Jesus, Light Of The World Series

Jesus, Light of the World

(John 8:12-26)

1. We would like to wish our mom’s a Happy Mother’s Day. CNN, "The typical [stay at home] mother puts in a 92-hour work week… and works at least 10 jobs. In order of hours spent on them per week, these are: housekeeper, day-care center teacher, cook, computer operator, laundry machine operator, janitor, facilities manager, van driver, chief executive officer and psychologist. By figuring out the median salaries for each position, and calculating the average number of hours worked at each, the firm came up with [an equivalent salary of] $138,095 -- three percent higher than last year's results."

2. Motherhood is a mysterious phenomenon. One evening after dinner, my five-year-old son Brian noticed that his mother had gone out. In answer to his questions, I told him, "Mommy is at a Tupperware party."

This explanation satisfied him for only a moment. Puzzled, he asked, "What's a Tupperware party, Dad?"

I've always given my son honest answers, so I figured a simple explanation would be the best approach. "Well, Brian," I said, "at a Tupperware party, a bunch of ladies sit around and sell plastic bowls to each other."

Brian nodded, indicating that he understood this curious pastime. Then he burst into laughter. "Come on, Dad," he said. "What is it really?"

2. Many of us got our first glimpse of God through our mothers. Moms are often a source of spiritual light, often giving us at least a little bit of illumination about Who God is.

Psalm 36:9, For with you is the fountain of life; in your light do we see light.

The imagery of light in the Bible is massive. The metaphorical use of the term light is quite a study, way beyond where we can go today.

One description of hell is “outer darkness.” God’s presence is associated with light, thus, in the new heaven and earth, we don’t need the sun or moon. God is its ultimate source.

3. Many people have been enlightened in many ways. But if you haven’t surrendered to Jesus Christ, whatever light you have is inadequate. John’s preamble to his gospel includes this: “In him was life, and that life was the light of men. That light shines in the darkness, and yet the darkness did not overcome it” (John 1:4-5).

Main Idea: Light without the heavenly Source of Light is inadequate to illumine eternally. Only Jesus brings us the limitless light of God.

I. Jesus is the Light of the World: He Truly ENLIGHTENS Those Who Trust Him (12-18, 26).

A. The background: the Feast of TABERNACLES

• Also called Feast of Booths or Sukkot (see John 7:2 to place the timing here)

• This was the party festival, and corresponds to the Millennial Kingdom.

During the feast, four enormous candelabrum were placed in the Court of the Women. That is the first court inside the Temple itself, the same court that contains the altar. These candelabrum were higher than the surrounding walls. Each evening the large bowls on top of three of them were filled with oil and then lit. Being the highest point in Jerusalem, it was said that their light illuminated every courtyard in the city. As the women watched from the balconies, “men of piety and good works used to dance before the oil lamps with burning torches in their hands, singing songs and praises… countless Levites played on harps, lyres, cymbals and trumpets and instruments of music.”39 The meaning of the lights must have been clear to all the worshipers. They were celebrating the Feast of Sukkoth (Booths or Tabernacles) and had built their little shelters to remind them of the time when God led their forefathers through the wilderness. What led them? It was the cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night. (Exodus 13:21) These candelabrum represented that light, but they also represented another light, the one that filled the Holy of Holies, the Shekinah Glory. (Exodus 40:34)

That fourth candelabrum was the Great Light. It was not lit until the last night of the weeklong feast. It was a symbol of the nation waiting for the full salvation that God would one day bring. It was probably either when they were preparing to light that candelabrum or the next morning when the oil was exhausted that Jesus’ voice rang out, 12 “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” Once again, Jesus interpreted the symbolism to apply specifically to himself. When you read the passage you don’t get the full impact and shock value of the statement unless you understand what was taking place during the Feast. [source: Wallace, Paul. John's Rabbi . Paul Wallace Publishing. Kindle Edition]