I do not like darkness. As a teenager, I wrestled demons at night that I cannot even begin to explain how they tormented my sleep and rest. I have always had need of a light to sleep by. Perhaps it was scary movies, maybe it had to do with the dabbling of occult practices, or perhaps it was the hatred within me. Regardless, darkness was terrifying for me. This is true for my kids as well. We don't watch scary movies in our house. We don't allow monsters under the bed or ghosts in the closet. Numerous times we've flipped mattresses, kicked the air, even yelled at the top of our lungs, but that doesn't change the fear of the darkness. But this does not deal with darkness completely.
Darkness is not solely about the night. For some, the struggle of night is not really the issue, it is the darkness of day that bothers them. Uncertain of the job to take, who to marry, even where to go to school, leads so many to wrestle in a different type of darkness. The darkness for them is really about not knowing what to do and the fear of that unknown.
If we take the text of John from an archeological perspective, we will find that the verses of John 7:53-8:11 were likely not in the original text. While the account is not doubt historical, it is highly probable that the text itself picks up at John 8:12 from 7:52. If this is accurate, we find an interesting connection to the preceding verses. Jesus is located at the feast of Tabernacles. Jewish males were required to pilgrimage to Jerusalem. Tabernacles was designed to commemorate the wilderness wanderings of Israel by living in "tents" for seven days and nights. On the first night the Menorah was lit so that all of Israel would be reminded of God's light during the darkness of the wanderings, but more specifically to point to God as the Light of the world. Throughout the city the light from the court of women could be seen. Sacrifices were brought to the temple as well as dancing and singing throughout the night. In addition to lighting the Menorah, the priests would daily draw water from the Pool of Siloam and pour it on the altar as a reminder of the water that came from the rock in the wilderness. The eighth day of the celebration was a day of oblation and reflection calling for God to continue with Israel.
All images of God's provision.
All reminders that God had not completely forsaken them.
All reminders that God still had a plan.
On the last day of the feast when the final libation of water was poured, Jesus proclaimed that He was the never ending water for those who would come to Him. He claimed to be the "light" to ensure they never would walk in darkness. I often hear people say that Jesus never claimed to be God. That He never announced to the world at large that He was divine. This "I am" saying would challenge that thought. We cannot separate Jesus' ancestry from His context. The Hebrew people understood Yahweh as Light. They understood Yahweh as the provider. It was Yahweh that they celebrated in the festivals. It was to Yahweh they called to for deliverance from the darkness and it was Yahweh who would lead them out.
Yahweh was present among them in Jesus - at least that was Jesus' understanding of it. I like that Jesus doesn't say, "I reflect the light, so look to me and I will guide you toward it." Jesus doesn't say, "I know where to find the light to rescue you from the darkness." Instead He states quite emphatically "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." Against the backdrop of Tabernacles, the connection could not be missed. Jesus was the God they were celebrating.
Facing the darkness is impossible without light. There can be no overcoming that darkness without the power of light. Many struggle through the night of their lives uncertain of what to do. Jesus says quite clearly, I am the Light of the world. You need not wrestle in the darkness. You need not submit to uncertainty. If you will follow me - not simply with your mind, but with your entire persons- then I will make sure that you never walk in darkness. I am not promising you that what lies in the path will not hurt you, but I am saying that at least now you can see it.
Soli Deo Gloria
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