Longings To Be Followed-1 Series

LONGINGS TO BE FOLLOWED-I—John 8:12

Attention:

VBS Theme this week: ‘Following Jesus, The Light of the world.’

There are many things we long for...

Things that may or may not be Christ honoring, such as...

Personal recognition, Power over others, Overly expensive vehicle(s), Expansive house(s) & lands, Personal comfort, Statement clothing, Fine clothing, Prejudicial relationships, ...

When the brilliant undiminished light of Christ shines upon your longings, what is actually revealed about them...about your own heart?

Jesus invited His audience to accept Him as the Light that everyone/all should follow.

Jesus is the Light that all should follow.

What should we follow?

OR

Why should we follow Jesus?

4 longings worthy of being followed...

4 longings to follow...

1—A Longing to be followed, fulfills the need for...

REPETITION Of TRUTH(:12a)

Explanation:(:12a)Restatement/Reiteration/Re-Emphasis

8:12—“Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.””

This statement to “them” 'could' & 'most probably' refer to Jesus’ previous day’s(See 8:1-2) invitation to come to Him & drink(7:37-38). That verse sets 8:12 within the context of the Feast of Tabernacles(cf.—7:2).

“Them” 'could' also involve, or refer to exactly, His most recent conversation as the teacher of the people in the temple(8:2).

“Them” 'could' also refer to His encounter with the scribes & Pharisees regarding the woman caught in adultery(8:3-9). In that encounter, the scribes & Pharisees had approached Jesus as He taught the people, so the people evidently were still there to witness the humbling of the scribes & Pharisees who had come to test Him(:6).

Jesus speaks “to them,” but He speaks to them “again.” Thus He had spoken to them previously regarding certain truths(particularly as it relates to Himself).

The truth must be restated to us in both the same terms as well as in other terms. We need this for the sake of clarity & as reminders.

“Spoke”—Aorist Active Indicative 3rd Sing.—1) To utter a voice or emit a sound; 2) To speak—2a) To use the tongue or the faculty of speech, 2b) To utter articulate sounds; 3) To talk; 4) To utter, tell; 5) To use words in order to declare one's mind & disclose one's thoughts—5a) To speak. Strong—a prolonged form of an otherwise obsolete verb; To talk, i.e. Utter words.

“Again”—palin—Adverb—1) Anew, again—1a) Renewal or repetition of the action, 1b) Again, anew; 2) Again, i.e. further, moreover; 3) In turn, on the other hand. Strong—probably from the same as palh(through the idea of oscillatory repetition); adverbially--Anew, i.e. of place--Back, of time--Once more, or conjunctionally--Furthermore or on the other hand.

“Saying”—legw—Present Active Participle Nominative Sing. Masc.—1) To say, to speak—1a) Affirm over, maintain, 1b) To teach, 1c) To exhort, advise, to command, direct, 1d) To point out with words, intend, mean, mean to say, 1e) To call by name, to call, name, 1f) To speak out, speak of, mention. Strong—a primary verb; properly--To "lay" forth, i.e. figuratively--Relate (in words) by implication--To mean.

Argumentation:

2Pet. 1:12-15—“For this reason I will not be negligent to remind you always of these things, though you know & are established in the present truth. Yes, I think it is right, as long as I am in this tent, to stir you up by reminding you, knowing that shortly I must put off my tent, just as our Lord Jesus Christ showed me. Moreover I will be careful to ensure that you always have a reminder of these things after my decease.”

2Pet. 3:1-4, 11-14, 17-18—“Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle (in both of which I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder), that you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, & of the commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord & Savior, knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, & saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.””.....“Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct & godliness, looking for & hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, & the elements will melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens & a new earth in which righteousness dwells. Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot & blameless;”.....“You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; but grow in the grace & knowledge of our Lord & Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now & forever. Amen.”