I Am. . .the Light Of The World Series

A few questions to get your minds thinking as we head in to today’s sermon. First one. . .

Q: How many evolutionists does it take to change a light bulb?

A: Just one but it will take a million years.

Q: How many Psychiatrists does it take to change a light bulb?

A: Only one, but the bulb has got to really WANT to change.

Q: How many ‘Real Men’ does it take to change a light bulb?

A: None: ‘Real Men’ aren’t afraid of the dark.

Q: How many ‘Real Women’ does it take to change a light bulb?

A: None: A ‘Real Woman’ would have plenty of real men around to do it.

Q: How many jugglers does it take to change a light bulb?

A: One, but it takes at least three light bulbs.

Q: How many football players does it take to change a light bulb?

A: The entire team! And they all get a semester’s credit for it!

Q: How many board meetings does it take to get a light bulb changed?

A: This topic was resumed from last week’s discussion,

but is incomplete pending resolution of some action items.

It will be continued next week.

Q. How many Floridians does it take to change a light bulb?

A. Don’t know for sure, they’re still counting.

We are up to “I am. . .” statement number two. Two out of seven “I am. . .” statements that Jesus makes in the Gospel of John, giving us insight into who He is. This time Jesus says, “I am the light of the world.”

Last Sunday we took a look at some tough teachings, some tough insights into how Jesus might think and act when we looked at the story of the healing of the blind man which makes up John chapter 9. An entire chapter dedicated to this single event.

And at the end of our time together, I suggested that this chapter isn’t so much about a blind man being healed, as it is about providing some glimpses into how we tend to respond to Jesus miraculous working. I encouraged you to think this week about how you respond to miracles. To Jesus mighty hand doing the unthinkable. And I encouraged you to take those places where you need a miracle. Those places in your own life in need of healing, and begin praying that God would heal them.

Late last summer, early fall we went through 40 Days of Prayer together entitled, “Hope for Healing.” I have continued to pray over that list of areas where you wrote down a desire for healing, and we have seen a number of those prayers answered. Miracles of healing within our midst. Never give up. Never surrender to Satan’s promptings to loose faith. Continue to believe in God’s ability to heal.

Within that chapter, the 9th chapter of John’s gospel, Jesus revealed an “I am. . .” statement about himself. There are how many of these statements in the Gospel of John? And how many primary miracles? Right. We have seen the feeding of the 5,000, and the healing of the blind man. We have already looked at Jesus teaching when He said, “I am the bread of life.” And in chapter 9, we come across a second. In this chapter, Jesus declares in verse 5 (read).

Now, in actuality, this is not the first time He has made this declaration. Turn back to chapter 8, and let’s look at His initial proclamation that He is the light of the world. John chapter 8 (read through verse 12).

A little boy forgot his lines in a Sunday School presentation, and his mother was in the front row to prompt him. She gestured and formed the words silently with her lips, but it did not help. Her son’s memory was blank. Finally, she leaned forward and whispered the cue, "I am the light of the world."

The child beamed and with great feeling and a loud clear voice said, "My mother is the light of the world!"

Well, actually Jesus tells us that He is the light of the world. What is He saying? What is He revealing about Himself that we can glean from this statement?

Let’s start back at the beginning of John. Right out of the gate in John chapter 1 (read through verse 4).

1. THE LIGHT OF MEN IS THE LIFE FOUND IN CHRIST

That was the purpose of Jesus life. Within Jesus is life. And that life is what illuminates our lives. What gives us the ability to see and navigate through our lives.

While on maneuvers, a battleship lookout noted a light in the dark, foggy night. After noting the light’s coordinates, the captain recognized his ship was on a collision course with the other vessel. The captain instructed, “Signal the ship: We are on a collision course, advise you change course 20 degrees.”