Day 20 - I Am the Light of the World

     We read another "I AM" phrase today. Jesus is the Light of the world. Jesus as Light is one of the threads that runs through the book of John. This is hardly a new concept - the Bible begins with God creating light! We also read in Psalm 119 that God's Word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path.  And then we travel all the way to Revelation and heaven itself to read that there will be no sun, because Jesus will be the light! So, as I read to my children this morning, we talked about how God was and will always be our light, no matter how strong the darkness may seem - no matter how lost they may feel - God will always provide light. If you are looking for a good story to read along with this, "The light of the Whole World" in the Jesus Storybook Bible is what we read this morning.

 We are also saddened to read of those who do not believe and who continue to contradict Jesus. The text continues to show us that God is in control as we read a phrase we have seen before: "his hour had not yet come."

Some motifs or words to underline today would be "true" and witness." Jesus speaks in very clear cut words.

Ask your older children what it means for the Son of Man to be lifted up.

Reading: John 8:12-30

Memory passage: John 1:1-14 

Memory passage: Matthew 28:1-10 - I am going to begin reviewing the Resurrection passage with my children. We learned the story from Matthew, but you could also work any of the other Gospels. 

Memory Verse: John 8:12

Songs: Jesus, Joy of the Highest Heaven

Activity: Add more faces to those who believe (v. 30). We will also sit in a dark closet or room today, use a flashlight to show how light dispels darkness, and talk about how dark our hearts are with sin and how Jesus is the only one who can bring light to us.  

Meditation: Here is an old hymn text for meditation. Matthew 5:13-16. There are so many verses about light. With older children, trace the word through the Bible.