Jesus, the Light of the World
Notes
Transcript
Purpose of John
Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
Text
Text in individual verses
Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
So the Pharisees said to him, “You are bearing witness about yourself; your testimony is not true.”
Jesus answered, “Even if I do bear witness about myself, my testimony is true, for I know where I came from and where I am going, but you do not know where I come from or where I am going.
You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one.
Yet even if I do judge, my judgment is true, for it is not I alone who judge, but I and the Father who sent me.
In your Law it is written that the testimony of two people is true.
I am the one who bears witness about myself, and the Father who sent me bears witness about me.”
They said to him therefore, “Where is your Father?” Jesus answered, “You know neither me nor my Father. If you knew me, you would know my Father also.”
These words he spoke in the treasury, as he taught in the temple; but no one arrested him, because his hour had not yet come.
So he said to them again, “I am going away, and you will seek me, and you will die in your sin. Where I am going, you cannot come.”
So the Jews said, “Will he kill himself, since he says, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come’?”
He said to them, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world.
I told you that you would die in your sins, for unless you believe that I am he you will die in your sins.”
So they said to him, “Who are you?” Jesus said to them, “Just what I have been telling you from the beginning.
I have much to say about you and much to judge, but he who sent me is true, and I declare to the world what I have heard from him.”
They did not understand that he had been speaking to them about the Father.
So Jesus said to them, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he, and that I do nothing on my own authority, but speak just as the Father taught me.
And he who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to him.”
Text in block
Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” So the Pharisees said to him, “You are bearing witness about yourself; your testimony is not true.” Jesus answered, “Even if I do bear witness about myself, my testimony is true, for I know where I came from and where I am going, but you do not know where I come from or where I am going. You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one. Yet even if I do judge, my judgment is true, for it is not I alone who judge, but I and the Father who sent me. In your Law it is written that the testimony of two people is true. I am the one who bears witness about myself, and the Father who sent me bears witness about me.” They said to him therefore, “Where is your Father?” Jesus answered, “You know neither me nor my Father. If you knew me, you would know my Father also.” These words he spoke in the treasury, as he taught in the temple; but no one arrested him, because his hour had not yet come. So he said to them again, “I am going away, and you will seek me, and you will die in your sin. Where I am going, you cannot come.” So the Jews said, “Will he kill himself, since he says, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come’?” He said to them, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. I told you that you would die in your sins, for unless you believe that I am he you will die in your sins.” So they said to him, “Who are you?” Jesus said to them, “Just what I have been telling you from the beginning. I have much to say about you and much to judge, but he who sent me is true, and I declare to the world what I have heard from him.” They did not understand that he had been speaking to them about the Father. So Jesus said to them, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he, and that I do nothing on my own authority, but speak just as the Father taught me. And he who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to him.”
1. The Claim of Jesus to be the Light (v. 12)
1. The Claim of Jesus to be the Light (v. 12)
Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
I Am the Light of the World
I Am the Light of the World
2nd I AM statement in John (first was in John 6:35—I am the bread of life)
John 6:35 (ESV)
I am the bread of life.
shortly after his claims from John 7:37-38
On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink.
Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’ ”
reference to lamp-lighting ceremony at Feast of Tabernacles
Quote from D.A. Carson: ‘He who has not seen the joy of the place of water-drawing has never in his life seen joy’: this extravagant claim stands just before the description of the lighting of the four huge lamps in the temple’s court of women and of the exuberant celebration that took place under their light (Mishnah Sukkah 5:1–4). ‘Men of piety and good works’ danced through the night, holding burning torches in their hands and singing songs and praises. The Levitical orchestras cut loose, and some sources attest that this went on every night of the Feast of Tabernacles, with the light from the temple area shedding its glow all over Jerusalem. In this context Jesus declares to the people, I am the light of the world.
Carson, D. A. (1991). The Gospel according to John (p. 337). Inter-Varsity Press; W.B. Eerdmans.
I Am the Light of the World
I Am the Light of the World
John testifies many times to this reality that Jesus is the Light of the world.
In him was life, and the life was the light of men.
The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.
And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.
Jesus makes this claim multiple times in John’s Gospel
As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”
So Jesus said to them, “The light is among you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going.
While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.” When Jesus had said these things, he departed and hid himself from them.
I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness.
Implications of this claim:
1. There is only one Light (He is not “a light” but “the light”).
2. As the light, he exposes the sinfulness of the human heart.
And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.
For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed.
3. We need the light because we were created for the light.
Colossians 1:16 (ESV)
all things were created through him and for him.
Saint Augustine: Confessions Chapter 1
for Thou hast made us for Thee and our heart is unquiet till it finds its rest in Thee.
4. Light comes from the presence of God and manifests the glory of God
calls to mind the Shekinah glory of God in the pillar of fire above the Tabernacle — Exodus 13:21-22
And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them along the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night.
The pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night did not depart from before the people.
reminds us of the future hope of the glory of God in the new heavens and new earth—a hope for all the nations of the world
Isaiah 60:19–20 (ESV)
The sun shall be no more your light by day, nor for brightness shall the moon give you light; but the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory.
Your sun shall no more go down, nor your moon withdraw itself; for the Lord will be your everlasting light...
And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb.
By its light will the nations walk, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it,
5. Jesus is claiming to be God
This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
Psalm 27:1 (ESV)
The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?
the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you;
6. As the light, Jesus is pure and sinless
Which one of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me?
7. As the light, Jesus is the living Word of God
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.
2. The one who follows me will by no means walk in darkness.
2. The one who follows me will by no means walk in darkness.
A. You will no longer be opposed to the Light
Darkness as opposition to the light
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
B. You will no longer live in spiritual ignorance and blindness
darkness as spiritual ignorance and blindness
John 12:35 (ESV)
The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going.
But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief.
C. You will no longer be under the power of Satan and his forces
darkness as the control of spiritual forces fighting against God — Luke 22:53
When I was with you day after day in the temple, you did not lay hands on me. But this is your hour, and the power of darkness.”
Acts 26:18 (ESV)
to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God...
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son,
D. You will no longer live a life characterized by sin (though sin has not yet been eliminated, its power has been broken)
darkness as sinfulness
And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.
For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed.
Romans 13:12 (ESV)
So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light.
2 Corinthians 6:14 (ESV)
Or what fellowship has light with darkness?
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
E. You will not be separated from God forever
darkness as gloom and terror forever in hell (hell is called “outer darkness”)
while the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
2 Peter 2:17 (ESV)
For them the gloom of utter darkness has been reserved.
3. The one who follows me will have the light of life.
3. The one who follows me will have the light of life.
To follow the Light is to have the light; to follow Jesus is to have him.
Are you following him? Do you have Jesus?
The light is light of life—life-giving light; he must give you life so that you can see and love the light. Only when you have his life will you see his light.
In him was life, and the life was the light of men.
For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself.
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live,
and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?”
To follow him as the light is to believe in him.
I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness.
2. The Criticism and Opposition of the Jewish Leaders
2. The Criticism and Opposition of the Jewish Leaders
So the Pharisees said to him, “You are bearing witness about yourself; your testimony is not true.”
If I alone bear witness about myself, my testimony is not true.
The Self-Authenticating Glory of the Light
Light does not need to “bear witness” to itself—it simply shines, and those with eyes to see can testify that it is light.
It is ridiculous to demand evidence that the light is shining when all you have to do is look. The light is its own evidence.
This reveals the deep need for a supernatural work of God so that we can see his light.
These words he spoke in the treasury, as he taught in the temple; but no one arrested him, because his hour had not yet come.
3. The Confirmation of Jesus’s claim because of his relationship with the Father
3. The Confirmation of Jesus’s claim because of his relationship with the Father
Jesus’s testimony about himself as the Light of the world is a claim backed up by his identity as well as by his relationship with the Father.
Jesus’s relationship with the Father:
He came from the Father and is going to the Father. (14)
John 8:14 (ESV)
I know where I came from and where I am going, but you do not know where I come from or where I am going.
The Father bears witness about him. (16, 18)
John 8:16 (ESV)
it is not I alone who judge, but I and the Father who sent me.
John 8:18 (ESV)
the Father who sent me bears witness about me.
His message comes from the Father (26)
John 8:26 (ESV)
but he who sent me is true, and I declare to the world what I have heard from him.
He speaks with the Father’s authority (28)
John 8:28 (ESV)
I do nothing on my own authority, but speak just as the Father taught me.
The Father has not left him alone (29)
And he who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to him.”
He always does what pleases the Father (29)
Jesus’s relationship with the Father confirms his testimony that he is the Light of the World whom we must follow and have for our own.
4. The Contrast of Jesus with the Jewish Leaders
4. The Contrast of Jesus with the Jewish Leaders
Jesus knows his origins and destination and they don’t. (14)
John 8:14 (ESV)
I know where I came from and where I am going, but you do not know where I come from or where I am going.
They judge according to the flesh (in a human way) and Jesus doesn’t. (15)
You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one.
They don’t really know him or the Father, but Jesus knows himself and the Father (19)
John 8:19 (ESV)
Jesus answered, “You know neither me nor my Father. If you knew me, you would know my Father also.”
They cannot go where he is going (21)
John 8:21 (ESV)
Where I am going, you cannot come.
They are from below but Jesus is from above (23)
He said to them, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world.
They belong to this world (system of opposition to God) but Jesus doesn’t belong to this world (23)
5. The Call of Jesus to Believe in Him
5. The Call of Jesus to Believe in Him
Follow the Light and you will have him!
Follow the Light and you will have him!
Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
Following him means trusting in him and persevering in faith.
Following him means trusting in him and persevering in faith.
So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples,
I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness.
There are only two ways to die: in faith, or in your sins.
There are only two ways to die: in faith, or in your sins.
You can die in faith, following the Light, and have the Light forever.
John 8:12 (ESV)
Whoever follows me ... will have the light of life.
You can die in your sins, rejecting the light, refusing to believe him, and be in darkness forever.
John 8:24 (ESV)
...unless you believe that I AM he, you will die in your sins.
