Monday, March 9

Scripture: John 8:12
Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

I AM... THE LIGHT
I have always been enamored with the pair of phrases that grace the entrance and exit of Biola University’s library. Two contrasting yet complementary statements: “I Am the Light of the World” greets you on the way in, and “You Are the Light of the World” is visible as you leave. One imagines being drawn through the library doors by this identity claim of Jesus — “I Am the Light of the World” — as if to suggest that beyond the threshold dwells a measure of truth and knowledge and wisdom to which the seeker is beckoned and will be rewarded. At the end of study, the student, now illuminated, emerges from the library beneath Jesus’ proposition that “You are the Light of the World,” as if to suggest that beyond those doors stands a world of darkness into which the disciple will now radiate light and meaning.

Maja Lisa Engelhardt’s beautiful painting, Jesus on the Shore, uses light to depict the recently resurrected Jesus appearing to his disciples in the early morning hours after their long, dark and fish-less night. Perhaps the darkness had dulled their vision, for against the contrast of the dark sea there stood at the shoreline a radiant Jesus, but in the early morning light they could not recognize him (John 21:4). Maja Lisa created another version of this work that adorns the Danish Seamen’s Church in New York — a glass mosaic altar window — in which the brightness of Jesus’ form, set in white glass, glows brilliantly when backlit by sunlight. Portrayed so vividly, the artist's work might guide us to consider how these devoted followers of Jesus could be confronted by his presence in the morning light, and yet not know who they were seeing. When our eyes are fatigued by the darkness of our circumstances and the strain of fruitless effort, we are not prepared to recognize the fundamental nature of who Jesus is, nor the implication of his “I Am” identity for who we are as his disciples.

The corollary for Jesus’ identity claim in John 8:12 — “I Am the Light of the World” — is the poetically re-framed claim of Jesus in Matthew 5:14 that we are the light of the world. The light of life that Jesus shines is meant to be refracted and reflected by his followers. Signs of darkness abound in this broken world of ours. The light of Jesus is the remedy for dispelling the darkness. May God grant us clear vision to recognize him as our Light. May he reassure us that the light will overpower the darkness. And may we have the courage to be light in a world that so desperately needs it.

I heard the voice of Jesus say,
"I am this dark world's Light.
Look unto Me; thy morn shall rise
And all thy day be bright."
I looked to Jesus, and I found
In Him my Star, my Sun;
And in that Light of Life I'll walk
Till traveling days are done.

(From the hymn: "I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say,” Horatius Bonar, 1808-1899)

PRAYER
Come true light.
Come, eternal life.
Come, hidden mystery.
Come, rejoicing without end.
Come, light that knows no evening.
Come, raising of the fallen.
Come, resurrection of the dead.
Come, for you are yourself the desire that is within me.
Come, my breath and my life.
Come, the consolation of my humble soul,
Come, my joy, my glory, my endless delight.

(Symeon the New Theologian, 949-1022)

Brian Shook, Administrative Director, Office of the President