The text in our reading for today is centrally focused on Jesus’ identity. He declares, “I am the light of the world . . .” leaning into God’s covenant name “I am who I am” (Exodus 3:14). Jesus is making the claim that he is God, because that’s who he is.

But there are also implications here for all who follow him. Jesus asserts that anyone who follows him “will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” When we’re honest with ourselves, we admit there are many times when we stumble in our faith. Sometimes we make deliberate choices to sin. At other times we fail to do the good that we could have done. At times, we still choose darkness. So, what do we do with Jesus’ words that his followers “will never walk in darkness”?

Until this point, the Israelites were taught to follow God’s commands and to offer certain sacrifices in order to be right with God. But now Jesus reorients their righteousness to himself. The good news Jesus proclaims is that instead of trying (and always failing) to be righteous before God, people can receive the light of Jesus’ perfect life that he extends to us (2 Corinthians 5:21). By God’s grace, all who follow Jesus have the light of life not because of what they do, but because of who Jesus is and what Jesus has done. Hallelujah!