Compiled by: Herman Abrahams (Pastor), Cornerstone Faith Ministries, P.O. Box 740, Westridge 7802, Rep. of South Africa.
E-Mail: Mentorship2003@yahoo.co.uk
Note to the reader:
If you have been blessed with this sermon compilation, I would be honoured to receive an e-mail from you merely telling me where in the world you are based- I do not need any other information. This is merely so that I can have the pleasure of giving thanks to Almighty God that all over the globe the ministry which he has entrusted to me, is blessing the body of Christ and helping to extend the Kingdom of God. Thank you. Herman Abrahams, Cape Town, South Africa.
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I AM THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD¡¨ (JOHN 8:12)
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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.¡¨¡¦ (NIV)
A major feature of the Feast of Tabernacles was the lighting of giant lamps in the women¡¦s court in the temple (see diagram on last page). The wicks were made from the priests¡¦ worn-out garments. The light illuminated the temple area and the people gathered to sing praises and dance. The light reminded the Jewish people of how God was with them in their wanderings in the wilderness in a pillar of cloud which turned to fire at night (Num. 9:15-23).
1. John 8:12 - This discourse continues Jesus¡¦ public teaching in the city of Jerusalem in the temple area. How fitting that during the Feast of Tabernacles, when the large lamps were burning, Jesus . . . said, I am the Light of the world (cf. 1:4, 9; 12:35, 46).
„Y JOHN 1:4 In him was life, and that life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.
„Y JOHN 1:9 The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.
ILLUSTRATION
Jesus Christ is the light of the world. The visible light of the world is the sun, and Christ is the Sun of righteousness. One sun enlightens the whole world, so does one Christ, and there needs no more... Christ is the fountain of light, enlightening every man. What a dungeon would the world be without the sun! So would it be without Christ by whom light came into the world, John ch. 3:19. {Matthew Henry¡¦s Commentary on the Bible, (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers) 1991}.
„Y JOHN 12:35 Then Jesus told them, ¡§You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. The man who walks in the dark does not know where he is going. 36 Put your trust in the light while you have it, so that you may become sons of light.¡¨
„Y JOHN 12:46 I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.
2. The world is in darkness, which is a symbol of evil, sin, and ignorance (Isa. 9:2 (cf Matt. 4:16); Matt. 27:45; John 3:19).
„Y ISA 9: 2 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 (cf MATT 4:16)
ILLUSTRATION
There¡¦s the story of a little child one time who bought a card with the painting of Jesus on it painted in a special kind of fluorescent colouring. The child said in all seriousness and faith: "I wanted Jesus, who shines in the darkness." (From ¡¥A Light Shines in Darkness¡¦ by Michael Cassidy ¡V Daywatch Radio Programme)
„Y JOHN 3:19 This is the verdict: ¡§Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. 21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God.¡¨
3. ¡§Light¡¨ in the Bible is a symbol of God and His holiness (Acts 9:3;
1 John 1:5).
„Y ACTS 9:3 As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, ¡§Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?¡¨ 5 ¡§Who are you, Lord?¡¨ Saul asked.
„Y 1 JOHN 1:5 This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 6 If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. 7 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.
4. Jesus is ¡§the Light,¡¨ not merely a light or another light among many
lights. He is the only Light, ¡§the true Light¡¨ (John 1:9), for the whole
world.
ILLUSTRATION
I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year, "Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown." And he replied: "Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the Hand of God. That shall be to you better than a light and safer than a known way." (Mary Louise Haskins)
Jesus is ¡§the¡¨ Light for mankind.
5. When Jesus said, Whoever follows Me, He meant whoever believes and
obeys Him (cf. 10:4-5, 27; 12:26;). Jesus was speaking of salvation.
„Y JOHN 10:4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger¡¦s voice.¡¨
„Y JOHN 10:27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.
„Y JOHN 12:26 Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.
As Jesus¡¦ followers reflect the light that comes from Him, they too are ¡§the light of the world¡¨ (Matt 5:14)
ILLUSTRATION
We are not the light . . . we REPRESENT the light. In the old days a little boy watched the man come down the street to light the street lamps. He said to his parents, "Look there is someone poking holes in the darkness". This is a grand description of the one who walks in the light. (From ¡¥Living in the Light¡¦ (John 8:12) by Rev. Bruce Goettsche,. mailto:revbag@netins.net)
6. Coming to Christ for salvation results in a different kind of life. A believer will never walk in darkness, that is, he will not live in it (cf. 12:46; 1 John 1:6-7). He does not remain in the realm of evil and ignorance (John 12:46) for he has Christ as his Light and salvation (cf. Ps. 36:9).
„Y JOHN 12:46 I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.
„Y 1 JOHN 1:6 If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. 7 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.
„Y PS 36:9 For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light.
PRACTICAL ASSIGN MENT
1. Place a candle, lightbulb or flashlight on your desk or work station as a reminder that Jesus is the TRUE light.
2. Place a note on the mirror you stand before the most. Write this question: "Do you see a reflection of Jesus in this mirror?"
CLOSING
¡¥Whoever follows me¡¦, as a traveller follows the light in a dark night, ¡¥will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life¡¦. If Christ be the light, then it is our duty to follow him, to submit ourselves to his guidance, and in everything take direction from him, in the way that leads to happiness. Many follow false lights that lead them to destruction; but Christ is the true light. It is not enough to look at this light, and to gaze upon it, but we must follow it, believe in it, and walk in it, for it is a light to our feet, not our eyes only. {Matthew Henry¡¦s Commentary on the Bible, (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers) 1991}. ***
