"I am the Light of the world”
Series” I Am pt 2
Transition video Clip from worship to message: “I am intro.”
Thesis: John uses Jesus' "I Am" proclamations to prove that Jesus was the Messiah – God in the flesh - and these proclamations are pivotal for the Jews and Christians to understand. Today Jesus will at the end of the Feast of Tabernacles a celebration with Light make his 2nd “I am” statement – “I am the Light of the world!”
Introduction:
In sermon one, we laid the foundation for the meaning of God's name, "I Am". Let's review.
"I Am" God's name found in Exodus 3:14 was an answer to Moses when Moses asked for credentials to prove to Israel that God had indeed authorized him to lead them out of bondage and into freedom.
The disclosure of the name given from the burning bush represents that this entity was eternal and constant. This scenario revealed to Moses and Israel that this was the same God of their forefathers. "I Am" designates a characteristic (The Main One) that "I Am" represents absolute timeless existence. He always was but with the twist He is here now, present tense and He will be with us also into the future.
The apostle John, in the New Testament revealed that Christ's "I Am" signified that He was the same God of the Old Testament and is the "Bread of Life". He is the only source for life sustaining food which will enable us to live forever.
Highlight the chapter between these two impactful statements! Chapter 7
John then reveals Jesus second, "I Am" proclamation in John 8:12.
John 8:12: "When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."
Video Illustration: The light from sermon spice.
Hands on illustration: Hold up the boat light and shine it on the church, then tell the story of Eddystone lighthouse.
The famous Eddystone lighthouse off the coast of Cornwall, England, was first built in a fanciful way, by the learned and eccentric Winstanley. On its sides he put various boastful inscriptions. He was very proud of his structure, and from his lofty balcony used boldly to defy the storm, crying, "Blow, O winds! Rise, O ocean! Break forth, ye elements, and try my work!" But one fearful night the sea swallowed up the tower and its builder.
The lighthouse was built a second time of wood and stone by Rudyard. The form was good, but the wood gave hold for the elements and the builder and his structure perished in the flames.
Next the great Smeaton was called. He raised a cone from the solid rock upon which it was built, and riveted it to the rock; as the oak is fastened to the earth by its roots. From the rock of the foundation he took the rock of the superstructure. He carved upon it no boastful inscription like those of Winstanley, but on its lower course he put, "Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it;" and its keystone, above the lantern, the simple tribute, "Laus Deo!" and the structure still stands, holding its beacon light to storm-tossed mariners.
Fellow-workers for the salvation of men, Christ, the Light, must be held up before men or they will perish. Let us, then, place Him on no superstructure of our own device. Let us rear no tower of wood, or wood and stone. But taking the word of God for our foundation, let us build our structure upon its massive, solid truth, and on every course put Smeaton's humble inscription, and then we may be sure that the lighthouse will stand -- Selected.
I. The historical message of light!
a. The Exegesis of John Chapter 8: 12-59 with the emphasis on Christ's proclamation, "I am the light of the world" and responses.
b. John 8: 12-59: Basic Outline
i. Jesus' statement and reaction of His enemies. They attack the witness borne to Him. (12-20)
ii. Discussion goes to the fate of dying in sins. (21-24)
iii. The relationship between Father and Son. (25-30)
iv. The fact that the enemies of Jesus are slaves to sin. (31-47)
v. Section concludes with an emphasis on the glory given by the Father to the Son. (48-59)
c. Historical Setting: Rabbi Biba Singorus said, "Light is the name of the Messiah" as it is written, "Light dwells with him," Dan. 2:22. Jews considered the Messiah to be the light.
i. The Old Testament had many references to God being the light.
1. II Samuel 22:29 " You are my lamp, O Lord the Lord turns my darkness into light."
2. Psalm 27:1 "The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear....”
3. Psalm 119:105 “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”
4. Isa. 60:19 "The sun shall be no more the light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee; but the Lord shall be unto thee and everlasting light, and thy God thy glory."
5. Others: Isa. 8:20; 49:6; 58:8; 60:20
a. The Jews were looking for the Messiah and knew what Jesus meant as he being the light. Their Festivals looked for the Messiah and talked of repentance.
b. This statement is made at the end of the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot) where there are ceremonies with light.
c. The Sukkot Festival comes in fall, four days after Yom Kippur.
d. The feasts were very important to the Jews. They delighted in their observance and rejoiced in their symbolism.
e. The High Holy days, commenced in the fall with Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year and climaxed ten days later with Yom Kippur.
i. Rosh Hashanah- New Years Day
1. This marks the beginning of the ten days of repentance. This High Holy day according to the Jews was where God determined who would live or die in the New year.
2. During this festival the Jews would sound the shofar a trumpet blast which is to arouse the Jews from their moral reverie, to call them to spiritual regeneration, and to alert them to repentance.
3. The shofar is also sounded to remind the Jews of God's promise to bring the Messiah. The Messiah would bring liberty and freedom to all people.
ii. Yom Kippur- Day of Atonement
1. This is the culmination of the entire High Holy day drama-the final opportunity for Jews to repent. During the 24 hours of this day the Jews fulfill their obligation to "afflict" their souls by fasting, soul-searching, and praying. They beseech God for forgiveness and reflect on their lives.
iii. Feast of Tabernacles
1. The ceremony with light where the bright and brilliant candelabras were lit, occurred only at the beginning of the Feast of Tabernacles. There is much argumentation as to how much illumination took place at night by the candelabra. It is fact, that by the end of the Feast the candelabras was blown out.
2. In the absence of the lights on the ninth day the day after the feast is over, Jesus makes His claim, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."
3. To help us understand this statement, even more, let's look at the rituals of symbolism and the symbolic meaning behind the Feasts of Tabernacles.
a. The Jews celebrated the Feast of Tabernacles as the anniversary of the beginnings of the wandering in the wilderness. Ex. 23:16; Lev. 23:53; Duet. 16: 13-15
b. It also was associated with the Feast of Ingathering. Ex. 23:16; Deut. 16: 13, 14, 17
c. Leviticus 23: 33-44 (Read)
d. Festival was to be done to remember deliverance out of Egypt.
e. Hebrew name Sukkot is considered "the festival for rejoicing". It was a very popular festival.
f. Jews looked at Sukkot as a time to give thanks for their redemption from Egypt and for God's providence during the many years of wandering through the desert.
g. The Jews would dwell at this time for 7 days in an exposed insecure hut showing our faith is to be under God's protective wings.
h. Sukkot bids the Jews to serve Him with gladness.
i. On the day of Sukkot, a semi-holiday in its own right, is called Hoshana Raboah or "Great Hosanna". In the course of the morning prayer service everyone in the congregation takes the lulav and etrog and joins in a seven circuit procession around the synagogue while reciting prayers of hosanna calling for God's salvation.
f. The Central theme of the High Holy Days is repentance. The Jews believed in 4 conditions which must be met to have repentance:
i. Regret for the past.
ii. Desisting from sinful behavior.
iii. Confession before God.
iv. Resolving not to sin in the future.
g. With the stage set Jesus offers them God's salvation once again and the Jewish leaders challenge His claim to deity.
T.S. – The Teaching of the Old Testament and it’s many High Holy Days highlighted the concept of light as did some rabbinical teachings. This all prepared the way for Jesus impact statement in John 8:12.
II. Jesus’ proclamation!
a. The meaning of Christ's claim: “I am the light of the world!”
i. He is the light - could have been the answer to their ceremony asking for God's salvation. He reveals His deity again "I am" first person – I am here to deliver! Once again to deliver them from the bondage of sin!
ii. He is the same God who spoke to Moses and will guide them from slavery of sin to freedom in the Spirit.
1. In the last three chapters of John, we have successive wilderness imaging coming forth.
a. Fulfilling OT prophecy.
2. Some feel that Jesus' light statement may refer to the pillar of fire which led the Israelites through the wilderness.
a. Just as the fire guided and lead them in the wilderness to the Promised Land, Jesus was the same "I Am" that would lead His people to the Promised Land of eternal life.
iii. Illustration of focusing on the light: 'We were on shipboard," relates a captain's wife, "lying in a Southern harbor. We were obliged, first to make our way ashore. The waves were rolling heavily. I became frightened at the thought of attempting it, when one came to me, saying, 'Do not be afraid: I will take care of you.'"He bore a peculiarly shaped dark-lantern, only single ray of light being emitted from a small circular opening. 'Now,' said he, 'take my hand; hold fast, do not fear. Do not look about you, or on either side of you, only on the little spot lighted by my lantern, and place your footsteps firmly right there.'"I heard the rushing of the waters, and was still conscious of fear; but by looking steadily only where the light fell, and planting my footsteps just there, not turning either to the right or the left, clasping firmly the strong hand, the danger was overcome, and the shore reached in safety.""The next day my kind guide said, 'Would you like to see the way by which you came last night? Then he showed me where our vessel had been lying, and the very narrow plank by which we had reached the shore. He knew that had I turned either to the right or left I should, in all probability, have lost my balance and gone over into those dark waters; but by holding fast and treading just where the light fell all danger would be averted."The believer often comes to some dark passage, or encounters some severe trial, which so overshadows the way that he fears to go forward less he fall. But when he clasps the hand of his heavenly Father, he is led gently over the rough and dangerous places and landed safely in some secure spot. The storms may rage and angry waves threaten to engulf, but if we keep our eye on Jesus we shall outride the storms, and have an abundant entrance into the heaven of eternal rest. -- Words of Life.
b. John 8: 13-30 the Pharisees' relation to Jesus' claim to be light is at best the response men always make when they are unwilling to be convinced. "I do not see it that way", this debatable style comes into play.
i. Their view was Jesus' claim to light is insufficient in that there is no witness or evidence to prove it.
1. Yet he has already done many miracles, he has healed people, fed the multitude in the desert as prophesied in Deut 18 and walked on water.
a. Note: Light establishes its claim. It does this not by arguments or debates but by shining.
b. Jesus shined in these miraculous events and the religious criticized.
ii. Light must always be accepted for what it's supposed to do, shine and guide the way through darkness.
1. Jesus is showing them He is the light – they just refuse to believe it!
2. There was evidence to prove Jesus' claim. They just rejected the evidence, Him and the Father.
c. Many "I Am" references to His deity are revealed in this section.
i. Verse 25: Jews upset with Christ's claims to deity. Their question and Christ's response are most enlightening. Verse 25a: "Who are you?" Question Verse 25b: "Just what I have been claiming all along." Other renderings of Jesus' response.
1. I am what I tell you from the beginning. (RSV Phillips).
a. Thus once again, "I Am" designates He was in the past and He the "I Am" first person reveals He is here before them presently. "I Am" is standing before them? Yet they do not see Him because their Father the Devil was deceiving them. They are not children of Abraham but children of the Devil (John 8: 31-59)
i. This passage begins by Jesus telling the Jews who opposed Him that they are slaves. He announces to them that they do not have freedom as sons, because they are not true members of Israel even though they claim their father is Abraham.
ii. Jesus reveals that Abraham had a vision of the Messianic Age and rejoiced in the knowledge of what was coming through Him.
iii. Jesus also asserts that Abraham's mind is known to Him in virtue of His own divine nature and pre-existence. Before Abraham was, He asserts, "I Am" (120 Tyndale)
Conclusion:
We can apply this Chapter to our life by observing how legalistic and religious the Jews were in obeying the Law. They claim to be so holy and representing their God. Yet when they are face to face with "I Am" who they believed in and worshipped, they did not recognize Him.
I wonder today how many Christians would recognize God today if He came back in the flesh?
I wonder how many are being led by His light today?
Has Christianity just become a ritual of religiousness where the followers don't know God?
Has Christianity as a whole, become mere head knowledge and not heart knowledge? Like the religious leaders of Jesus day?
ALTAR CALL:
The light is here today and he is saying to you “I am the light of the world he who follows me will not walk in darkness.”
-- Will you respond to the light today?
-- If you have never accepted Christ into your life, would you like to, so you can see the light?
Jesus does shine today and He points the way out of darkness but it is our choice to follow His light or not.
Why keep stumbling around in the darkness make a decision today to follow the light!
