The Light Of The World

John 9:1-7 (NKJV)

"The Light of the World"

December 15, 2024

The four Gospels record more than 35 miracles, but apart from Jesus’ resurrection, feeding the 5,000 is the only miracle mentioned by all four. Not even something as amazing as the resurrection of Lazarus was recorded by more than John. Each gospel author wrote with a specific goal, leading them to emphasize particular events in the earthly ministry of Jesus. Matthew teaches that Jesus is the MESSIAH/KING. Mark teaches that Jesus is the suffering SERVANT OF GOD. Luke teaches that Jesus is the perfect SON OF MAN. John teaches that Jesus is the divine SON OF GOD. The last three sermons were all unique in that the miracles I preached about were only recorded in a single gospel. Mark is the only writer to record the healing of the of the deaf/mute and the healing of the blind at Bethsaida. Today we teach about the man born blind. What ties these three lessons together is that the Bible records Jesus using His spittle to heal them. This method is only recorded in three instances. The simplest illustration I can give as to why Jesus used spittle, is that it is like a parent seeing something dirty on the face of their child and without hesitation they lick their thumb and clean the face of the child with their saliva. I’ve got four children and I’ve never seen any one of them like it! But they had to deal with it because I was going to make them clean. Maybe just maybe our Father in heaven is trying to teach us that sometimes we are just going to have to deal with it while He makes us clean? On the last day of the Feast of Tabernacles, early in the morning Jesus says, "I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness but will have the Light of life." Then the Jews railed on Him all manner of accusations saying that He was not the Christ. So, Jesus said, your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it and was glad. Then said the Jews unto him, you are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham? Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I AM. Then took they up stones to cast at Him: but Jesus hid Himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by. This is the backdrop of our lesson today. As He passed by, He saw a man, He gave a message and then performed a miracle.

I. THE MAN - The disciples asked who sinned? The man or his parents? Jesus said neither, but that the works of God should be revealed in him! This man, according to the Scripture was born blind. This man had lived his entire life in this state of darkness. And yet, there is a blindness that is far worse than the physical! It is far worse to be in spiritual darkness. Paul says that this world is perishing, “whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus' sake. For it is God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” Also the Scriptures seem to indicate that this man was born not only handicapped, but also in poverty. His birth seems to be a thing of terrible misfortune. Many would say that he would have been better off if he had never been born. However, we find that Jesus felt otherwise. He tells the Disciples that this man's problem was allowed by God so that God could get glory from this man's life. What a wonderful truth! God can take any life no matter how hard it has been and turn it into blessing, honor and glory to the Father!

II. THE MESSAGE - Jesus said, as long as I am in the world, I Am the Light of the World! In declaring Himself to be the Light of the world, Jesus was claiming that He is the exclusive source of spiritual light. No other source of spiritual truth is available to mankind. There are two types of light in the world. When we are born into this world, we perceive physical light, and by it we learn of our Creator’s handiwork in the things we see. However, although that light is good, there is another Light, a Light so important that the Son of God had to come in order to both declare and impart it to men. The metaphor used by the Lord in this verse speaks of the light of His Truth, the light of His Word, the light of eternal Life. Physical light is necessary for physical life. The earth would certainly change very rapidly if there were no longer any sunlight. A forest full of trees with very thick canopies of foliage high above has very little plant life on the ground except for moss or lichen, which needs little sunlight. Plants will never move away from the light—they are said to be positively phototropic, drawn to the light. In the same way, spiritual light is necessary for spiritual life, and this can be a good test of our standing in Christ. The believer will always tend toward spiritual things; he will always tend toward fellowship, prayer, giving, studying the Word of God, and Worship. Following Jesus is the condition of a promise that His followers will never walk in darkness, which is a reference to the assurance of salvation we enjoy.