Who Do You Say That I Am? - Lent 2024

The Light of the World

John 8:12–20 NRSV

Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.” Then the Pharisees said to him, “You are testifying on your own behalf; your testimony is not valid.” Jesus answered, “Even if I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is valid because I know where I have come from and where I am going, but you do not know where I come from or where I am going. You judge by human standards; I judge no one. Yet even if I do judge, my judgment is valid; 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 witnesses is valid. I testify on my own behalf, and the Father who sent me testifies on my behalf.” Then they said to him, “Where is your Father?” Jesus answered, “You know neither me nor my Father. If you knew me, you would know my Father also.” He spoke these words while he was teaching in the treasury of the temple, but no one arrested him, because his hour had not yet come.

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John 8:12 NRSV

Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.”

Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament Chapter 8

12. He that followeth me shall in nowise walk in darkness—In ignorance, wickedness, misery: But shall have the light of life—He that closely, humbly, steadily follows me, shall have the divine light continually shining upon him, diffusing over his soul, knowledge, holiness, joy, till he is guided by it to life everlasting.

The Gospel of John, Volume 2 The Light that People Failed to Recognize (John 8:12–20)

Jesus is saying: ‘You have seen the blaze of the Temple illuminations piercing the darkness of the night. I am the light of the world, and for anyone who follows me there will be light, not only for one exciting night, but for all the pathway of life. The light in the Temple is a brilliant light, but in the end it flickers and dies. I am the light which lasts forever.’

—> I am the light of the world

—> where is Jesus?

—> He is in the temple courts during the Festival of Tabernacles or Booths (Ch. 7)

—> the Illumination of the Temple

The Gospel of John, Volume 2 The Light that People Failed to Recognize (John 8:12–20)

Jesus is saying: ‘You have seen the blaze of the Temple illuminations piercing the darkness of the night. I am the light of the world, and for anyone who follows me there will be light, not only for one exciting night, but for all the pathway of life. The light in the Temple is a brilliant light, but in the end it flickers and dies. I am the light which lasts forever.’

—> false lights

—> For Them

—> The Tabernacle

—> The Law

—> For Us

—> The Church

—> Mass/Social Media

—> Jesus is the true light

—> like the pillar of fire in Exodus, Jesus is the true light of God that leads his people

—> “Whoever follows me…

—> We can’t just see the light and acknowledge it, we have to go with the light.

—> Jesus doesn’t stay still for long

—> “will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

—> if you are with Jesus there is always light, even in the darkest of times.

—> darkness is inevitable on this earth

—> Jesus however, shines through the darkness.

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