In our first lesson of this series on "Jesus Is the Light of the World" we focused on what was happening with Zacharias / Zachariah and Elizabeth in Luke chapter one. We also touched on some important things that were happening to Mary. See the excerpt below:

Luke 1:26-56 - During the pregnancy of Elizabeth, a relative / cousin named Mary was also visited by the angel Gabriel. The message to Mary was even more amazing than what was told to Zacharias and Elizabeth - Mary would conceive a child while yet a virgin! See Isaiah 7:14 cp. Matthew 1:18-23. Mary asked a reasonable question, but readily believed. Therefore, she was not speechless, as Zacharias, but could soon testify and glorify God when she went to visit Elizabeth. Elizabeth and her baby also rejoiced and celebrated the coming of the Messiah (Prenatal Praise!).

Mary had strong faith and a submissive spirit towards God (Luke 1:38,47-48). She was very mindful of the promises concerning the coming Messiah (This was no ordinary baby - Luke 1:33). God's Spirit gave her unction and she prophesied in what is known as "The Magnificat" (i.e. "My soul doth magnify the Lord" - Luke 1:46-55). Of particular note will be what Mary said in Luke 1:54-55… "He has helped His servant Israel, in remembrance of His mercy, as He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to His seed forever." Many prophecies / promises, that the Lord spoke to Abraham and his seed, could be cited here. But for the sake of our study we will focus on that which pertains to Jesus Christ being the light of the World (Acts 26:22-23).

"The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, upon them a light has shined." (Isaiah 9:2 cp. Matthew 4:12-16; Luke 1:76-79)

"I, the LORD, have called You in righteousness, and will hold Your hand; I will keep You and give You as a covenant to the people, as a light to the Gentiles / nations." (Isaiah 42:6 cp. Luke 2:32 [Luke 2:21-32])

"Indeed He says, It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved ones of Israel; I will also give You as a light to the Gentiles / nations, that You should be My salvation to the ends of the earth." (Isaiah 49:6 cp. Acts 13:46-47)

"Arise, shine; for your light has come! And the glory of the LORD is risen upon you. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the people; But the LORD will arise over you, and His glory will be seen upon you. The Gentiles / nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising. Lift up your eyes all around, and see…" (Isaiah 60:1-4a cp. Malachi 4:2; II Corinthians 4:3-6; Ephesians 5:14)

"But to you who fear My name The Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healing in His wings; And you shall go out and grow fat like stall-fed calves." (Malachi 4:2 cp. Hebrews 1:1-3)

How is Jesus the light of the world? Consider these three basic answers: Salvation, Good Works, and Truth. They point us in the right direction so that we can seek the Lord and follow Him the rest of our lives (Isaiah 1:18; 55:1-2,6-11; Hosea 6:3,6; Micah 6:6-8; Mark 12:28-34).

Salvation - Salvation delivers us from the control of Satan's dark kingdom and brings us into the kingdom of God's dearly beloved Son. We receive forgiveness of sins, spiritual life / new birth, and deliverance from the deadness of trespasses and sins. We are risen to a new life which also entitles us to an inheritance in the kingdom of light - an eternal kingdom of truth and purity. There is only one way / one gospel. All other messages are darkness / false light.

See Isaiah 49:6; Acts 13:46-47; Luke 1:76-79; 2:29-32; II Corinthians 4:3-6; 11:3,13-15; Colossians 1:12-14; II Timothy 1:7-10; I Peter 2:9; I John 2:8-11, Revelation 21:23-24; 22:1-5 cp. John 14:6; Acts 4:12; 26:18; Galatians 1:3-9; Ephesians 2:1-6; Colossians 2:8-10; I John 2:15-27; 4:1-6.

Good works - The light of Salvation shows us how to walk. We are to walk in the light of God's ways, not in the darkness of ignorance, sin and evil. Christ gives us light so that we can obey.

See; Psalm 97:10-12; Mathew 5:14-16; 28:18-20; John 3:18-21; 8:12; 12:35-36,46; Ephesians 5:1-21; I John 1:5-7; 2:6 cp. Galatians 2:20; Ephesians 2:8-10 [cp. Titus 3:3-8]; Hebrews 13:20-21.

Truth - The light of salvation comes to us by God's word and by God's Spirit. We need wisdom, discernment, and understanding from God. His truth makes us free from the deception of Satan, the world, and the flesh. We get our sense of direction, we establish our values and priorities through the light of Christ. Truth is not just something that we know. It is something that we do.

See Psalm 36:9; Psalm 119:105,130; Proverbs 6:23 [Proverbs 6:20-27 cp. 2:1-22]; John 1:4-5,9,14-18; 5:24-26; 6:37-40,44-45,63; 8:30-32; 10:27-30; 12:35-36,46; 17:13-22; Romans 1:1-6,16-17; 10:8-17; Acts 26:22-23; Ephesians 5:1-21; Colossians 1:3 - 2:10; James 1:2-8,17-18,22-25; 2:14-20; 3:13-18; I Peter 1:22-25; I John 1:5-7; III John 1:3-4. See also Deuteronomy 29:29; Psalm 111:10.