How is Jesus the light of the world?

[arunangelo]

Jesus is the light of the world (John 8:12), because he sheds light on the Truth. The Truth is love; and love is God. Love is the only truth, because, true love is unconditional. It will, therefore, never disappear, die or give up on us. On the other hand, friendships, emotions, feelings and attractions are conditional. They can, therefore, vanish, if the conditions are unfavorable. Even matter can disappear into nothing, as it does in the black holes; because, its existence is totally dependent on the forces that hold atoms and subatomic particles together.
God, as the person of Jesus, showed us true love through his teachings, life and sacrifice. He taught us to love our enemy, pray for them and do good to them; if someone takes our coat, give them our shirt as well; offer the other cheek if someone slaps us on one; lend and do not expect it back; be merciful like our heavenly Father is merciful (Luke 6:27-36); give away our belongings and follow him (Matt.91:21); condemn no one (John 8:10); bring healing to those who hurt and betray us; and stay faithful to our marriage covenant even when there is betrayal and infidelity (Mark 10:9 and Hosea 3:1). He brought healing to the sick and forgiveness to sinners. Finally, he showed us the ultimate truth about love, by accepting the most painful and humiliating death on the cross to bring forgiveness and redemption to those who hurt and betrayed him. In other words, he the victim, with his life, paid the price of our offenses, we committed against him.

[Avoice]

He is only light for those who sit in the dark. Nothing more. He makes it possibke for those who refuse to obey Gods Torah sleep in peace at night. Christiandms dont fear the wrath of God. They will go to the grave with a smile on their face thinking they will be rewarded.

That is their portion in life. God is indeed merciful. They didn't want God's instruction They wanted to do what they wanted abd whenever they wanted to do it. They chose to live without the law. Abd they like being free of the law God has allowed them ti enjoy their life even though he is not a part of it.

So live it up Christians You have your reward. Seriously live it up.

Like a partridge that sits on eggs abd doesn't hatch then is like the man that gets riches and not by right will leave them in the midst of his days and in the end shall be a fool

[brunumb]

[Replying to post 1 by arunangelo]

Truth is love; and love is God. Love is the only truth, because, true love is unconditional.

Which eliminates God/Jesus from that rosy picture because his love is conditional. You must believe in the fantasy that is the NT or suffer the consequences that certainly don't involve compassion or mercy let alone love.
[/b]

[1213]

... his love is conditional. You must believe in the fantasy that is the NT or suffer the consequences that certainly don't involve compassion or mercy let alone love.
[/b]

Can you support that belief with the Bible?

[Tart]

He is only light for those who sit in the dark. Nothing more. He makes it possibke for those who refuse to obey Gods Torah sleep in peace at night. Christiandms dont fear the wrath of God. They will go to the grave with a smile on their face thinking they will be rewarded.

That is their portion in life. God is indeed merciful. They didn't want God's instruction They wanted to do what they wanted abd whenever they wanted to do it. They chose to live without the law. Abd they like being free of the law God has allowed them ti enjoy their life even though he is not a part of it.

So live it up Christians You have your reward. Seriously live it up.

Like a partridge that sits on eggs abd doesn't hatch then is like the man that gets riches and not by right will leave them in the midst of his days and in the end shall be a fool

Are you condemning the apostles? For what crime do you bring? Or is this just prophecy... Your own opinion?? And you sir?? A sinner?? Are you condemning yourself?

[Tart]

He is only light for those who sit in the dark.

Jesus is the light of the world... period... "If you are not for me you are against me"...

It seems to me, only a fool would use prophecy from Jeremiah to condemn Jesus and his followers...

Why believe in God, and not believe in God at the same time? That doesnt make any sense at all...

If you are a Jew, then know that all the laws of the prophets are summed up in Love God, Love Neighbor as self...

You want to make a fool of Christ, then consider you both the fool... But the sun will rise tomorrow, and faith will prevail for those who believe....

[Menotu]

I think many of his teachings can be seen as positive. But there are many throughout history that have taught similar things that can be considered positive. Is he a light? I guess if one wants to see him as one, that's their choice and shouldn't be chided for it. Additionally, they shouldn't shame others that don't see things the same way they do.
Maybe that's asking too much?

[brunumb]

... his love is conditional. You must believe in the fantasy that is the NT or suffer the consequences that certainly don't involve compassion or mercy let alone love.
[/b]

Can you support that belief with the Bible?

You could start with one of the most widely quoted verses from the Bible, John 3:16.
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

[Diagoras]

Jesus is the light of the world (John 8:12), because he sheds light on the Truth.

So ‘the light of the world’ is being used here metaphorically?

The Truth is love; and love is God. Love is the only truth, because, true love is unconditional. It will, therefore, never disappear, die or give up on us.

Are we being metaphorical again? I’m sure there are other ‘truths’. For example, “I have ten toes�, “2+2=4�, etc.

On the other hand, friendships, emotions, feelings and attractions are conditional. They can, therefore, vanish, if the conditions are unfavorable.

But love’s clearly a feeling or emotion - even when it’s ‘true, unconditional love’. So it too could vanish.

Even matter can disappear into nothing, as it does in the black holes

I can agree with this statement, insofar as it’s written in layman’s terms.

God, as the person of Jesus, showed us true love through his teachings, life and sacrifice.

So, if, as you say, “The Truth is love; and love is God�, and now God is Jesus, then presumably Jesus is Truth and Jesus is Love. Right? Incidentally, that means Jesus, as the ‘light of the world’ is shedding light on himself (metaphorically). And his teachings should be unconditional - meaning no-one’s obliged to obey them.

Finally, he showed us the ultimate truth about love, by accepting the most painful and humiliating death on the cross to bring forgiveness and redemption to those who hurt and betrayed him. In other words, he the victim, with his life, paid the price of our offenses, we committed against him.

<bolding mine>

Hang on - you just said that true love will “never disappear, die or give up on us“, so what exactly happened here? Did Jesus/God/Truth/Love (delete as appropriate) really die? Did he not really love us after all? It seems safer to assume this is all metaphor than to start capitalising things like Truth and Love and dressing it up as something profound.

[JehovahsWitness]

Jesus is the light of the world (John 8:12), because he sheds light on the Truth.

So ‘the light of the world’ is being used here metaphorically?.

I would say yes, because the literal light of the world would be the sun. It is for this reason many conclude Jesus was using a metaphor. Plus Jesus is reported to have used many metaphors he said he was bread, a door, a shepherd, a gate... and many other thing which would make little sense if taken literally.