says: "I am the light of the world." So it is not a wish or a demand, but a fact, which is not worth arguing about, not worth contemplating, which simply has to be acknowledged. On the morning of New Year's Eve, the Lord will declare this to all of us who are here: Take note of it, and consciously reckon with it in the days and situations of the coming year, that "I am the light of the world!" And in the context of a story and Jesus' words to him, we will see what this light means for us in very concrete terms.
The story is familiar. Jesus is sitting in the temple foyer teaching. Suddenly he is interrupted by a group of shouting, waving and shouting: scribes and Pharisees bringing a woman caught in adultery. A difficult case. The law of Moses prescribes the death penalty by stoning. They drag the poor woman before Jesus, lay her sin bare and wait to hear what the Master has to say. But Jesus says nothing. He is silent! Then he bends down and begins to write something in the sand with his finger. Whatever it is. This is his way of saying that he has a very different opinion of the whole scene than the others. At last, at the intrusive, importunate questioning, he straightens up and says: "Let him who is not guilty among you cast the first stone." (Jn 8,7b) He bends down again, writes something in the sand again, without even looking at the whole company. And after a while, when he looks up again, there is no one there but the woman. One by one the accusers had all turned away. They had gone aside, like a naughty child caught in the act.
Do you see what it means that Jesus is the light of the world? Whoever comes within his rays will be exposed. He shines on it relentlessly, but with a light so blinding that it is unbearable. Jesus does not gloss over the woman's sin, He knows full well that a great sinner has been brought to Him, but the convicting light of His divine light falls not only on the woman now, but on her accusers as well. And in this dreadful light, the difference between the accusers and the accused begins to disappear. Jesus Christ, the light of the world, brings to light sins that can often remain hidden, hidden for a lifetime, under the cloak of good manners, religiosity and education. Well, no one tells them that they are guilty of adultery - they were just not caught, they did it better, they managed to keep it a secret. No one tells them, yet they feel as if they have now been caught in public for the same crime they just accused the woman of. No one tells them that it is not an adultery case that is so painful for them, but that they are trying to frame Jesus. They are not looking for justice, but for revenge against Jesus. No one tells them this, yet it is as if Jesus has written the emotions of their hearts in the dust for all to read openly. They are exposed. They were judged by the light!
Oh blessed light that reveals the secrets of hearts, the hidden intentions, the thoughts, the sinful passions! It always reveals what you hide! I think there is scarcely a man in the world who has not come into conflict with the seventh commandment, "Thou shalt not commit adultery." Or if not that, the fifth, the one about respect for parents. Or the eighth, about stealing, or the sixth, about not killing, or the first, the commandment against idols, which is next to the one true God. Well, the light of the world has been kindled on earth precisely to expose all these things, to find them out. Stand in its light and you will know who you are! You'll see how you have no reason and no right to accuse even the most righteous sinner, to pass judgment on anyone! There, in that mercilessly judging light, you will be found to be no better than the last, the lowest!
And Brothers, let us give thanks that there is such light! Let us not shut ourselves away from the precious blessing of this light! Let us even try to place ourselves in its light every day, let it shine through us, let it reveal the perhaps unconscious troubles and damages in our lives, the secret wounds that prevent us from being truly happy, joyful, peaceful, contented! Let Him reveal the deepest cause of the troubles, failures, crookedness, inhibitions of our lives in our souls! To remain and walk in the light of this light: this is what it means to follow Christ. "I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life." (v. 12) It is not, therefore, that he who follows Christ will now never sin again, but that sin can no longer enter into his soul, can no longer hide in the secret hiding-place of keeping secret. It is exposed, it is in the spotlight - and sin does not like that!
Even the Pharisees and scribes in the story, who brought that sinful woman here, have been caught for a moment in the light of the light, but they also flee from it immediately! That is when one does not want to walk in the light. Like the frightened rabbit when he gets caught in the beam of a car reflector at night and runs away. Some people don't like the light, they prefer the darkness. They shut themselves off from the light. Like these Pharisees and scribes, who, when they hear Jesus declare of Himself that He is the light of the world, in their anger and jealousy cannot help saying, "Your testimony is not true" (v.13c) - Jesus replies, "Even if I bear witness of myself, my testimony is true, for I know where I come from and where I am going, but you do not know where I come from and where I am going." (verse 14) And because they do not know about Jesus, they do not know about themselves where they have come from and where they are going. How could they know, for they walk in darkness! In the darkness you can only wander. And you can only wander in the light. A wanderer is one who knows where he came from and where he is going. He came from death and is going to life, eternal life! If you don't want to be a sad wanderer in this new year of life, but to wander purposefully: then walk in the light, don't run, don't shut yourself off from the light! Those who wander are those who do not go to the cemetery of the wolf's head, but to the Father's tabernacle!
For those who do not walk in the light, Jesus tells them what will happen to them: "In your sins you will die." (Jn 8,21c) And twice more Jesus repeats this dreadful statement, "For this reason I said to you, you will die in your sins: for if you do not believe that I am I, you will die in your sins." (John 8:24) This is no small thing! Either we walk in the revealing, convicting light of Christ, or we love darkness more than light, then we walk in darkness, and ultimately die in our sins!
But Jesus does not want anyone to die in their sins! For He Himself rather died because He certainly does not want any of us to die in sin! For to die in sin is to be damned beyond redemption! Behold: the adulterous woman did not have to die in her sins. When she is exposed, uncovered, shamed, and left in the light of day, she has the most blessed and sublime moment of her life. Jesus and a sinful soul together, silently, alone with each other. The woman is trembling in anticipation of the judgment, anxious before Jesus. She knows that she will be justly judged. She cannot save herself, she has no excuse! And it is in this tense silence that the miracle, the deliverance, is born! "Neither do I condemn thee!" Yes, when the heart, accused, condemned, and oppressed by the law, trembles before the Lord, when it is overwhelmed with fears, when it comes to the point where only damnation can now await it, then the Saviour's heart bends down to it with wonderful warmth, then it opens itself to it with all its warmth, its love, its riches. All accusation, even the most inward accusing voice, is at once silenced, and the Lord says, "Neither do I condemn thee!" It is a wonderful light: it reveals you unmercifully, but it does not drive you away, it does not kill you, but gives you new life! It is a light that is not only judgment, but also grace - not only does it see sin, but it forgives the one who abides in it! Not only reveals, but also covers! It not only illuminates, but also warms, strengthens and purifies! Just as this woman was cleansed there in the light of the world and freed from her sin, so it is possible for others, for you, for me!
"Neither do I condemn thee: go thy way, and sin no more" (Jn 8,11b) Where these blessed words are heard in intimate silence, alone with Christ, by a repentant soul, new life always begins! Here your life will be renewed, in the new year, in the light of the world's light! The light of the world! The light of life! Believe me, without Him there is only darkness! A life without light, a life without joy, a life without hope, a life without sorrow! But whoever follows Him cannot walk in darkness, for He has the light of life!
On New Year's morning, let our Lord's first teaching be not just for today, but for the whole year! "I am the light of the world!" Count on it consciously in the days and situations of the coming year! Seek this light, open yourself to this light! For those who do not want to walk in darkness in the New Year, let their programme be what we ask in one of our beautiful hymns:
Thou walkest through all things; let me shine upon thee
Thy life-giving, blessed Spirit!
Like the little flower It unfolds of Its own accord,
When Thy silent light falls:
Let me, O Lord, be merry
Let me see thy light and work thy kingdom!
Canto 165, verse 4
Amen
Date: 1 January 1951 New Year