太阳是我们这个自然界的光。没有太阳，地球上就不会有生命存在。然而根据圣经，生命的意义不仅仅是物质的存在；它还包括属灵的生命。我们在圣诞节庆祝的大光，它给这个被属灵黑暗笼罩的世界，带来了属灵生命。
约翰这段经文的背景，是在住棚节结束时，有四个巨大的灯台（约75英尺）在圣殿中被点燃。这光照耀着圣殿的庭院，这时人们就欢呼庆祝，纪念神将祂的百姓从埃及为奴之地拯救出来后，以色列人在旷野支搭帐篷的日子。
在这个背景下，耶稣声称自己是“世界的光”。祂没有说祂要把以色列从罗马的压迫中解放出来，然而，祂发出了一个更令人惊讶的宣告，那就是祂要把罪人从悖逆神的黑暗中搭救出来。这黑暗影响了我们个人，也以仇恨和暴力祸害了我们的世界。耶稣的救恩是给一切信祂的人。祂是“万国的光”，照亮世上一切信祂的人。
许多人不接受耶稣的宣告。你是否认识这“世界的光”呢？如果认识，就让祂照亮你的生命，带你更靠近天父，以及你周围的人吧。
世界的光，求祢照亮我们的心，好使我们在这个黑暗的世界彰显出祢的爱。阿们。
约翰福音 8:12-18
12 耶稣又对众人说：“我是世界的光。跟从我的，就不在黑暗里走，必要得着生命的光。”
13 法利赛人对他说：“你是为自己作见证，你的见证不真。”
14 耶稣说：“我虽然为自己作见证，我的见证还是真的；因我知道我从哪里来，往哪里去。你们却不知道我从哪里来，往哪里去。
15 你们是以外貌判断人，我却不判断人。
16 就是判断人，我的判断也是真的，因为不是我独自在这里，还有差我来的父与我同在。
17 你们的律法上也记着说：‘两个人的见证是真的。’
18 我是为自己作见证，还有差我来的父也是为我作见证。”
“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." — John 8:12
The sun is the light of our natural world. Without the sun, no life on earth could exist. According to the Bible, though, life means more than merely physical existence; it also includes spiritual life. At Christmas, we celebrate the spiritual life-giving light given to a world shrouded in spiritual darkness.
At the end of the Feast of Tabernacles, in the context of our passage from John, four gigantic lampstands (possibly 75 feet high) were lit in the temple. While this light blazed over the temple courts, the crowds celebrated, commemorating the travels of Israel in tents in the wilderness after God delivered his people from slavery in Egypt.
In this setting Jesus claims to be the “light of the world.” He does not claim that he will liberate Israel from the oppression of Rome, however. Instead, he makes the more startling claim of delivering sinners from the darkness of rebellion against God, a darkness that infects us individually and plagues our world with hatred and violence. Jesus’ salvation is for all who believe in him. He is a “light to the nations,” to all peoples around the world who believe in him.
Many people reject Jesus’ claim. Do you know the “light of the world?” If you do, let him shine in your life and bring you into closer fellowship with the Father and the people around you.
Light of the world, shine in our hearts so that we can reflect your love in this dark world. Amen.
诵读: 楚云
片头: 张妙阳
