The Light of the World
In His Own Words
10/19/08 PM
Text: John 8:12
INTRODUCTION:
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 (NASB) Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am.”
“I AM” is the name God gave of Himself when speaking to Moses Exodus 3:14. 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 but Jesus was simply stating the truth.
Throughout the book of John, Jesus makes claims about Himself. Each statement speaks to a particular relationship of Jesus to the spiritual needs of men and women. It is my desire and hope that this sermon series will deepen our knowledge and appreciation of our matchless savior. 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.”
I.About the Text:
1.In the background of this text, we have the feast of tabernacles (John 7:37).
a.Also called the feast of ingathering (referring to the gathering of crops) or the feast of booths as it was named by God in Leviticus 23:33-44
b.This feast was designed (1) to be a memorial of the wilderness wanderings, when the people dwelt in booths, and (2) to be a harvest thanksgiving.
c.In addition to the prescribed sacrifices the Jews performed two additional observances during the feast.
2.Ceremony of Water Libation
a.Every morning of the feast there was a joyous procession to the Pool of Siloam, with music, headed by a priest with a golden pitcher (a little over 2 pints). As the sacrifice proceeded, the priest returning with the water entered through the Water Gate (named for this event). With a threefold trumpet blast he poured the water into a silver receptacle on the altar.
b.This reminded them of the water brought out of the rock in the wilderness at Horeb; it also became associated with looking to the Lord for the rains.
3.Lighting the Temple
a.At the end of the first day of the feast, the worshippers congregated in the Court of Women where a great illumination took place. Four huge golden lamps or candelabras, each with four golden bowls were filled with oil by four youths of priestly descent. They had to use four ladders for this task. According to Rabbinic writings, "There was not a court in Jerusalem that was not lit up by it". Around the lamps a sacred dance was conducted and prominent leaders with flaming torches in their hands. This was accompanied by Levites playing harps, lutes, cymbals, trumpets and "instruments without number" standing on the fifteen steps leading up from the Court of Women to the Court of Israel.
b.In this seasonal celebration the people remembered that as well as the rain, plenty of sunshine was needed and the people were thanking God for the sunshine and acknowledging him as the true light who would give them spiritual life through the Messiah.
c.The symbolism of this event looked back to when God led Israel in the wilderness with the pillar of fire and His presence had dwelt in the Tabernacle. And forward to the future Messiah who would be the light of YHVH arising on the people
It was with this ritual in the backdrop that Jesus made the statement recorded in John 8:12.
II.Jesus… said, I am the Light of the world
John 8:12 (NASB) Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.”
1.Jesus was proclaiming the fulfillment of prophesies of Isaiah to those in Jerusalem.
a.Isaiah 9:1-2 (NASB) 1But there will be no more gloom for her who was in anguish; in earlier times He treated the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali with contempt, but later on He shall make it glorious, by the way of the sea, on the other side of Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles. 2The people who walk in darkness Will see a great light; Those who live in a dark land, The light will shine on them.”
b.Isaiah 42:6 (NASB) “I am the LORD, I have called you in righteousness, I will also hold you by the hand and watch over you, And I will appoint you as a covenant to the people, As a light to the nations, To open blind eyes, To bring out prisoners from the dungeon And those who dwell in darkness from the prison.”
2.They had failed to realize that Isaiah predicted that a great light would shine in Galilee, bringing illumination to those who lived and walked in darkness and death. As the language Jesus used in 8:12 echoed Isaiah 9:2, he was pointing to himself as the fulfillment of that prophecy.
3.Jesus stated He was “the Light,” not merely a light or another light among many lights. He is the only Light, “the true Light” that brought life so that the people might no longer have to walk in darkness.
4.In proclaiming Himself the light of the world, Jesus defined his unique position as the one true light for all people, not just the Jews. Isaiah wrote, Isaiah 49:6 (NASB) “I will also make You a light of the nations so that My salvation may reach to the end of the earth.”
III.Jesus said, “…he who follows Me,”
A.He meant whoever believes and obeys Him.
1.If Christ be the light, then,
a.It is our duty to follow him, to submit ourselves to his guidance, and in every thing take directions from him, in the way that leads to salvation.
b.It is not enough to look at this light but we must follow it, believe in it, and walk in it, for it is a light to our feet, not our eyes only.
Psalm 119:105 (NASB) “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”
2.There is no such thing as the presence of darkness; darkness is the absence of light.
a.John 3:19, 20 (NASB) “This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. “For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.”
b.But Jesus says of those who follow Him…
B.Will not walk in darkness
A.John 12:46 (NASB) ““I have come as Light into the world, so that everyone who believes in Me will not remain in darkness.
1.As a traveler follows the light in a dark night
Ill: Camping and walking a path at night with only one flashlight leading the way. There was no question of whether or not to follow if one wanted to remain on the path or not stumble in the darkenss.
2.1 John 1:5-7 (NASB) “This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.”
3.Read John 1:6-13
4.When we accept Jesus as Savior and Lord and follow Him, we are walking in His light.
IV.Jesus said, “…but will have the Light of Life
A.We have the Light of Life.
1.1 Peter 2-9-10 (NASB) “But you are a chosen race, A royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; for you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.”
2.We have the light of life, that knowledge and joy in God which is the light of spiritual life in this world and of everlasting life in the world to come.
3.John 9:39a “And Jesus said, “For judgment I came into this world, so that those who do not see may see…”
4.This is the Light which Jesus brought and still gives today! To the blind he gives sight! To those in darkness, light!
B.We are lights in the world and must reflect the Son.
1.Read Acts 13:44-47: Paul and Barnabas make it clear that the expectation of bringing light to the world falls to the followers of Jesus.
2.This saying of Jesus – “I am the light of the world…” – is the only one of the “I am” statements which Jesus also said of His followers.
a.Recall that in the Sermon on the Mount Jesus told His disciples, Matthew 5:14-15 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.”
3.How is it that we can be what Jesus Himself was?
a.The light we have isn’t from ourselves, but from God. Our light is a derived light. It is an indirect light.
b.Think of the sun and the moon. The moon has no light of its own; it simply reflects the radiant light of the sun.
4.Matthew 5:16 ““Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”
5.Jesus has given us our instructions and His example.
V.The extension of light!
A.It is available to the whole world.
1.And now, through us, Jesus continues to extend his light to the whole world.
2.The first sermon some people in your life will ever hear will be the witness of your life.
3.The only way they may see Jesus as the true light of the world is if they see that light in you and reflected by you!
B.It is the only light leading to salvation
1.When Jesus says, “I am the light of the world” that excludes all other “lights”.
2.If anyone is to be saved, they must be saved through Jesus.
Acts 4:12 “And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.”
Conclusion:
What will you do with the light of Christ today? In this statement Jesus has told us in His own words:
He is the only true light leading to salvation!
Those who follow The Light do not walk in darkness but have the Light of Life!
Invitation
