Jesus, the Scrutinizing Light

When I think of Jesus being “the light” (John 8:12), I honestly tend to only think of him as an illuminating light. What I mean by that is that I tend to only think of him as one who enlightens. And one who imparts wisdom and understanding. As one who strictly makes known the way, the truth, and the life. And if we follow this enlightening light, we will not walk in darkness, but have a greater understanding of heaven and earth and all that fills it. We will have a greater understanding of what is good, right, and true.

But have you ever thought of Jesus “the light” being Jesus the scrutinizer? In an article I recently read by Russ Ramsey, He argues that while it is true that Jesus is a revealing light, his light is much more than that—Jesus’ light is also a scrutinizing light. He writes: 

When Jesus says He is the Light of the World, and that those who follow Him will not walk in darkness, He is saying so much more than simply that He will illuminate our paths for us. He is telling us He will be in our lives as a scrutinizing light. As a searching light.

Now I understand if you feel uncomfortable right now thinking that Jesus is a scruitizer. And I get it that this can come across as intrusive. But if we understand that we have already opened ourselves to the scrutiny of the world, and if just come a greater understanding of the scrutiny of Jesus, this will become less offensive, less intrusive, and we will stand more eager to open up so to speak and say, “Ahhh” to his diagnosing and scrutinizing light.

Ramsey says that we have already placed ourselves under the lights of scrutiny. Whether it be the approval of the public, our parents, or best pals, we all already have a “light of the world.” But when we “make what [these things think] of [us] the light of [our] world,” he says, “[our] entire goal in life [then] becomes about mastering the art of walking in darkness…because [our] worth is [then] found in what [we] accomplish, not in who [we are].” 

He says:

But when Jesus tells us He is the Light of the World, and that those who follow after him will not walk in darkness but have the light of life, He says it as the One who will bring illuminating scrutiny unlike anything [we] have ever known before. It is the scrutiny that asks: Who are you really? Who are you meant to be? What are your deepest needs? What do you lack? Where are you lost? Where are you hiding?

These are the deepest questions we have. To walk in the light of Jesus is to welcome His scrutiny, examination, correction, and challenge. But if we’re going to do this, we must trust that such scrutiny will not be unto the end of revealing how unlovely we are, but how beloved.

So who is your light of the world today? Is it Jesus or something other than Jesus? I want to encourage you to turn your eyes upon Jesus, to look full in his wonderful face, then even the lights of earth with grow strangely dim, in the light of his scrutinizing grace.

These articles follow our church-wide reading plan. To read with us, click here.