Follow Jesus, the light of the world (John 8b)*

John 8:12-30

Key Verse - 12

Introduction: During the Feast of Tabernacles, Jesus offered living water to those who believed in him (7:37-38). When the feast was over, many went home, but Jesus stayed behind to pray. Early the next day, he taught at the temple. At this time,  he told them that he was the light of the world. This offer was in line with the hopes that were embedded in the lighting ceremony held during the Feast. In this way, Jesus offered himself as the source of the two blessings that would characterize the coming of God’s kingdom. This offer was met with intense opposition and disbelief because they rejected Jesus as the Messiah. As he reasoned with those who didn’t believe him, Jesus shined the light of life on them. Through looking at this discourse, I pray that we can find what it means that Jesus is the light of the world, and find how we can follow him as the light of our life. 

I.      Jesus is the light of the world (12)

Jesus is the light of life, for he embodies the blessing that Israel envisioned for the time of the restoration of God’s kingdom:

Today’s story starts with a clause indicating a specific time, i.e. “when Jesus spoke again”. This provides a link to previous events, including the account of a woman caught in adultery as well as his teaching during the week after the Feast of Tabernacles. At dawn of the first day after the Feast, Jesus came down from his long nightly prayer and went to the temple. There, he taught people, but the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law interrupted his teaching by bringing in a woman who had been caught in adultery. Immediately after this matter was settled and the woman’s condemners had left the scene, Jesus told them that he was the light of the world.

“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12).

During the Feast of Tabernacles, Israel participated in two symbolic activities: drawing water from the Pool of Siloam and pouring it out in the Holy Place and lighting many candles, especially in the women’s court. These two events symbolized the Lord’s blessing that would come in the future on the day of Lord. The entire Feast of Tabernacles was celebrated in the hope of the Lord’s ultimate redemption and blessing for Israel, which would come at the end of time; each of these two ceremonies symbolized particular aspects of His blessings. The water ceremony was to express their hope and prayer for God’s abundant blessing, specifically in the form of the downfall of Israel’s enemies. To fulfill this hope and need of life, Jesus offered himself as the source of living water (7:37-38). The light ceremony symbolized God’s presence in their midst, which drove away all the darkness of life, just as He did during their journey from Egypt to the Promised Land. 

By stating that he was the light of the world, Jesus was also declaring himself to be the source of Israel’s hope, as symbolized by the lighting ceremony during the Feast. In this way, coupled with his offer of living water, Jesus presented himself as the source of all of the blessings that they hoped to see in the time of God’s restoration of Israel and their eternal blessing, which amply indicated that he was the Messiah.

Jesus demonstrated his power and authority to give the light of life to a sinner

Just before this, a woman who had been caught in the act of adultery was about to be condemned to death by the Pharisees and teachers of the Law. She faced death, and saw no hope; the darkness of death and eternal judgment overshadowed her life. However, when Jesus told them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her”, the accusers left her alone, one by one. While the fear of death was still hanging over her head, Jesus, the holiest man, stood up, and, looking at her face to face, he said, “Then neither do I condemn you.” He then declared, “Go now and leave your life of sin.” Now, she was fully moved from death to life. For the first time, she saw the light in her life. While she was under the dark shadow of death, Jesus shined that light on her.

What about the crowd? When Jesus told them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her,” the power of the word came upon, not only his accusers, but also upon the entire crowd, because Jesus’ word directed the Law’s condemnation upon everyone who was present. Just as the adulterous woman was trembling with the fear of death, so also were the hearts of these people trembling as they watched her, since none of them were sinless. In this way, the fear of death as God’s judgment became very real to this crowd. Simply, all of them, without exception, were under sin’s power and therefore experienced a vivid exercise of God’s judgment on them, as they watched the whole event. This was indicative of the darkness of sin and death, from which no one could escape. While this darkness clouded their hearts, Jesus said:

“I am the light of the world.” (John 8:12a).

Jesus became the light for this woman. Along with her, the crowd also felt a great sense of relief from their fear of judgment and death. Likewise, Jesus freed the woman from the judgment found in the Law of Moses, i.e. removing death’s power. The entire crowd was revealed to be under the darkness of death, and none of them had seen any light because no one could repeal the Law or its judgment. In this darkness, Jesus shone a light that overcame the power of death, which had come through the Law of Moses.

Jesus is the light of life; he gives salvation and shines that light throughout our lives until we reach eternity.

Jesus told them to follow him; if they would do so, they would never walk in darkness. Just before this, he declared to the woman who was caught in adultery, "Go now and leave your life of sin." Since she saw the light in him, she was to carry on with her life, without sin, until she entered the kingdom of God. How then could she avoid going back to her old life of sin, chasing after her desires for comfort and the love of a man? Here, Jesus taught people, as well as this woman, so that they might not fall into such situations again. This is a strong and implicit demand for her to follow him from this point on. In this way, Jesus being the light of the world holds two purposes; first, to give them a new light to drive away the darkness of death in their lives, and the second one was to light the way so that they might walk in the light towards the kingdom of God. The Psalmist, David, also testified of this. As we noted before, David called God “his light and his salvation” (Psalm 27:1). He also said: 

“For you have delivered me from death and my feet from stumbling, that I may walk before God in the light of life.” (Psalm 56:13).

David was resolved to walk in God’s light since God had delivered him from death. Jesus’ offer for us should also be seen in this light. What does this teach us? Our life must be centered on God’s words. In this sense, I am so happy that we have built our lives along studying and eating the daily bread of God’s word every week. For those who are in Christ and who walk along with Christ, there is no darkness, even in such a situation as this woman faced.

II.   Jesus is the light of life because his light shines into the darkness, and the darkness could not overcome it (13-20).

While this great offer was laid before them, the Pharisees were not quite convinced, and raised this serious doubt:

“Here you are, appearing as your own witness; your testimony is not valid.” (John 8:13b).

They knew that the light for Israel was from God only. They also knew that what Jesus offered was meant for Israel as a nation. However, they could not accept that Jesus was the light that God was going to give. This is why they could not take Jesus’ word as the truth and demanded supporting evidence of the truthfulness of his word.

III.              Jesus, the light, shines to reveal life in its entirety (13-14)

“The Pharisees challenged him, “Here you are, appearing as your own witness; your testimony is not valid.”” (John 8:13).

God, the sole source of the light of life, is Jesus’ Father.

Jesus’ claim met with strong opposition from the Pharisees. Before we try to figure out how he defended against their unbelief, it is good to find out where the idea of the ‘light of life’ came from, and what the ground was for this opposition and disbelief. While considering their disbelieving minds, two questions could be raised; who can do such a thing as this, undoing the authority of the Law of Moses, and who was Jesus that he could claim that he could be the light for the entire world?

In the Old Testament, this type of light was attributed to God. The first revelation of God being the light of salvation was rooted in Israel’s experience with the Lord in the wilderness. He rescued Israel from the Egyptian army by leading Israel with a pillar of fire.

“By day the LORD went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light so that they could travel by day or night.” (Exodus 13:21).

Throughout his life, David experienced God as his light; near the end of his life, he sang a song in praise to the Lord:

“You, Lord, are my lamp; the Lord turns my darkness into light.” (2 Samuel 22:29).

Elsewhere, he again described God as the light of his life:

“Of David. The LORD is my light and my salvation-- whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life-- of whom shall I be afraid?” (Psalm 27:1). 

However, when Israel failed to follow God, He determined to send them into exile. At the end of this prophecy, God promised to send them a servant:

"I, the LORD, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles” (Isaiah 42:6).

Israel failed to keep the covenant. When their failure was certain, God promised to send them a servant. This servant would become a covenant for Israel and a light for the world. In this way, God made this servant to be the light of the world. Therefore, when Jesus said that he was the light of the world, he was declaring that he was the one that God had promised to send, according to the prophet Isaiah. God is the sole source of light, and He sent His light through this Servant, according to His promise. 

Notwithstanding the prophecy, these people refused to accept Jesus as their Savior and as the promised Servant. Within their unbelieving frame of mind, this question was reasonable, since they believed that no man can be accepted as right by his own witness alone. According to God’s law, no one could be judged or accepted merely on the basis of a single witness’s claim. There must be at least two witnesses to support the validity of one’s own witness or claim (13-14). God set up this rule because men are sinful and imperfect. Their perceptions are limited, finite, and tainted by human desires. Because of this, God laid down the firm rule that, whenever it came to a matter of judging someone, there must be two witnesses from a third party. However, there is a difference between man’s testimony and Jesus’.

“Jesus answered, “Even if I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is valid, for I know where I came from and where I am going. But you have no idea where I come from or where I am going.” (John 8:14).

First, Jesus said he could serve as his own witness since he knew where he came from and where he was going. He meant that he had the entire knowledge of his life, from beginning to end, implying that his knowledge was complete or whole. On the other hand, the people of the world had only partial knowledge, which was incomplete, grossly deficient of the truth, and wrong, making it necessary for a third witness to make up for their deficiency of knowledge. At the same time, Jesus told them that their knowledge or judgment was incorrect and incomplete, because their understanding could not overcome the boundaries of the flesh (human standard: NIV).

Jesus knew where he came from and where he was going, while his listeners did not know where they came from or where they were going. Men know, see, and understand only what is within the sphere of their present life. They are totally ignorant of the world before and after their current life. This makes their knowledge utterly inaccurate, incomplete, and possibly totally wrong. Contrarily, Jesus knew where he came from and where he was going, and his knowledge and assessment of life were complete and perfect. Therefore, the rule that applied to all men could not be applied to Jesus; this is why Jesus himself can serve as a witness for the truth of life. Jesus not only knew where they came from and where they were going, but he also demonstrated where men should go, through the example of his life. His life in its entirety, i.e. how he lived, how he died, and how he was resurrected, would serve as a witness as to what life is about in its entire truth. None of the spiritual gurus who have ever existed in human history showed this truth in their lives. For the first and only time in history, Jesus opened the full knowledge of human life in its entirety, especially where we are going, even after death. Jesus’ teaching, as well as his life, reveal this. We are to ascertain our lives in the light, which is revealed in Jesus’ life and which goes far beyond death.

Second, if Jesus meant to judge them by saying this, then you may possibly take his word as invalid. However, Jesus did not come to judge (15).

“You judge by human standards; I pass judgment on no one.” (John 8:15).

It is difficult to determine what ‘judge’ means, though two different meanings are possible; one refers to carrying out one’s assessment on others, and the other is to condemn someone for punishment. These people condemned Jesus to be wrong, and believed that he was in violation of the Law of Moses; this is why they decided to kill him, choosing the ultimate delivery of judgment according to the Law of Moses. However, their way of arriving at such a decision was wrong, because it was of human standard, according to the flesh. When Jesus said, “I am the light of the world”, in their minds, his premise was that the world was already in darkness, including these doubters; however, he was really saying that the premise had nothing to do with him. He was simply revealing the current reality of life in the world and declared that its condition was not of his own making. This discernment was not his primary role or purpose. The primary purpose of his coming had nothing to do with judging men; rather, it was clearly shown in his interaction with the woman caught in adultery. He told her, “neither do I condemn you”. He also said:

“For I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world.” (John 12:47b).

Nevertheless, in the process of offering this good news, he had to also reveal the fact of their current life - that the world is under darkness. Where then was this discernment to come from?

“But if I do judge, my decisions are true, because I am not alone. I stand with the Father, who sent me.” (John 8:16).

The premise of his saying that the world was in darkness, under the power of sin, was not out of his own discernment, but God’s. The world was already under God’s judgment, even before Jesus came to announce this. His premise that the life lived in the world is under God’s judgment, is the truth. What God said to Adam soon after his rebellion, still stands firm:

“By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust, you will return.” (Genesis 3:19).

This condemnation won’t go away unless God Himself undoes it. To this effect, God offered a way to undo sin’s curse through the Law of the Covenant. However, Israel failed to abide by that Covenant, and they were still living under the darkness of God’s judgment and death.

Even now, men of unbelief refuse to accept that they are under God’s judgment and eternal condemnation. There are two common sources of such stubborn unwillingness; they were righteous in their own right, and their humanism views God’s patience on sinners as their inalienable right.

Third, Jesus the Son and God the Father served as the two witnesses of judgment and blessing over the world.

“In your own Law, it is written that the testimony of two witnesses is true. I am one who testifies for myself; my other witness is the Father, who sent me.” (John 8:17-18).

What Jesus declared was true, even though it contained an element of judgment. This was true and right, because both the premise that the world is in darkness and his offer that he is the light of the world, came from God the Father. Through the Law of the Covenant, God made His people realize that they could receive the light of life only through fulfilling the Covenant. At the same time, He promised His people, through Isaiah, that, even if the nation utterly failed to meet that covenantal standard, the servant He would one day send would meet that Covenant and serve as the light for the entire world. In this way, the one principle is true about both God the Father and His Son, Jesus:

“Then they asked him, “Where is your father?” “You do not know me or my Father,” Jesus replied. “If you knew me, you would know my Father also.”” (John 8:19).

The Father reveals the Son, and the Son reveals the Father in the fullness of His purpose, judgment, salvation, and love. So, when one knows the Father, he is inevitably led to know the Son as well. There are many who acknowledge the Father but refuse to accept the Son. Such a thing is not possible, for the Father inevitably reveals the Son; this is because He has done and is doing all things through His Son. In this regard, these people think that they know the Father, but they do not. Their understanding is not based on the Word that the Father gave. Instead, the God that they believe in is just a creation of their own minds; their knowledge is greatly distorted by their sinfulness.

So, God, the Father, and Jesus, the Son, serve the world for judgment and salvation. These two witnesses cannot be thought of separately. The revelation of the truth that Jesus is the light of the world is tightly bound up in one’s knowledge of the Father. However, since they rejected the Father, they had also rejected Jesus, for no one can know the Son while he is ignorant of the Father. Likewise, no one can fully know the Father, unless they know the Son. In other words, knowing one inevitably leads to the knowledge of the other, because the Son is the exact representation of the Father and the Father chose to reveal Himself only through the Son. When one starts to pursue knowledge of the Father, that knowledge will point him to also gaining knowledge of the Son as the full revelation of the Father. When one begins to learn about the Son, then he will come to know that the Son is not of himself, but rather works in full obedience to the Father. In this way, both God the Father and Jesus the Son both serve as witnesses for the light of life in the world. What if one accepts only the Son or only the Father? No matter how well they are acquainted with or knowledgeable of one of these two, they are still living under darkness.

IV.               The light of life contrasted with the life lived in darkness (21-30)

Jesus ended his discussion by telling them about his upcoming departure. He did a very similar thing at the end of the Feast of Tabernacles; he finished his discourse with the same subject - his whereabouts (7:33-34). At that time, the reason why they could not find him or follow where he was going was because he was going back to the One who had sent him, i.e. they could not follow him to his Father. However, at this time, Jesus revealed the difference between the ending of their lives under darkness and those who accepted the life in the light that he offered.

First, the life lived under the darkness ends in Hades.

“Once more Jesus said to them, “I am going away, and you will look for me, and you will die in your sin. Where I go, you cannot come.” (John 8:21).

At this time, Jesus said the same thing, but also added that they could not follow him because they would die in their sin. In this way, Jesus made it clear why they would be separated from him; it was because of their sin, which leads to death. DEATH in SIN is an obvious result of God’s judgment. On the other hand, Jesus’ life as the light of life should reveal that light to all men. How then would Jesus’ life be different from these people’s lives? The key difference is that, while the ending of their life would be below in Hades, Jesus would be in heaven above. Their death in sin would make them unable to follow him to where he was going. However, they remained oblivious in their unbelief and said,

“Will he kill himself? Is that why he says, ‘Where I go, you cannot come’?” (John 8:22).

Since their death in sin was the least thing on their mind, they thought that Jesus’ death would separate them from him. However, Jesus clarified what he meant:

“But he continued, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world.” (John 8:23).

They would be from below and of this world, while Jesus would be from above and not of this world. The implication of this was clear; ‘below’ meant hades and ‘above’ means heaven. Simply, these people would end their lives in Hades, while Jesus would be in heaven. Jesus did not stop there;

“I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am he, you will indeed die in your sins.” (John 8:24).

For the third time, Jesus told them truthfully about their fate. The only way to avoid this dismal outlook of their lives was to believe in Jesus as the light of life. In Israel’s history, there were many great prophets, who were very godly and filled with God’s Spirit; however, none of them made the claim that he was different from the people of Israel,  or that they had come from heaven. This was a bold and shocking claim which no human being could make. Facing such a shocking and bold statement, they raised this serious question:

“Who are you?” they asked.” (John 8:25a).

Though they had believed so convincingly that Jesus was just a carpenter’s son, the word that they received was so powerful and the stakes were so high if his word turned out to be true. They put aside their knowledge and asked him seriously for the first time, who he was.

“Just what I have been telling you from the beginning,” Jesus replied.” (John 8:25b).

Jesus’ answer was consistent and clear; he told them that he was the Son of Man, the Messiah, all along, and that he was the light of the world. This was his final offer for them, and they needed to seriously consider it. They had only one choice in order to escape their current predicament of dying in their sins. That choice was Jesus. They have to believe that Jesus is HE, the one who came in the name of the Lord. If not, they will indeed die in their sins, the judgment of God.

Second, Jesus, the light of life, has overcome the power of death

Their unbelief was strong and their hostility was still hot. Jesus gave his final word to them about how he would be with them:

“I have much to say in judgment of you. But he who sent me is trustworthy, and what I have heard from him I tell the world.” (John 8:26).

Jesus was deeply concerned with their unwavering will to kill him. He also knew that such unrepentant hearts would eventually crucify him. Knowing this, he could have condemned them right there, but he would not do so; he trusted his Father’s righteousness and would entrust all matters of judgment to his Father’s hands. Not only at this time, but also throughout his ministry and even on the cross, JESUS WITHHELD HIS JUDGEMENT upon those who hated and killed him. He told them the truth without hesitation, but withheld judgment, leaving it to God’s hand. He walked the fine line between truth and love. Most often, telling the truth will be misconstrued as an act of judgment and an abuse of power. Love is sometimes misconstrued as weakness and cowardice. Regardless, his focus was on conveying all of the words that the Father wanted him to deliver to the world—the message of salvation, which was also the message of the light of life. He would convey this truth, not only through his teaching in word, but also through what he taught by living, as he put all matters of judgment into his Father’s hand. He was dedicated to man’s salvation of man, and nothing else! How great this is, and how hard it is for us to follow; yet, this is the way of genuine love in truth.

“They did not understand that he was telling them about his Father.” (John 8:27).

Jesus’ revelation concerning the light of life was about to end. However, his disciples were still living in darkness, and there was no sign of change at all. Sin’s darkness had thoroughly overwhelmed their lives. If this continued, it would be pitiful and tragic. Could the light of life do something to penetrate this darkness? Or, if this is possible, then when and how would it come about?

“So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me.” (John 8:28).

The light which was displayed in Jesus’ life would shine even during times of utter darkness and death. When they crucified him, they would come to realize that he had taught and lived in full obedience to his Father and that he lived a life of genuine love for them, the hallmarks of the promised Son of Man. So, on the cross, the light which was in Jesus would speak most powerfully wherever he entrusted his life into His Father’s hands by faith, entrusting Him with all judgment. Sin’s darkness could never overcome the light’s final or most powerful revelation through the cross. In this way, Jesus’ light explained all aspects of the light of life, not only through his teaching but also in his life itself. What would that reveal to the world? The entire discourse is about the light of life, which was Jesus, as evidenced by his entire missional walk of light.

“The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him.” (John 8: 29).

The light of life shone strongest on the cross, where the darkness of sin and death were displayed most powerfully. What was the light’s essence? This is the type of faith that trusts God, saying “He has not left me alone for I always do what pleases Him.” (John 8:29b). 

V.   Follow Jesus and receive the light of life (12b)

After declaring that he is the light of the world, he also told these people:

“Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12b).

Previously, Jesus taught that his followers must eat his flesh and drink his blood in order to have his life in them. At the Feast of Tabernacles, he offered them water that would well up within them to eternal life. These teachings were about how the constitution of one’s life must change from the old to the new. Jesus’ command to follow him is the next step, i.e. it has to do with our different walks of life until we get to the place of eternal blessing, just as God would do for Israel as her light, until they entered the land of His promise. Since Jesus is the Bread of Life, we must eat his flesh and drink his blood. Likewise, since he is the Light of the World, we ought to follow him, so that we can have the light of life in us. This teaches us about our walk of life, from the time we first believed to the time we reach our final destination in God’s kingdom. This is not a onetime deal, but rather concerns how we manage our lives daily, weekly, and yearly, until we get to heaven. The implication of this is well revealed in what Jesus said to the woman who was caught in adultery; he said: “from now on, leave your life of sin.” From that point on, she was to live a life without sin, until she entered the kingdom of God. How could she do that? How could she do away with the desires that had led her to such a dire situation? The answer was Jesus’ statement that he was the light of the world; she had to take his life as her life every day. Every day that we live is always now, and we may never live tomorrow; therefore, the present is most important. We must follow the light, Jesus, now.

Where was Jesus going? His walk had one goal: for the follower to have the light of life; he himself said, “they will have the light of life”. This goal was recognized when he repeatedly told his disciples that the Son of Man must be killed and then would rise in three days. Jesus’ walk was toward one destination, his death on the cross, whereby the ultimate revelation of life would be made. When we follow Jesus today, we can also follow him tomorrow, for today is always the stepping-stone for tomorrow. As the disciples followed Jesus from Galilee to Jerusalem, they saw many examples of the light within him, but the light that overcomes the darkest of the darkness did not come until they witnessed his crucifixion. That light of life would not come to them until they stood by as he was hung on the cross. The centurion’s confession tells us of the light shone from the cross (Mark 15:39). When the risen Jesus appeared to those who had stood by during his crucifixion, the most powerful light of life shone (John 28:28). We can follow him today, and today will lead us to the point whereby we can see the ultimate light of life, which first shone in his resurrection. If Jesus’ walk had one goal, toward his crucifixion and then to his resurrection, then should our walk be any different from his?

However, this would be the most difficult time to stand with Jesus, for suffering and death would never be seen as the source of the light of life from an ordinary perspective. Here, the world’s temptations work powerfully against the light.

“Many will follow their depraved conduct and will bring the way of truth into disrepute.” (2 Peter 2:2).

“Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts.” (2 Peter 3:3 NAS).

“These people are grumblers and faultfinders; they follow their own evil desires; they boast about themselves and flatter others for their own advantage.” (Jude 1:16).

These worldly powers appeal to our flesh’s sinfulness. More often than not, we stand between the cross of Jesus, as the light of life, and our desire to suit our immediate needs in the darkness. The lure is even stronger when Satan mimics the light of life.  

“One of the heads of the beast seemed to have had a fatal wound, but the fatal wound had been healed. The whole world was filled with wonder and followed the beast.” (Revelation 13:3).

We are not living on an island; we always follow others (i.e. our parents, mentors, peers, experts, and renowned, successful leaders of life. In many aspects, these are good and worthy people to follow; however, whatever they do or however we decide to emulate their lives, it must be measured against Jesus’ light, whether or not it stands with the light of truth, because, if we do not follow Jesus, the world’s darkness will surely lead us down the path of death.

In and through his resurrection, Jesus revealed the light; this was the ultimate and final revelation of the light. When he comes again, he will come in power and glory. There is nothing greater than Jesus’ resurrection, which was a display of the light in its brightest glory. If we fail to see the brightest light through his resurrection, we will search for something greater. Such a mindset will easily be lured into Satan’s cunning schemes. The martyrs and saints followed the lamb who was slain, the lowest and the most treacherous looking one.

“These are those who did not defile themselves with women, for they remained virgins. They follow the Lamb wherever he goes. They were purchased from among mankind and offered as firstfruits to God and the Lamb.” (Revelation 14:4).

In the slain lamb, they saw the greatest and brightest light, and they followed him. May God give us the same faith, commitment, and heart to follow Jesus!

In this regard, I would like to conclude with a word from the book of Hebrews:

“Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, whom we acknowledge as our apostle and high priest.” (Hebrews 3:1 NIV).