You're Not Made for Shadows

YOU’RE NOT MADE FOR SHADOWS

John 8:12

John 8:12 (KJV) Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

The Importance of Light

Why is Light Important?

What is its significance in Scripture?

Why do we need light today?

· Background

o John’s Gospel

§ Jesus the Son of God

§ Word Made Flesh Jn 1

§ I Ams

· Bread of Life

· Way the Truth and the Life

· John 8:12 I am the Light of the world

o Context

§ This statement is recorded immediately after a woman is caught in Adultery 8:1

§ This was a dark time for this woman

· She was under the shadow of the Accusers

· She was under the shadow of the Law

· She was under the shadow of public opinion

· She was under the shadow of cultural oppression

§ But when Jesus Showed up

· He began to shine light on a dark situation

· Jesus shows up and says, He that is without sin Cast the First stone

· He shines the light on hipocracy,

o and the Shadows of the accusers goes away

· Jesus shines the light on the Law

o For where is the man that she was caught in adultery with?

o So, the Shadow of the Law had to Go

· Jesus shines the light on Cultural Oppression

o Culture says that a Priest should not be in the company of an adulteress

o But the Shadow of Cultural Oppression had to go

§ I don’t know who or what has been trying to cast a shadow over you life

§ But you weren’t made for Shadow

Text

Jn 8:12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world

I. Problem with this statement

While we don’t have a problem with this statement, the Pharisees were bothered.

John 8:13 (KJV) The Pharisees therefore said unto him, Thou bearest record of thyself; thy record is not true.

Why?

· The statement is declarative

· It is Infintive

· It is authoritative

Jesus was the light before there was a law.

Let’s take a look at the Old Testament.

Old Testament Support

Exodus 25 God gives Moses instructions to build the Tabernacle

· He would receive an offering to build the Tabernacle

o Gold, Silver, Bronze, etc

· He would build it according to the Pattern which is in Heaven

· Tabernacle

o Outer Court

o Holy Place

o Most Holy Place

· Furniture was made from the offering from the people

· Curtains separated the sections of the Tabernacle

· No light would pass through the curtains

· God told Moses to make a LAMPSTAND/ Lampstick

o Manorah – Definition

· LAMPSTAND

o Of Pure Gold

o Of Hammered Work

o Of One Piece from 1 Talent of Gold

· Lamp

o Pure Olive Oil of Beaten Oil

· All Tools were to be of Pure Gold

· To Light every thing in front of it

o Aaron and priests were to maintain the oil and the light from evening until the morning. Leviticus – Scripture

· The Pharisees were still under the shadow of the Law

· Because they would not follow Jesus they were walking in Darkness

So the Same Light which was a Shadow in the Old Testament

Was now realized in the New Testament under a New a Better Covenant

You were looking at a LAMPSTAND, but you didn’t realize that it was after the Pattern of the Light that is in Heaven

Jesus is the Light of the World,

When Jesus Shows Up

· The Shadow of Darkness has to leave

· The Shadow of Death has to cancelled

· The Shadow of Sickness and Disease has to flee

· The Shadow of Lies

· Shadow of Poverty

Jesus says, I am the Light of the World

II. Follow Me

Jn 8:12 (B Clause) he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness,

· You just said when Jesus shows up all of this has to go

· Why is there still so much darkness in the World?

· Jesus Says, Follow Me

o Problem

§ Whenever I follow someone, who is greater than I am there is a natural shadow that is cast behind them

§ And I would be in their Shadow

o What is the text showing here?

o How could I not walk in a Shadow if I am following Jesus who is greater than I?

o I’m Glad you asked

o My First Answer was

§ There would be a Shadow if the Light was in Front of Jesus

§ But, Since Jesus is the Light, I rationed that there wouldn’t be a shadow

§ That Sounds good, but I couldn’t find that in scripture No Where

o If any man come after me,

§ Let him Deny himself

§ Take up his cross

§ Follow me

o This speaks to a transformation

§ If you deny yourself, you are giving up your authority over yourself

§ And giving it to the one you are following

o But, Then Jesus Says, I am the Light of the World as long as I am in the World

o So, Somehow Jesus I would follow him, even he just said He’s the light as long as he is in the World

· Then, I remembered another Scripture that says,

o Ye are the Lights of the World

· So, When we follow Jesus, the same light that is Jesus would transfer to those who follow him

Then, I remembered the LAMPSTAND that represented Jesus the Light

· It was of Pure Gold

· It was of Hammered Work

· And of One Piece

Pure Gold

· Find Scripture – Jesus is Pure Gold

Hammered Work

· He was for our wounded for our transgressions

· He was bruised for our iniquity

· The Chastisement of our Peace was upon him

· By his Stripes, We are Healed

Of one Piece

· I am my Father are One

· Other Scripture

That’s OK for Jesus, but HOW are we lights

Answer

· Gold

o Think it not strange, the fiery trials that come to try you

o You shall be made as pure Gold

· Hammered Work

o Scripture of us being beaten or hammered

· One Piece

o I know where Jesus Comes from, but where does Gold come from

· According to Geological Society and my Highschool Science class

· Gold is a Mineral

o It doesn’t come from Man’s Hands

o But it comes from Rock

o Rock that has been under pressure

· Rock Church

o You weren’t made for the shadows

o But you were Made to be a Light in a Dark World

o