“The Light of the World”
The I AM Statements of Jesus
FCC – August 12, 2007
Text: John 8:12
Introduction: This morning we are continuing a new sermon series, The I AM statements of Jesus from the Gospel of John. Jesus made an incredible statement to the Jews in response to a discussion about the greatness of Abraham. This is what Jesus said:
John 8:58 (NIV) "I tell you the truth," Jesus answered, "before Abraham was born, I am!" Wow. What a claim. Jesus pre-existed before Abraham! At that point the Scripture says that the Jews began to pick up stones to stone Jesus. They knew that He was claiming to be God and that was blasphemy to them. It reminded me of a time in the OT when God gave His name to Moses at the burning bush:
Exodus 3:14-15 (NIV) God said to Moses, "I am who I am. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ’I am has sent me to you.’ " God also said to Moses, "Say to the Israelites, ’The Lord, the God of your fathers--the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob--has sent me to you.’ This is my name forever, the name by which I am to be remembered from generation to generation.
Throughout the book of John, Jesus makes claims about Himself. There are seven I AM statements that we will be looking at these next few weeks. Last week we looked at the statement: “I AM the Bread of Life” This week we are going to focus on Jesus’ statement found in John 8: 12 “I AM the Light of the World.”
During the feast of Tabernacles the children of Israel celebrated God’s provision for them in the wilderness. He had provided manna from heaven and Jesus reminded them that He was the Bread of Life. God had provided water out of a rock, and Jesus reminded them that He was living water. Also during the wilderness, God had provided them a pillar of cloud and a pillar of fire to lead the children of Israel. By day the LORD went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night. Exo 13:21
During the Feast, 4 huge candelabras were placed in the court of women in the Temple. These lamps were kept during all 8 days of the festival to remind the people of the pillar of fire which had guided them in the wilderness. As Jesus taught about who He really was He said remember what these candles represent. They remind us that back in the wilderness, God led the people with pillar of fire, a pillar of light. And Jesus said, “I am the light. No just of the wilderness. Not even just of Israel. I am the light of the world.”
Isaiah 9:2 told about a day when Jesus would come, “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.”
So Jesus shows up on the scene, during the Feast of the Tabernacles and says in John 8:12 (NIV) "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."
By the way, I just thought I would let you know that three years ago I preached on John 8 in a more expositional manner…my commitment to you is to never preach a sermon twice on Sunday morning, but to always bring something fresh. So, I read the sermon from 3 years ago, and decided to do something totally different. I began looking at all the references to light in the Word of God. I was amazed how many references there are!! Guess which book in the Bible has more references to light? Triva time…it’s the book of Job followed by Psalms and Isaiah. So I spent quite a bit of time meditating on light and it’s purpose and came to this verse:
Psalm 4:6 (NIV) Many are asking, "Who can show us any good?" Let the light of your face shine upon us, O Lord. So with that as our prayer: For God to shine His light on us…I came up with an acrostic SHINE. Jesus shines His face on us by…
Saving – The Light of Jesus shines on us primary to save us. He shines His light on our spiritual condition…and by the way, not everyone likes the light. Job 24:16 (NIV) In the dark, men break into houses, but by day they shut themselves in; they want nothing to do with the light. It is during the cover of darkness that we can do things that we would never do during the light of day. But light reveals our spiritual condition…
Ephes. 5:13-14 (NIV) But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said: "Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you." Ever turn on a light in a dark room and see a cockroach run for cover? They don’t like the light. When Jesus turns His saving light on us, our sin is exposed. We can either scatter, or turn to Him and agree with Him about our condition. That’s saving confession agreeing with God about our condition! We can rise from the death of our sin condition and rise from the dead as Christ shines on us!
Psalm 27:1 (NIV) Of David. The Lord is my light and my salvation--whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life--of whom shall I be afraid? Light reveals our dark nature and desperate need for Christ. Can you say today that Jesus is your light and your salvation? Jesus shines His face on us by saving, and then by…
Healing – It is interesting to read the context of Jesus I AM statements. He fed the 5000 and then in John 8 makes the claim to be the Bread of Life. If we would just eat of Him, we would never be hungry again! Now He makes the claim that He is the Light of the World. How does He demonstrate this? In chapter 9, He heals a man born blind. This is what John 9:5-7 (NIV) While I am in the world, I am the light of the world." Having said this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes. "Go," he told him, "wash in the Pool of Siloam" (this word means Sent). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing. Then the blind man said in John 9:25 (NIV) He replied, "Whether he is a sinner or not, I don’t know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!"
The light of Jesus shines on us to heal. I’ve been so grateful how He has brought healing to several in our congregation, this summer. But, as I meditated on Job, Psalms and other Scripture, I began to realize that Jesus light came to shine to give us hope. Many of us go through a dark night of the soul, and struggle with self-worth, fear, anxiety, and depression. Many in this room just need Jesus to shine His light into the dark night of their soul.
Job 33:28 (NIV) He redeemed my soul from going down to the pit, and I will live to enjoy the light.’ He redeems our soul from the pit…and we get to enjoy the light! Wow! What a powerful verse. You know the expression, “I see light at the end of the tunnel.” What if we changed that to say, I see Jesus at the end of the tunnel…and in the middle of the tunnel…and at the beginning of the tunnel.
I guess my favorite new verse that I read this week is found in Job 12:22 (NIV) He reveals the deep things of darkness and brings deep shadows into the light. Jesus shines his light on us to find healing. Thirdly, He shines light on us by…
Igniting – A powerful, focused beam of light can ignite a fire. I believe that Jesus wants to shine His light on someone today and ignite their soul. You’ve known the Lord, but things are stale and lifeless. We often sing the song: “Light the fire again.” The words go like this:
“Don’t let me love grow cold…I’m calling out…light the fire again…don’t let the vision die…I’m calling out…light the fire again. You know my heart, my deeds...I’m calling out…Light the fire again…I need your discipline…I’m calling out Light the fire again.”
The book of Isaiah puts it this way in Isaiah 58:8-10 (NIV) Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard. Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I. "If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk, and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday.
A formula for personal and corporate revival is found in Isaiah 58. Jesus light comes to save, heal, and ignite our hearts and minds…and He shines His light on us by…
Nudging – It is amazing how light nudges us and guides us when we are moving through dark places. I don’t know about you, but when it’s dark, I tend to move toward the light. Dark places are scary and full of bumps, bruises and uncertainty. Our own thinking can be clouded by feelings, obstacles, and circumstances. We need to make a decision about which direction to go, and it doesn’t seem clear. Henry Blackaby, who wrote Experiencing God, calls this the crisis of belief. Decisions lead to crisis of belief. What we need in this room is for the light of Jesus’ face to shine and nudge us by His spirit. To move us in the way He would have us to go.
Psalm 43:3 (NIV) Send forth your light and your truth, let them guide me; let them bring me to your holy mountain, to the place where you dwell.
Psalm 119:105 (NIV)Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. Today are you willing to let Jesus shine His light on a decision that you are faced with…
Jesus shines His light on us by saving, healing, igniting, nudging, and lastly by…
Educating – We have way too much ignorance in church today. The light of Jesus wants to edify and build you up with His Word and by His Spirit. Last week we shared about Jesus’ claim to be the bread of life, and prayed that God would stir up a hunger within us. If Jesus is who He claims to be and is the Light of the World, it is my prayer that He will open up our eyes to the truth of His Word.
Psalm 19:8 (NIV) The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes. You see we see with the light of God’s Word and it brings joy to our heart!
Psalm 119:130 (NIV) The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple. Wow. His words give light and understanding to even the simple. We have no reason to be intimidated about not knowing God’s Word as well as someone else…all’s you have to do is ask the Lord to open your eyes and heart to understand His Word…and then open His Word. He will educate you on how to live the life He designed for you.
Conclusion: Can you pray a simple prayer this morning? “Jesus, shine the light of your face on me. Shine it on my sin, my depression, my lack of passion, my aimlessness, and on my ignorance. And Jesus, shine the light of your face on my church.” Jesus light shines on us by…
Saving
Healing
Igniting
Nudging
Educating
1 John 1:7 (NIV) But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.
Rev. 21:23-24 (NIV) The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it.
