This is the last statement of Jesus about why He came into the world. The chief priests have brought Jesus to Pilate’s house, and Pilate has to make a decision about Him.

The religious leaders “began to accuse him, saying, ‘We found this man misleading our nation and forbidding us to give tribute to Caesar, and saying that he himself is Christ, a king’” (Lk. 23:2). So Pilate’s first question to Jesus is, “Are you a king?” Are you the king of the Jews?

Pilate is a secular ruler. To him, the word “king” means a monarch who rules over a particular country. If Jesus had said, “Yes, I am a king,” Pilate would have been misled into thinking that Jesus was a rival to Caesar.

So Jesus asks, “Do you say this of your own accord?”—that is, are you using the word “king” in the way that the Romans use it?—“Or did others say it to you about me?” (Jn. 18:34).

Jesus is challenging Pilate to make his own investigation into the truth. “People say many things about me. But here I am, right in front of you. Make your own investigation! Don’t simply echo what other people think. I am a king. I have a kingdom. But you cannot put a geographical limit on it. You cannot put a historical timeframe on it. It spans generations.”

“King,” as it is normally understood, is not a big enough word to describe Jesus. He is the King of kings and the Lord of lords. The Kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ transcends all other kingdoms.

Have you made your own investigation into the truth of who Jesus is?

If you follow Jesus, you will never be in total darkness.

He may lead you through some dark places. One day, He will lead you through the darkest valley, the valley of the shadow of death. But even there, He will walk with you.

His light will shine in the darkness, and the darkness will not overcome it. Follow Jesus, and you will be able to say with David, “The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?” (Ps. 27:1).

What does the future hold for you? None of us knows.

Is it possible that you will face a serious illness? Yes, that’s possible. But if you do, you will have the light of life.

Is it possible that your children will face some great trial or trauma? Yes, that’s possible. But if they do, they will have the light of life.

Is it possible that our whole world could descend into chaos, greater than any of us have known before? Yes, that’s possible. But if it does, we will have the light of life.

If you are facing a time of great darkness, hear what the Lord Jesus Christ says to you today: “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (Jn. 8:12).

Think of someone who is going through a difficult time. How could you encourage them with the reminder that Jesus is the light in the darkness?

There is a profound sense in which these words of Jesus speak to us today. The light of Jesus comes to us through the Scriptures, and each of us has it for “a little while.” What will you do with the light you have received?

Suppose that you and some friends decide to explore a cave. It is like a labyrinth. Every few yards there is a fork, and you have to decide, left, right, or straight. After a couple of hours, you and your friends are lost. Your torches grow dim and go out. Darkness has overtaken you.

Hours pass. You and your friends sit in silence. Then, someone sees a point of light. As it comes closer, you can see a person. A bright light shines from his helmet, but it’s as if his whole face is full of light. He says, “Follow me.”

As the man begins to move, the light around you becomes less, and if you want to have the light you need to follow Him. “Come on!” you say to your friends. “We have to follow the light!”

“But who knows where he will lead us?” one of them says. “I’d rather try and find my own way out.”

“But without Him you’ll be stumbling around in the darkness,” you say.

A shadow is coming over your friends, and soon it will be over you. You have to make a choice. What will you do? “Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you” (12:35).

What will you do with the light you have received?