Jesus and the Feast of Lights
John recorded that it was the day after the Feast of Tabernacles (the eighth day), which was considered a sabbath, when Jesus returned from the Mount of Olives to teach in the Temple (John 8:2; cf. 7:2, 37). As the Pharisees came to entrap Him, Jesus proclaimed, "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life." (John 8:12) The Pharisees did not question the meaning of His statement. They knew it was a messianic claim, for they immediately called Him a liar. They were familiar with the many titles in Scripture which ascribed LIGHT to the Messiah. He is called the "Star out of Jacob," the "light of Israel," the "light of the nations (Gentiles)," a "refiners fire," a "burning lamp," and the "Sun of righteousness."
Later that day, the Messiah reinforced this same truth when He healed the blind man. As He did so, He repeated, "As long as I am in this world, I am the light of the world." (John 9:5). The Pharisees were again angered at Jesus. The issue continued to be His messiahship (John (9:22). This time however, they chose to find fault in that He had healed the blind man on the eighth day, which was considered a sabbath by Scripture (John 9:14). Although there were no Mosaic laws against the act of healing on the Sabbath, the traditions of the Pharisees classified it as work and therefore forbade it. More than just a messianic claim, Jesus' claim to be the "light of the world" carried a reference to the Temple light celebration. The celebration was still vivid in their minds. They had just celebrated it six nights in a row. The light that JESUS offered (i.e. salvation Isa. 49:6) would light not just the Temple, it would light the whole world. He Himself was the source. GLORY!!
John 9:5 - As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.
John 9:14 - And it was the sabbath day when Jesus made the clay, and opened his eyes.
John 9:22 - These words spake his parents, because they feared the Jews: for the Jews had agreed already, that if any man did confess that he was Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue.
Isaiah 49:6 - And he said, It is a light thing that you should 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 you may be my salvation unto the end of the earth.