TUESDAY 12th MAY 2020

Good morning friends,

Although it’s been a frost overnight, the sun is shining and all around is lit in its brightness.

Today we reflect on the second of the “I AM” sayings of Jesus.

According to John 8:12 and John 9:5, Jesus said, "I am the light of the world."

Simply, that means Jesus brings light into any dark place.

I have shared on occasion, with folks in the Fellowship, that as a little girl I was afraid of the dark, and always asked my mum if she would leave the hall light on during the night. It was the only way I could get over to sleep. Somehow that little light made me feel safe, and it brought me comfort.

I can remember too, that in those days there were often power cuts and mum always kept a supply of candles and matches in a cupboard so that we would not have to sit in the darkness if the power went off.

Light is so important to our well being and it seems that God knows this.

It is recorded in the book of Genesis that the first thing God called forth was light.

He said, "Let there be light, and there was light."

Thousands of years later, John wrote these words at the very beginning of his gospel,

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”

“The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world”

And now, here is Jesus claiming to be that very light.

Notice Jesus didn't just say He was light that would light up a room or even a street corner.

He was inclusive by saying He was the light of the world.

In other words, He was not just the light that would go out as our light bulbs do sometimes. Jesus said He was the very embodiment of light.

Wherever He is, nothing is dark because He is the light.

The occasion for this saying was in the aftermath of a woman who had been caught in adultery. The religious leaders had wanted to stone her to death because of her sinful ways. Jesus told them to cast the first stone if they were without sin. Nobody could do so, for the reality was/ is that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. That’s the reason Jesus came into the world, that we might be freed from sin and be able to walk in the light.

Jesus next act was to give sight to a man who had been born blind, bringing light into the man’s dark world.

During these days of lock-down, some of us may be feeling like we are living through dark days. Folks are struggling with the loss of a loved one; some are dealing with illness, physical or mental. Some are anxious and wondering when and if life will ever get back to normal. And some of us have moments when we just feel a little gloomy. I know I had a wee wobbly moment this morning just longing to go and visit my grandchildren. So these feelings are normal.

However, I hold onto the knowledge that Jesus is with me, and he makes his light shine in different ways each day. I pray that you can see his Light shining for you at this time.

I found this poem this morning, which I share with you.

I Am the Light of the World

I see your world in light that shines behind me, Lit by a sun whose rays I cannot see,

The smallest gleam of light still seems to find me, Or find the child who's hiding deep inside me.

I see your light reflected in the water, Or kindled suddenly in someone's eyes,

It shimmers through translucent leaves in summer, Or spills from silver veins in leaden skies,

It gathers in the candles at our vespers, It concentrates in tiny drops of dew

At times it sings for joy, at times it whispers, But all the time it calls me back to you.

I follow you upstream through this dark night

My Saviour, source and spring, my life and light. (Malcolm Guite)