The Light of the World

“Encountering Jesus and Seeing Our Need for a Savior” 

Moe Bergeron / Oct 1, 2024

Throughout the Gospels, we see a powerful theme: when people encounter Jesus, the Word made flesh, their understanding of themselves is radically transformed. Many of them had lived their entire lives under the law, aware of right and wrong, and even aware of their own shortcomings. But when they met Jesus, the true Light of the world, something deeper happened. Their hearts were pierced, and for the first time, they saw the full reality of their sin and their desperate need for a Savior. As John writes, “From His fullness we have all received grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ” (John 1:16-17, BSB).

But why did these people only come to a full recognition of their need for salvation after Jesus appeared? What was it about encountering Him that opened their eyes in a way the law never could?

The Limitations of the Law

Before Jesus came, many of the people who would later follow Him lived under the law given through Moses. The law was God’s gift to His people, designed to show them His standard of righteousness and holiness. It revealed what was right and wrong and pointed to the need for atonement through sacrifices. As Paul explains, “through the law we become conscious of our sin” (Romans 3:20, BSB).

However, the law could not change the human heart. It was a mirror, reflecting people’s sin but offering no lasting solution. People could obey the law outwardly, follow religious rituals, and perform sacrifices, but still miss the deeper reality of their sinfulness. They were left in a cycle of trying to make themselves right with God through their own efforts. Even for those who felt the weight of their sin, the law could only point to their failure—it could not save them.

Jesus, the True Light, Exposes the Heart

When Jesus came, He didn’t just preach more laws or offer more moral teachings. He was, as John describes, “the true Light that gives light to every man” (John 1:9, BSB). Jesus did something that the written law could never do—He penetrated the very depths of the human heart. In His presence, people didn’t just see that they had broken rules; they saw their hearts laid bare in the light of God’s holiness.

This is why individuals like Peter, the woman at the well, and Zacchaeus saw their need for a Savior only after encountering Jesus. The law could only make them aware of sin in an abstract, intellectual way, but Jesus revealed it in a personal, transformative way. His light pierced their souls, and for the first time, they understood the depth of their need for grace.

Peter: From Fisherman to Follower

Take Peter, for example. Before meeting Jesus, Peter was a fisherman, living a life shaped by Jewish customs and the law. But his life was dramatically changed when he encountered Jesus in a simple yet profound moment. 

After a long night of unsuccessful fishing, Jesus told Peter to let down his nets once more. When Peter obeyed, his nets overflowed with fish. But instead of rejoicing in the abundance, Peter was overcome by a deeper revelation. He fell at Jesus’ feet and said, “Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!” (Luke 5:8, BSB).

Why did Peter respond this way? Because the presence of Jesus, the Word made flesh, revealed to him not just a miraculous catch of fish but the holiness of God. In that light, Peter saw himself clearly for the first time—not as a fisherman trying to make ends meet, but as a sinner in desperate need of grace. The law had shown him sin in a general sense, but Jesus exposed the depths of his heart.

The Woman at the Well: Exposed and Healed

We see a similar encounter in the story of the Samaritan woman at the well (John 4:1-30). She was an outsider in many ways—a Samaritan, a woman, and someone whose life was marked by broken relationships. She had been married five times and was now living with a man who was not her husband. The shame and alienation she felt must have been heavy. She knew she was living outside of God’s will, but it wasn’t until she met Jesus that she saw herself fully.

When Jesus spoke to her, revealing intimate details of her life, she recognized that this was no ordinary man. She came to see not only her sin but her need for the living water that only Jesus could offer. She left her water jar behind and ran to tell her village, “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Christ?” (John 4:29, BSB). Jesus’ light had pierced her heart, and rather than condemning her, it brought her healing and freedom.

Zacchaeus: A Heart Transformed by Grace

Zacchaeus, the chief tax collector, was another person whose encounter with Jesus brought life-changing conviction. As a tax collector, Zacchaeus was despised for his corrupt dealings and partnership with the Romans. He was likely wealthy, but spiritually empty. When Jesus called him down from a sycamore tree and chose to dine with him, Zacchaeus saw himself in a new light. In Jesus’ presence, he recognized the injustice of his actions and publicly repented, saying, “Look, Lord, half of my possessions I give to the poor, and if I have cheated anyone, I will repay fourfold” (Luke 19:8, BSB).

Zacchaeus had lived his life knowing he was doing wrong, but it wasn’t until he encountered Jesus that he saw the full gravity of his sin and his need for redemption. Jesus’ light did more than expose his guilt—it transformed his heart, leading him to repentance and restitution.

The Sinful Woman: Receiving Forgiveness at Jesus’ Feet

One of the most poignant examples is the sinful woman who anointed Jesus’ feet with her tears (Luke 7:36-50). Known for her sinful life, she approached Jesus not with excuses or justifications but with deep sorrow. Her act of humility—washing His feet with her tears and wiping them with her hair—showed the brokenness of her heart. She knew she was unworthy, but Jesus saw her faith and said, “Your sins are forgiven” (Luke 7:48, BSB).

This woman had lived with the knowledge of her sin, likely feeling condemned by the law and by society. But in the presence of Jesus, she didn’t just see her unworthiness—she saw grace. The law had condemned her, but Jesus forgave her. In Him, she found both truth and grace.

Why Did They See Their Need for a Savior Only After Jesus Came?

The answer lies in the unique role of Jesus as both the embodiment of God’s holiness and the source of God’s grace. The law given through Moses was a good and necessary thing—it showed people their sin. But the law couldn’t change hearts. Only when Jesus came, full of grace and truth, did people truly see the depth of their sin and their need for a Savior. The light of Jesus didn’t just expose sin; it invited people into the grace of God.

In His presence, people were confronted with the reality that no amount of human effort could make them right with God. Jesus didn’t just teach about holiness—He was holiness. And in the face of that holiness, even the most devout or morally upright person saw their need for grace. The law could point to sin, but only Jesus could heal it.

The Light Brings Clarity

The lives of Peter, the woman at the well, Zacchaeus, and many others illustrate the profound truth of John 1:16-17: “From His fullness we have all received grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.” The law made people aware of their need for righteousness, but it was only in encountering Jesus—the true Light—that they saw the full reality of their sin and their need for a Savior.

Today, the same remains true for us. Without the light of Christ, we may know we fall short. But when we encounter Jesus personally—through His Word, through the work of the Holy Spirit, or through the conviction that comes from the Gospel—our eyes are opened. We see ourselves clearly, but we also see the overwhelming grace of God. It is in His light that we recognize our need, and it is from His fullness that we receive grace upon grace.

Have you encountered the True Light? When we come to Jesus, He doesn’t just expose our sin—He offers us forgiveness and new life. His light brings clarity, but His grace brings salvation. In Him, there is no condemnation, only the offer of redemption for all who believe.

How Much More Will Beholding Jesus Reveal Our Unworthiness and Need for Him?

Beholding Jesus—the true Light of the world—does more than simply reveal our shortcomings. It pierces the deepest parts of our hearts, unveiling the full reality of our unworthiness and our desperate need for Him. While the law exposes sin and condemns, beholding Christ does something far greater. It brings us face to face with both the truth of who we are and the grace that He offers. The clearer we see Him, the clearer we see ourselves in the light of His holiness, and the more we recognize our need for His saving work.

Beholding the Holiness of Jesus Reveals Our Sin

Throughout Scripture, those who encountered Jesus saw the vast difference between His holiness and their sinfulness. The law already made people aware of sin, but beholding Jesus brought them to an even deeper understanding. As John Piper rightly says, “The law could not justify nor could it sanctify. It could only condemn.” Jesus, however, came “full of grace and truth” (John 1:14, BSB), and when we behold Him, His light exposes every corner of our hearts.

Consider the apostle Peter. As a Jew, Peter already lived under the law, knowing God’s commands and seeking to live a righteous life. Yet it wasn’t until he stood in the presence of Jesus that the weight of his sin truly hit him. After witnessing the miraculous catch of fish, Peter fell at Jesus’ feet and cried, “Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!” (Luke 5:8, BSB).

In that moment, Peter wasn’t simply reacting to the miracle itself—he was overwhelmed by the holiness of Jesus. Beholding Jesus’ power and purity made Peter aware of his own unworthiness in a way the law never could. The more clearly we see Christ’s perfection, the more deeply we recognize how far we fall short.

Beholding Jesus Brings Conviction with Grace

While the law convicts and condemns, Jesus brings both conviction and grace. The law can only highlight what is wrong, leaving us helpless to change. But when we behold Jesus, His light reveals our sin not to leave us in despair but to draw us to Himself. In Him, we not only see our unworthiness, but we also see His invitation to receive grace and forgiveness.

Take the Samaritan woman at the well (John 4:1-30). Before meeting Jesus, she likely lived with a constant awareness of her shame and sin. But it wasn’t until Jesus spoke to her directly, revealing the details of her broken life, that she fully grasped her need for a Savior. When Jesus said, “Go, call your husband and come back,” and then disclosed her past, she realized He saw into her soul (John 4:16-19, BSB). Yet Jesus did not condemn her—He offered her living water, the gift of eternal life.

Beholding Jesus, she was confronted with the truth of her sin, but she also encountered His grace. The same is true for us. As we behold Jesus, the light of His holiness reveals our sin, but it also points us to His redeeming love. Jesus doesn’t expose our hearts to shame us but to save us.

Beholding Jesus Transforms Us

Unlike the law, which only condemns, beholding Jesus transforms us. When we encounter Christ, we don’t just see our sin more clearly—we are changed by the grace and power of His presence. This is why Paul encourages believers to fix their gaze on Jesus, writing, “And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into His image with ever-increasing glory” (2 Corinthians 3:18, BSB).

As we behold Jesus, the Holy Spirit works in us to make us more like Him. This transformation is a key difference between the law and grace. The law tells us what we ought to do but gives us no power to do it. Jesus, on the other hand, not only shows us the way but also empowers us by His Spirit to walk in it. The more we behold Him, the more we are sanctified, growing in holiness as He conforms us to His likeness.

Consider Zacchaeus, the chief tax collector. When Jesus invited Himself to Zacchaeus’ home, the simple act of being in Jesus’ presence radically transformed Zacchaeus’ heart. He immediately repented, offering to repay anyone he had wronged fourfold and giving half his possessions to the poor (Luke 19:8). Beholding Jesus brought a deep conviction of sin but also an overwhelming desire to change. Zacchaeus didn’t change because of an external law but because the grace of Jesus had pierced his heart.

The Light of Jesus Illuminates Our Need for Him

The clearer we behold Jesus, the more we realize that we cannot save ourselves. The law reveals our need for righteousness, but it is only when we encounter the Light—the perfect holiness of Jesus—that we truly understand our helplessness apart from Him. In Him, we see both the problem and the solution.

As John’s Gospel reminds us, “For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ” (John 1:17, BSB). The law alone could never sanctify or justify us. It only shows us our need for something greater, and that "something" is found in the person of Jesus Christ. Beholding Him reveals our sin, but it also draws us to the cross, where that sin is forgiven and dealt with once and for all.

Conclusion: Beholding Jesus Reveals Our Unworthiness and Magnifies His Grace

Ultimately, the more we behold Jesus, the more we see our need for Him. His light shines into the darkest corners of our hearts, revealing both our unworthiness and His overwhelming grace. The law can only point out our failures, but Jesus offers the solution—Himself.

Whether it's Peter, Zacchaeus, the Samaritan woman, or the sinful woman who washed Jesus’ feet, each person’s encounter with Christ brought a deeper awareness of their sinfulness. But more than that, it brought them into the transforming presence of His grace and love.

The same is true for us today. As we fix our eyes on Jesus, we will increasingly see our own need, but we will also experience the “grace upon grace” that comes through Him (John 1:16, BSB). And it is that grace that justifies, sanctifies, and transforms us into His likeness. Beholding Jesus doesn’t just reveal our unworthiness—it magnifies His glory and our desperate need for the Savior, who alone can make us whole.

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