The Great I Am – The Light of the World
May 2, 2004
John 8:1-12
Sunday AM
Intro: A few weeks ago, we began a study on the self descriptions of Jesus found in John better known as the “I am” discourses – 7 identifying statements made by the Messiah to help us to understand He wasn’t just any man, but the God/man – God incarnate who came to seek and to save the lost. He said – I am:
Trans: Last week we looked at the “the Bread of Life” – where Jesus explained that He was the true manna from God who when appropriately digested would give true satisfaction unto eternal life. This week we’ll look at the light of the world.
Insert: As I started thinking about darkness, I realized how unsettling it can be. If we were to cut the lights this AM and make a run for the door – we‘d have 50 broken noses. Yet w/ just a little bit of light, we could all get out of here safely and w/out incident.
Have you ever gotten out of bed at night and stumped your toe on the bed or door jam. It’s not fun. A few months ago, I got up to get a drink of water and ran smack into the door – it just about knocked me out. Darkness is dangerous.
Funny: Making a decision in the dark can lead to some regrettable consequences. Back in the days before electricity, a tightfisted farmer was taking his hired man to task for carrying a lighted lantern when he went calling on his girl. He said, “Why when I went a-courtin’ I never carried one of them things w/ me – I always went in the dark.” “Yes,” said the hired man, “and look what you got.”
Insert: I’m telling you – darkness can be a dangerous thing – especially when it comes to spirituality. Thus, as we pick up our story in John 8, we find darkness abounding even at the dawning of a new day. (read text)
I CONFRONTATION vs. 3-9
Insert: This is one of the more diabolical stories in the Bible and truly reveals the depth of decay, darkness, and depravity found in the hearts of men.
Note: Here we find the spiritual leaders of Israel (men who knew the law of God) intentionally plotting to trap Jesus by setting up a woman to be humiliated and even executed for their own personal cause. Good religious men gone bad b/c there pathetic brand of religion was challenged and threatened by Jesus.
Quote: Men who claimed to know the Law of God, yet they didn’t recognize the God of the Law standing right before them.
Insert: It is amazing how people respond when their religion gets challenged – but Christianity is not a religion, it’s a relationship.
Truth: Unfortunately though, these shenanigans still persist today among churchgoers. Well-meaning people doing things in God’s name God Himself wouldn’t do. Instead of fighting for the truth and a genuine relationship w/ God – we fight for our religious comforts and traditions. It’s amazing how low a person will stoop to protect their religion and how quickly they will sell out their relationship.
A The Plot
Note: Put Jesus in a no win situation – present to Him a situation that he can’t solve w/out either breaking Roman law or Jewish law.
B The Ploy
Note: Bring him a woman caught in the act of adultery and ask him to judge her appropriately. Roman law forbid the Jews from condemning the adulterer while Jewish Law demanded that the adulterer be condemned unto death.
Trans: So they wait for what they think is just the right time – it’s early in the AM and a good size crowd had gathered to hear Jesus speak – we can defame, discredit, and diminish Jesus in front of everyone.
Insert: They were smug – they just knew they had a full-proof plan (self-righteous people generally think that way). They can’t see past the plank in their own eyes – and little did they know they set themselves up for a fall.
C The Predicament
1 Where was the man?
Note: It takes two to tango. It was obvious it was a trap from the get go or else they would have thrown the man into the ring w/ the woman.
Meaning either the woman was not actually in adultery, or one of the Pharisees (or acquaintances) was involved in some extra curricular activity. By the way, the Greek is clear – this woman was literally in the act of adultery when they yanked from her bed and thrust her half naked before Jesus and the crowd.
They didn’t think their plan through very well – they were so intent on getting Jesus – they didn’t realize they were sabotaging themselves.
Note: Hatred, revenge, and anger – just basic dislike and distrust – will usually do this to a person. They’ll cause you to do or say something that you’ll either regret or it will cause you to do something rashly that will incriminate yourself.
Trans: The 2nd question isn’t quite as obvious, b/c it comes in the form of a statement from Jesus. Jesus is under fire from the religious so he stoops down and writes in the dirt. They press Him – so he nails them.
2 When is it ever okay to sin?
Insert: Jesus asks – Is it ever justifiable to commit a sin to reveal a perceived sin? Is it ever permissible to break the law to prove the law? Some people think so – the man who blows up an abortion clinic. But to God – it’s never okay.
Note: Many have often wondered what Jesus could have possibly written in the sand. I think I know – or at least I have an idea. I believe Jesus wrote the Word.
Note: In the O.T. in Deuteronomy, the Bible tells us that if a man brings a false witness w/ the intent of incriminating an innocent man – he has just committed a sin punishable unto death. The Pharisees had broken the law – and both they and Jesus knew it.
Insert: This text is not about judging others as some have tried to use it. It’s about the deceptive and depraved nature of man trying to snuff out the light of truth. If you’re interested in the rules for judging look at Mt. 7:1-5.
Note: When is it permissible to judge – after you have rightly judged yourself and have realize your own nature to sin – and can judge a situation redemptively.
Note: Notice how Jesus deals w/ their sin – He confronts it and condemns their tactics– they knew the law and knew they had broken it – and Jesus called them on it – yet as He confronts them He doesn’t condemn them – He extends grace.
Question: How do you respond to others when you believe a mistake or injustice being made? How do you respond to a situation you disagree w/ or don’t understand? How do you typically respond when Jesus confronts you w/ the truth?
Truth: Some people change their ways when they see the light, others only change when they feel the heat. In this instance – the Pharisees knew they were caught. Yet while Jesus turns up the heat – He handles them redemptively.
II REVELATION vs. 10-11
Note: Notice how Jesus deals w/ her – w/ grace and honor – he calls her madam. He could have called her a tramp or whore and would have been accurate, instead he treats her w/ love and grace – he treats her redemptively. Jesus always deals w/ sin the same way – He loves the sinner but hates the sin.
Note: We also learn about his grace. Jesus in no way condoned her sin, yet he didn’t condemn her – rather He exposed her to the light of His truth and invited her to embrace it.
Note: He released her from the bondage of her sin debt and commissioned her to walk in the light of truth – to go and sin no more. This is God’s desire for us – that we embrace the light of God’s truth and walk away as a changed people.
III DECLARATION vs. 1-2, 12
Setting: Verses 1-2 tell us that Jesus arrives early in the AM at the Temple on the Mount of Olives to teach and minister to the multitudes. It was the AM after the final evening of the Feast of Tabernacle – a feast to commemorate the pillar of fire that led the Israelites at night through the wilderness. The feast involved two ceremonies – the pouring out of water to commemorate the water that came from the rock and the illumination of the temple.
At the beginning of the feast, huge candelabras were lit in the temple at night and elevated high above the temple courts illuminating the area – this was done to remind the people of God’s guiding light of promise. The light represented the shechinah glory of God – the very presence of God.
It’s interesting that the very moment the light of the feast was extinguished, Jesus – the true light of the world shows up in all of His glory.
Don’t miss the point. They’ve just extinguished the lights commemorating the God’s presence and the hope of the Messiah’s return – yet they don’t have a clue the Messiah was in their midst – they were a people waling in darkness.
Trans: Then Jesus speaks up – while the charred torches are still smoking and he exclaims – I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.
Note: I am the light that leads you to the land of promise. I am the light that exposes the darkness around you and reveals truth of God. I am the light that is available to all men whether Greek or Jew.
Fact: We are all blind by nature, but in Christ a remedy was offered to rescue and free us from the darkness allowing us to share in the true light. A light that points us in the right direction, protects us in times of trouble, and provides for us in times of need.
A He declares God’s PRESENCE
Quote: I believe in Christ like I believe in the sun. Not only b/c I see it, but b/c by it all things are seen. C.S. Lewis
B He discloses God’s PROTECTION
C He divulges God’s PROVISION
Verse: Send forth your light and your truth, let them guide me. Ps. 43:3
Story: A granddad was walking in the woods w/ his grandson talking about the things of life. The granddad asked, “Do you know where we are?” “No granddad.” The granddad asked, “Do you know we are going? “No granddad.” The granddad said, “Well then, I guess you are lost. The boy smiled, “No granddad. I’m not lost. I am w/ you.”
Verse: The people living in darkness have seen a great light, and for those living in the land and shadow of death, a light has risen. Mt. 4:16
Note: Jesus, the great I am – is that light – He came into the world to expose the darkness and reveal the truth of God. He came to heal our blindness and redeem us through His grace – He is the light of the world – the single source of truth from God.
