Longings To Be Followed-2 Series

LONGINGS TO BE FOLLOWED-II—John 8:12

Attention:

Disaster Encounter

"Oh, No!" he gasped as he surveyed the disaster before him. Never in his 40 years of life had he seen anything like it. How anyone could have survived he did not know.

He could only hope that somewhere amid the overwhelming destruction he would find his 16-year-old son. Only the slim hope of finding Danny kept him from turning & fleeing the scene. He took a deep breath & proceeded.

Walking was virtually impossible with so many things strewn across his path. He moved ahead slowly.

"Danny! Danny!" he whispered to himself. He tripped & almost fell several times. He heard someone, or something, move. At least he thought he did. Perhaps, he was just hoping he did. He shook his head & felt his gut tighten.

He couldn't understand how this could have happened. There was some light but not enough to see very much. Something cold & wet brushed against his hand. He jerked it away.

In desperation, he took another step then cried out, "Danny!".

From a nearby pile of unidentified material, he heard his son. "Yes, Dad," he said, in a voice so weak it could hardly be heard.

Dad heatedly barked, “It's time to get up & get ready for school, & for heaven's sake, clean up this room!”

Dad 'longed' for his son to take responsibility!

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), Expa(e)nsive 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 worth following...

Last week we found that A Longing to follow, is one that fulfills the need for...

1. REPETITION Of TRUTH(:12a)Repetition/Reiteration/Re-Emphasis

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

EXPOSURE To TRUTH(:12b)

Explanation:(:12b) Repetition/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.””

The Feast of Tabernacles is celebrated from 15-21 Tishri(lunar-Jewish), or a timeframe within the bounds of our September-October(solar).—D.A. Carson

7:2—“Now the Jews’ Feast of Tabernacles was at hand.”

7:37-39—“On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood & cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me & drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.”

8:1-2—“But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. Now early in the morning He came again into the temple, & all the people came to Him; & He sat down & taught them.”

*“The Feast was known for a water-drawing rite & a lamp-lighting rite to which Jesus quite clearly refers.” These are based on Talmudic sources.—D.A. Carson

*The ‘water-pouring ceremony’ was obviously meant to mimic God’s provision of water from the rock during the wilderness wanderings:

Ex. 17:1-7—“Then all the congregation of the children of Israel set out on their journey from the Wilderness of Sin, according to the commandment of the LORD, & camped in Rephidim; but there was no water for the people to drink. Therefore the people contended with Moses, & said, “Give us water, that we may drink.” And Moses said to them, “Why do you contend with me? Why do you tempt the LORD?” And the people thirsted there for water, & the people complained against Moses, & said, “Why is it you have brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us & our children & our livestock with thirst?” So Moses cried out to the LORD, saying, “What shall I do with this people? They are almost ready to stone me!” And the LORD said to Moses, “Go on before the people, & take with you some of the elders of Israel. Also take in your hand your rod with which you struck the river, & go. Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock in Horeb; & you shall strike the rock, & water will come out of it, that the people may drink.” And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel. So he called the name of the place Massah & Meribah, because of the contention of the children of Israel, & because they tempted the LORD, saying, “Is the LORD among us or not?”