JESUS: I AM THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD
I am sure many of you are familiar with this painting. It is by Holman Hunt and is known as ‘The Light of the World.’ It has appeared on many Christian cards etc. It depicts Christ standing in a doorway with a lantern – as if waiting to be invited in. All sorts of things have been concluded about Hunt’s theology from this painting. This morning I am not going to speculate on Hunt’s reasons for painting the picture but use it simply to introduce the sermon topic to you. Turn with me first to John 8 verse 12 (READ) and then turn on to John 9 verse 5 (READ) and then on a few pages to John 12 verse 46 (READ). As you can see from these verses Jesus applied the title ‘I am the Light of the World’ to Himself on several occasions. We come then to this second ‘I AM…’ saying of Christ in John’s gospel.
CONTEXT
Let us set the context for the first and second usage of this saying in John’s gospel. On the first occasion a woman, who had been caught in adultery, was brought before Christ. The religious leaders asked for His judgement on the matter, as a means of trapping Him and condemning Him also. You are familiar with the story. Jesus kneels down in the dust and begins to draw with His finger in the dirt. Without glancing at those who have dragged this woman before Him He challenges the one without sin to cast the first stone. When He looks up they are all gone and He speaks to the woman whose life He has just saved. Against that background He utters these words – READ John 8 verse 12, we will come back to that in a moment.
Then at the beginning of chapter 9 we have the ‘healing sign’ (miracle) of the man who was born blind (verse1). The disciples ask a theological question concerning this man (verse 2). For the disciples this man’s blindness was an unsolved theological riddle for Christ it was a means of revealing the glory of God’s work (verse 3) in his life. Then we encounter Christ again applying this phrase ‘I am the Light of the World’ to Himself (verses 4-5) and to support that claim He makes a mud pack and puts it on the blind man’s eyes (verse 6) and commands him to go to the pool of Siloam (which means ‘Sent) and there to wash his eyes (verse 7). The man obeys and John simply states ‘came home seeing’ (verse 7). There then follows a series of interviews by neighbours, who then bring him before the Pharisees in the synagogue who interview him, his parents and the man a second time. The whole thrust of the Pharisee’s questions are to refute the man’s claim that Jesus is from God because he has healed. Their contention is that Christ is a ‘sinner’ because He has healed on the Sabbath day. The Sabbath tradition (not the Scriptures) forbade healing on the Sabbath. It also forbade kneading (which Christ had done to make the mud), building (of which mud was a material) and anointing (which Christ had done to the man’s eyes). So we have two clear contexts for Christ to speak this phrase ‘I am the Light of the World.’ The first, the woman caught in adultery, was a situation of morality and the breaking of God’s Law and the second was a case of physical blindness which provided the means to reveal spiritual blindness. So let us look at little more closely at what Christ meant by applying to Himself the phrase ‘I am the Light of the World.’
GENESIS 1 VERSES 1-5 AND JOHN 1 VERSES 1-9.
These two passages speak of Light. At the very beginning of creation God created ‘Light’ and at the very beginning of Christ’s life on earth He is described as ‘the light of men’ which the ‘darkness has not understood (or overcome)’ (John 1 verses 4-5). From this point on ‘Light’ permeates the whole gospel of John. You see light is essential for life, for all life. Light is essential but we take ‘light’ for granted. We take for granted that there will be ‘daylight.’ Hence our amazement at such things as an eclipse. We take electrical light so much for granted that we moan when there is a power cut. In the day of Christ when daylight ended darkness began. The contrast between light and darkness was evident for all to see. There were no street lights, and lights within a home were very primitive indeed. Hence Christ’s use of the foolishness of hiding a lamp in the house when lit and the wisdom of 5 of the bridal virgins of bringing extra oil in preparation for the return of the Bridegroom. John constantly throughout his gospel contrasts the presence of Christ (light) and the darkness of leaving his presence – for example when Judas goes out to betray Christ – he goes out into the night. Of the 72 occasions ‘light’ is used in the NT 33 are used in John’s gospel. So right at the beginning of this sermon I want us to understand the essential nature of Light to Life and its contrast to and separation from darkness.
SIMEON AND ZECHARIAH – LIGHT OF THE WORLD.
When we turn to Luke’s gospel we have two incidents at the birth of Christ which speak of Him being ‘the light of the world.’ In Luke 1 verses 67-79 Zechariah sings about his son John the Baptist and listen to these words in verse 79 READ. Zechariah in verse 76 READ sings that his son would go before to prepare a way for this child that would be born and in verse 79 this child would bring ‘Light’ to those sitting in darkness. Then listen to these words of Simeon in the Temple after the circumcision of Christ – Luke 2 verses 29-32 READ. Did you notice it in verse 32 – ‘a light to the gentiles?’ So at the birth of Christ He is described as ‘Light of the world.’ These two men were only reiterating what had been prophesied by Isaiah many centuries before – listen Isaiah 9 verses 2 and 9 READ.
From these verses we learn a very basic but fundamental thing about this phrase, this title which Christ applies to Himself. As the ‘Light of the World’ He had come to scatter the darkness. What darkness? The darkness of sin and death which had reigned form the time of Adam’s fall. Is that not the teaching of the Scriptures. From the time of the fall of Adam and Eve until redemption in Christ mankind was held bound in the chains of sin and death. The same is true today. Those without Christ are still held bound by the chains of sin and death – darkness still rules in their lives. Would any of us doubt that darkness still rules in the hearts and lives of many men and women, even within Carrickfergus? He came as the ‘light of the world’ to scatter the darkness of sin and death.
Let me illustrate that for you. Turn with me to John 3 – a familiar passage to many. But I want you to listen to these verses – READ19-21. You know the story. Nicodemus has come under the cover of darkness to Christ Jesus. Nicodemus is coming ‘into the light.’ Is that not what those verses reveal? They have a double meaning – do they not? Generally speaking of all men and specifically speaking of Nicodemus. Nicodemus who lived by the truth came into the light (Jesus Christ) and into the knowledge of salvation in Christ (John 3 verse 16). Did you notice also that those who refuse to come ‘into the light’ do so not out of ignorance but because of the darkness of their hearts. Their rejection of the ‘light’ (Christ) reveals their true spiritual state.
EXODUS 3 VERSES 1-4 MOSES AND THE BURNING BUSH.
I am sure many of you are familiar with Moses and the Burning Bush. Moses is out in the wilderness looking after his father-in-laws sheep when his attention is attracted by a bush which is on fire. There is nothing particularly unusual about bushes burning in the wilderness. Spontaneous combustion happens to them quite frequently. However there is something unusual on this occasion – the fire is not consuming the bush. Moses’ attention is attracted and when he approaches the bush God speaks to him from it – ordering him to remove his sandals because he is on holy ground. The light of the fire was a beacon to bring him into the presence of God.
THE STAR OF BETHLEHEM
Turn then to Numbers 24 verses 15-19 READ. The passage speaks about a star that would rise out of Jacob. By the day of Christ’s birth this star was believed to be the sign of the messianic age. Herod when he became king of Israel, although an Edomite, put a star on his coinage to try and win kudos with the people. This explains his violent reaction to the news, from the wise men (Matthew 2), of a star appearing in the East. Friends I want you to note that not everyone saw the star in the sky that first Christmas. The shepherds didn’t, Herod and his courtiers didn’t – only those who were looking for it. You see sometimes a beacon of light is just a fire to some – it is only a beacon of light if you are actually looking for it and know what it is. Some things take some effort to understand. How often Christ said ‘he who has ears let him hear’ – placing the onus of understanding on the hearers of His words.
PILLAR OF FIRE – EXODUS 13 VERSES 18, AND 20-22.
When God led the people of Israel out of the bondage and slavery of Egypt He did so by a pillar of cloud and fire. The Pillar was their guide and their protection. It led them safely through the Red Sea and placed itself between them and the pursuing army of Egypt. At night it was a pillar of fire which led them and protected them. we know from Exodus 13 verse 21 that they sometimes moved at night and those occasions the Pillar of Fire was their guide, their protection and provided the light for their path ahead. Listen to these words from Exodus 14 verse 24 READ. The Lord Himself looked down from the pillar. He was present with His people in the pillar of fire. He was their guide, their protector and the light on their path (Psalm 119 verse 105). So when Christ applies the title ‘I am the Light of the World’ to Himself He is also speaking of being a guide, a protector and light on the path. He speaks of the presence of God with His people – Immanuel – God with us. Turn again to John 8 verse 12 READ – do you see what Christ says here? You will not walk in darkness, even if night is all around you. Why? Because He, the Light of the World, is the means of your walking in the light now. He has dispelled the darkness from around you. How? Turn with me to Colossians 1 verses 13-14 READ and we find the answer: By rescuing us from the darkness of death and sin by the death of His Son on the cross. With the result – 1 Peter 2 verse 9 READ – that we have become a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God. Therefore we are called by Paul in Romans 13 verses 11-13 to put on the armour of light.
CONCLUSION
So what? So what difference does it actually make in our lives if Christ is the ‘Light of the World?’ Well let me conclude by answering that question. If Christ is, as He claims, the ‘Light of the World’ then outside of knowing Him is darkness – as He has said in John 8 verse 12. But note will you that this ‘light’ is the ‘light of life.’ Outside of Christ, the ‘Light of the World,’ therefore there is no ‘life’ only ‘death.’ Not just physical death but spiritual death. Not just temporal death but eternal death. You see in John 3 verses 17-18 Christ warns that those who do not come to Him stand condemned already but those who do come to Him are given the gift of eternal life by the Father who sent Him as the saviour of the world. So the challenge this morning is this: if you believe that Christ Jesus is the Light of the World – then what will you do with Him? Without Him in your life there is only darkness and death. With Him there is light and eternal life.
Secondly let me read Matthew 5 verses 14-16. If Christ is the ‘Light of the World’ and we claim to have Him in our lives then it must make a difference in the way we live. Christ here tells us so. He (our Light) lives in us and must be seen in our actions, heard in our words, revealed in our attitudes and displayed before men in our lives. Friends let us be honest this morning – for many people who claim to be followers of Christ very little light shines out of them. Ask yourself ‘Is it light that is revealed in my life?’ ‘What does your life say about the Christ you claim to know and love?’ ‘What does your attitude, your words, your actions reveal about Jesus the ‘Light of the World?’ I make no apology this morning for asking those questions because some of you need to hear them and some of you need to do something about them.
Finally I want to take us one final time into the OT. Turn with me to Exodus 25 verses 31 following. In these verses Moses is given the instructions about the Tabernacle furnishings. Here we read of the Golden Lamp stand which was to be positioned in a specific place before the Holy of Holies within the Tabernacle. It was to stand before the Holy of Holies and shine its light on the Ark of the Covenant which contained the tablets of the Law. Its light also shone on the mercy seat which covered the Ark containing the tablets of the Law. Its light also shone on the table upon which rested the 12 loaves of the Bread of Presence. The light of the golden lamp stand shone on the Law, the mercy seat and the Table of Presence revealing the glory of God in justice, in mercy and in provision for His people. Christ the ‘Light of the World’ reveals the glory of God in providing satisfaction for the justice of God, in revealing the mercy of God towards sinners and revealing the provision of God for, us, His people to be in His presence by the forgiveness of sin. This morning all we can do is turn to the ‘Light of the world’ and acknowledge our need of Him and thank Him for the provision of justice, mercy and forgiveness. Let me finish by reading once more John 8 verse 12 –Come,let us walk in the light. AMEN.
