Light in the Dark

There was once a very smart young man who was fortunate enough to be receiving more education than his parents had, and his vocabulary far outmatched theirs.

One day he came home from school and said, “Mother, may I relate to you a narrative?”

“What’s a narrative, Harold?” she asked.

“A narrative, Mother, is a tale.”

“Oh, I see,” said his mother nodding, and Harold told her the story. At bedtime as he was about to go upstairs he said, “Shall I extinguish the light, Mother?”

“What’s extinguish?” she asked.

“Extinguish means to put out, Mother,” said Harold.

“Oh, okay. Yes, certainly.”

The next day the pastor stopped in for a visit, and the family dog wouldn’t stop bothering him. Barking, jumping, and begging for goodies from the table.

“Harold,” said his mother, trying to impress, “please take that dog by the narrative and extinguish him!”

The meaning of words is very important. Today, we are going to read a portion of Scripture that has some very important words for us to hear, but we need to know the true meaning of the words being said.

Jesus said something really important and we need to know what He meant.

John 8:12 CEV

12 Once again Jesus spoke to the people. This time he said, “I am the light for the world! Follow me, and you won’t be walking in the dark. You will have the light that gives life.”

What does Jesus mean when He says He’s the Light for the world? He says that His light can give people life!

Given that statement alone, it really doesn’t make sense. How can a person be a light, and how can a light give life?

I want to explain where Jesus was when He said these words, I want to explain what was happening around Him, and then finally I want to show who was listening to Jesus.

When Jesus said these words He was in the temple.

temple

You can see the Temple had different courts. There was the court of the priests, the court of the gentiles, and the court of woman.

Jesus was standing in the women’s court. He was probably standing on the steps so everyone could see and hear Him.

It was the Feast of Tabernacles in Jerusalem when this statement was given. This is very important because this celebration was held to remind the people that God was their deliverer. Just as he delivered them from bondage in Egypt, He would once and for all deliver them by sending a Savior.

During the feast of tabernacles, they would light these massive lamps.

lamps

The wicks were made from the priests’ worn-out garments. The light illuminated the temple area and the people gathered to sing praises and dance. The light reminded the Jewish people of how God was with them in their wanderings in the wilderness in a pillar of cloud which turned to fire at night. You can read all about that in Numbers chapter 9.

So, Jesus was in the temple, during the feast of tabernacles, while these massive lamps were burning, now…who was He talking to?

Let’s read it together:

John 8:2–12 CEV

2 Then early the next morning he went to the temple. The people came to him, and he sat down and started teaching them. 3 The Pharisees and the teachers of the Law of Moses brought in a woman who had been caught in bed with a man who wasn’t her husband. They made her stand in the middle of the crowd. 4 Then they said, “Teacher, this woman was caught sleeping with a man who isn’t her husband. 5 The Law of Moses teaches that a woman like this should be stoned to death! What do you say?” 6 They asked Jesus this question, because they wanted to test him and bring some charge against him. But Jesus simply bent over and started writing on the ground with his finger. 7 They kept on asking Jesus about the woman. Finally, he stood up and said, “If any of you have never sinned, then go ahead and throw the first stone at her!” 8 Once again he bent over and began writing on the ground. 9 The people left one by one, beginning with the oldest. Finally, Jesus and the woman were there alone. 10 Jesus stood up and asked her, “Where is everyone? Isn’t there anyone left to accuse you?” 11 “No sir,” the woman answered. Then Jesus told her, “I am not going to accuse you either. You may go now, but don’t sin anymore.” 12 Once again Jesus spoke to the people. This time he said, “I am the light for the world! Follow me, and you won’t be walking in the dark. You will have the light that gives life.”

So, let’s look at who Jesus was talking to that day.

The Religious People

Jesus was not really a big fan of religious people. He cared more about the motives of a persons heart. And rightfully so. The religious men who brought this woman before Jesus that day had impure motives. They couldn’t have cared less about this woman, her sin, her soul, or her eternal destiny. All they cared about was pressing their agenda, and their brand of righteousness.

Thing haven’t changed! People today are no different. We can be guilty of judging people instead of loving people.

These religious men were trying to test Jesus.

If Jesus simply let the woman go, then He would be seen as being easy on sin and could have been arrested for being in violation of the Law. If, however, He gave permission for the woman to be killed, He could then be accused before Rome as a revolutionist who was disturbing the peace.

They forgot or didn’t know that Jesus was smart.

Their plan might have succeeded with an ordinary man, but they were dealing with Jesus Christ, and He simply refused to play by their rules! When they tried to stump Jesus, They discovered that they had met their match. Notice how He responded to their arguments.

Jesus just plain ignored them! I love this part.

John 8:6 (CEV)

…Jesus simply bent over and started writing on the ground with his finger.

That was pretty cold. They wanted Him to argue and fight, but Jesus just bent over and started to write in the ground. People always want to know what He was writing.

There are all sorts of theories, but I kind of think Jesus started to write our THEIR sins! Maybe he was making a list of all their girlfriends.

John 8:7–9 CEV

7 They kept on asking Jesus about the woman. Finally, he stood up and said, “If any of you have never sinned, then go ahead and throw the first stone at her!” 8 Once again he bent over and began writing on the ground. 9 The people left one by one, beginning with the oldest. Finally, Jesus and the woman were there alone.

Whatever Jesus wrote on the ground got their attention. They all left in shame. None of them was without sin.

I need to point out that you and I are in the same boat. We have all sinned. When we really understand Jesus, His love and His perfection, we see clearly that we aren’t perfect and we aren’t full of love. We have fallen short.

We need Grace.

Jesus spoke to the religious people of that day and they found out that they were no better than the sinful woman they were ready to murder.

Who else did Jesus speak to that day?

The Sinful Woman

John 8:9–10 CEV

9 The people left one by one, beginning with the oldest. Finally, Jesus and the woman were there alone. 10 Jesus stood up and asked her, “Where is everyone? Isn’t there anyone left to accuse you?”

All the accusers left, and Jesus was alone with this woman.

As He stood before her, He was the only One the world has ever known Who was qualified to take up the first stone, as well as all the rest of the stones, and stone her to death. When she faced Jesus, she was facing the ultimate judge! Remember, Jesus was perfect. He was the Son of God.

Here’s a thought for you:

She had reached a place in her life where it was just her and Jesus. It always comes down to that!

Eventually, somewhere, someday you are going to have to face Jesus. Eventually, somewhere, someday you are going to have to bow to Jesus!

Oh, I am sure that He has given you opportunities in this life to come to Him. What have you done with them?

Friends, you will either receive Jesus at one of life’s encounters, or you will face Him on judgment day. Which would you rather it be?

In the end, it always comes down to just you and Jesus. And, what you do with Him will determine where and how you spend eternity!

What did Jesus do? Did He yell at her? Did He condemn her? Did He make her feel bad?

No. HE FORGAVE HER!

The religious men had condemned her and considered her as good as dead, Jesus however, saw someone worthy of His love and worth salvaging.

HE FREED HER

All of her life, she had been subject to the god of this world, Satan. She had been a prisoner of her own lusts and desires.

Can’t we say the same thing?

Ephesians 2:1–3 CEV

1 In the past you were dead because you sinned and fought against God. 2 You followed the ways of this world and obeyed the devil. He rules the world, and his spirit has power over everyone who doesn’t obey God. 3 Once we were also ruled by the selfish desires of our bodies and minds. We had made God angry, and we were going to be punished like everyone else.

Jesus gave her freedom and life. He set her free.

Jesus specializes in taking wasted, ruined lives and saving them by His grace and restoring them to usefulness. Every person who comes to Jesus for salvation receives this new lease on life

2 Corinthians 5:17 CEV

17 Anyone who belongs to Christ is a new person. The past is forgotten, and everything is new.

We get a change to begin again, and this time, we actually have a chance of making something out of our lives.

He told her something important:

John 8:11 CEV

11 “No sir,” the woman answered. Then Jesus told her, “I am not going to accuse you either. You may go now, but don’t sin anymore.”

He said, but don’t sin anymore.

When Jesus looks at a lost sinner, He sees the potential in their lives. Like He did with this woman, He sees them as they can be through Him.

Life doesn’t have to remain like it is today for you. It can be better and it can be new, if you will come to Jesus!

Following Jesus is a choice that we must make. He’s forgiven us and set us free, but we must choose if we are going to walk in that freedom.

Maybe, like this woman, your life has been wrecked and ruined by sin. Maybe you have been hurt by religious people. Maybe you are looking for a compassionate Savior, One who will make everything right. I want to invite you to come to Jesus. He cares about you just like you are. He loves you and wants to save you. He wants to deliver you from your bondage. He wants to set you free.

How do you come to Jesus?

Believe what He says. Trust His words. That woman had to walk away choosing to believe she was made right.

Jesus was talking to the religious people, the woman, and then He stands up and starts speaking to

The People

This is what He says:

John 8:11–12 CEV

11 “No sir,” the woman answered. Then Jesus told her, “I am not going to accuse you either. You may go now, but don’t sin anymore.” 12 Once again Jesus spoke to the people. This time he said, “I am the light for the world! Follow me, and you won’t be walking in the dark. You will have the light that gives life.”

Standing in the courtyard of the temple when these massive flames going up into the sky, the symbolism could not have been missed.

The people that day were celebrating how God lead them out of bondage and slavery through the desert God gave them a pillar of fire in the night sky to guide them.

Jesus was saying, that HE was their Savior. He was God’s Son who came to lead all of Humanity out of darkness!

The world is in “darkness”, a symbol for evil, sin, and ignorance.

“Light” in the Bible is a symbol of God and His holiness.

1 John 1:5 CEV

5 Jesus told us that God is light and doesn’t have any darkness in him. Now we are telling you.

Jesus is “the Light,” not merely a light or another light among many lights. He is the only Light, “the true Light”, for the whole world. When Jesus said, Whoever follows Me, He meant whoever believes and obeys Him.

Jesus is talking about salvation.

Coming to Christ for salvation results in a different kind of life. A believer will never walk in darkness, that is, he will not live in it. He does not remain in the realm of evil and ignorance:

John 12:46 CEV

46 I am the light that has come into the world. No one who has faith in me will stay in the dark.

We don’t have to stay in the dark because we have Jesus as our light and salvation.

Here we are on Christmas Eve talking about Jesus. It’s all about Jesus. Life is about Jesus. He is our Savior. He is the lover of our soul.

You see, each one of us has dark places in our lives. We need the light to penetrate that darkness.

Jesus is the answer. If you read on in this chapter, you’ll see that the people didn’t understand.

In fact, they just got more and more upset. Ultimately, they chose to reject Jesus and murder Him.

But the light could not be hidden. Jesus was buried, but He didn’t stay in the tomb. No way! He rose from the grave, the church was born, and now WE have the light of Jesus in us!

Matthew 5:14–16 CEV

14 You are like light for the whole world. A city built on top of a hill cannot be hidden, 15 and no one would light a lamp and put it under a clay pot. A lamp is placed on a lampstand, where it can give light to everyone in the house. 16 Make your light shine, so that others will see the good that you do and will praise your Father in heaven.

This is our goal. We have recieved the good news that Jesus has forgiven the sinner. That we are made right with God through Him.

We are told that we should let this light shine to the whole world.

In a minute, we are going to symbolically light our candles. But I want to ask you a question.

If everyone could bow their heads today. By a show of hands, is anyone here making a decision to believe on Jesus? By raising your hand, you are declaring with your heart that Jesus is your Lord and you are going to follow Him.

Do I have any followers of Jesus in this place? Everyone who loves the Lord raise your hand and hold it high.

Look around. You’re not alone. We are in this together.