John 9:5
“While I am in the world, I am the Light of the world.”
The Light of the world and the Light of life and the Light of men and the True Light are all names for Jesus (John 1:4, 9, 8:12).
Adam’s fallen race lives in the valley of the shadow of death. Into this dark valley comes Jesus with the bright and shining revelation that God offers us a new life. When the Light of the world was hung on a cross, darkness covered the land like a shroud (Matt. 27:45).
John 9:39
And Jesus said, “For judgment I came into this world, so that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may become blind.”
(a) For judgment I came into this world. Jesus did not come to judge the world (John 3:17), but those in the world will be judged by their response to Jesus.
The fallen world was under the devil’s thumb and captive to sin. But Jesus came and now we can be free. Jesus didn’t come to judge but to offer us a way out of captivity. We are the ones who judge. The original word for judgment means decision. How will we decide: the devil or the Deliverer? Will we remain in the prison or will we put our faith in Christ?
When Jesus returns in glory he will not judge anyone. He will simply separate those who have chosen him from those who have rejected him. (see entry for Matt. 10:15). The grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all people, but not all put their faith in him.
(b) Those who do not see are those who are ignorant of their sin and their need for salvation.
(c) Those who see are the self-righteous who think they have it altogether and have no need of God’s help.
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