In the words, "I am the light of the world," Jesus declared Himself the Messiah. The aged Simeon, in the temple where Christ was now teaching, had spoken of Him as "a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of Thy people Israel." Luke 2:32. In these words he was applying to Him a prophecy familiar to all Israel. By the prophet Isaiah, the Holy Spirit had declared, "It is too light a thing that Thou shouldest be My servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give Thee for a light to the Gentiles, that Thou mayest be My salvation unto the end of the earth." Isa. 49:6, R. V. This prophecy was generally understood as spoken of the Messiah, and when Jesus said, "I am the light of the world," the people could not fail to recognize His claim to be the Promised One.

Med disse ord: Jeg er verdens lys, erklærede Jesus sig for at være Messias. Den gamle Simeon i det tempel, hvor Kristus nu lærte, havde omtalt ham som et lys, som skal åbenbares for hedningerne, og en herlighed for dit folk Israel. Luk. 2,32. Ved disse ord anvendte han på ham en profeti, som hele Israel kendte. Helligånden havde ved profeten Esajas forkyndt: For lidt for dig som min tjener at rejse Jakobs stammer og hjemføre Israels frelste! Jeg gør dig til hedningers lys, at min frelse må nå til jordens ende. Es. 49,6. I almindelighed forstod man denne profeti sådan, at den var sagt om Messias, og da Jesus sagde: Jeg er verdens lys! kunne folket ikke undgå at erkende hans hævdelse af at være den Forjættede.