I AM the Light of the World

Introduction

Recap series

week 1 - I AM the bread of life

Jesus sustains us… in the same way that God sent the mana for the people of Israel

This week - I AM the Light of the World

we do not need convinced that the world is a dark place

just yesterday alone -

Israel attacked again

four people arrested and charged with murder in the disappearance of the two ladies by Elkhart

We love that Jesus is the light but do we really know what that means

for most, we think that we can see

John 8:12 (CSB)

12 Jesus spoke to them again: “I am the light of the world. Anyone who follows me will never walk in the darkness but will have the light of life.”

PRAY!

What is the Feast of the Tabernacle

does Jesus speaking mean that he lied in chapter 7

We are not to walk in the light when we think that we are in danger, or when we do not know which direction to go. We are to walk continually in the light.

The Light Protects in Darkness

we have all have known somebody or have been scared of the dark ourselves

one of our kids was scared of the dark and they would send another in to turn the light on for them

why? because we are convinced that light removes danger

and there is some truth in that as well

John 8:12 (CSB)

12 Jesus spoke to them again: “I am the light of the world. Anyone who follows me will never walk in the darkness but will have the light of life.”

Pillar of fire between Pharaoh and Israelites; protecting them from certain defeat

tell the story of the Israelites leaving Egypt

they had plundered them

the first born had just died

the slave labor was all gone

pharaoh looks like a weak fool for letting these people go

this is who, or what, Jesus is claiming to be

at a festival that is to remind the Israelites of when they left Egypt

The light did not remove the danger

it stood between the danger and the people of God

we do not have to be afraid of the darkness

Psalm 27:1–3 (CSB)

1 The Lord is my light and my salvation— whom should I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life— whom should I dread?

2 When evildoers came against me to devour my flesh, my foes and my enemies stumbled and fell.

3 Though an army deploys against me, my heart will not be afraid; though a war breaks out against me, I will still be confident.

The light allows us to stand boldly in the face danger

there is nothing that can remove me from the hand of God

Jesus said that none the Father has given him has he lost

he is not about to start with you

we do not stand in arrogance, but confidence

arrogance looks at self

I am this, I am in the position

confidence looks at him

I am only standing because of the strength that he has given me

I can only remain because of his grace and protection

The Light Guides in Darkness

Total blackout you cannot see anything

it can be scary, you have no idea if or what is in there with you

it is easy to get turned around and even in a place that you are familiar with your bearing can get off and you do not know where to go

John 8:12 (CSB)

12 Jesus spoke to them again: “I am the light of the world. Anyone who follows me will never walk in the darkness but will have the light of life.”

The light in the darkness of this world, shows us where to go

we want a flashlight

I am going this way so Jesus shine your light this way

as if he is the headlight on our cars showing us where the deer are

so that we can slow down, change direction a little bit

the problem with this is that we are the ones driving

Psalm 119:105 (CSB)

105 Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light on my path.

Jesus said, “Anyone who follows me…”

we are simply following the light

Israel in the exodus did followed the pillar of fire

Exodus 13:21–22 (CSB)

21 The Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to lead them on their way during the day and in a pillar of fire to give them light at night, so that they could travel day or night.

22 The pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night never left its place in front of the people.

Jesus again reminding them of what God did for the people of Israel

that is who and what he is…

Where does he lead us

to prosperity?

I can see how somebody can make that leap, especially if we are linking this to the exodus

taking them to a land flowing with milk and honey

but if are looking at the promise land of the Israelites and thinking the blessing was the treasure we have missed the point

over and over again the Israelites said they had the food they needed in Egypt

they were provided for

the blessing of the exodus was that they were going to be his people and he would be their God

this is the same blessing we see in the end when there will be no more pain, death, crying

Revelation 21:4–6 (CSB)

4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; grief, crying, and pain will be no more, because the previous things have passed away.

5 Then the one seated on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new.” He also said, “Write, because these words are faithful and true.”

6 Then he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will freely give to the thirsty from the spring of the water of life.

Following the Light leads us to a relationship with him

Psalm 27:4 (CSB)

4 I have asked one thing from the Lord; it is what I desire: to dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, gazing on the beauty of the Lord and seeking him in his temple.

when the psalmist lives in the light of the Lord, he simply wants to dwell with him forever

when we struggle with our relationship with the Lord, it is not because of the Lord

we are either following something different

we are trying to pull the Lord to a place he is not wanting us to go

but when we walk with him

it is like the man who found the great treasure or the pearl

and sold off everything they have for it!

The Light Gives us Life

What is life, that I guess would be the real question

is life working as hard as you can to save as much as you can so that you feel as safe as you can

we have already talked about the Lord is the one who protects us

is life about experiencing as much as we can

so we run ourselves ragged trying to do everything

obviously in the physical world that we live in there should be a balance

another sermon for another day

but this is not life

John 8:12 (CSB)

12 Jesus spoke to them again: “I am the light of the world. Anyone who follows me will never walk in the darkness but will have the light of life.”

Some people are simply going through life, they do not have life

John 10:10 (CSB)

10 A thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come so that they may have life and have it in abundance.

we will look at in more detail in a couple of weeks

Jesus isn’t just making sure that you can breathe, or have reached the good old American dream

I was struck by this with the eclipse this last week

how arrogant are we in the USA that we would ever think because something is happening to us on this side of the world that it means XYZ…

It must mean Jesus is coming back because there an eclipse in North America

the times over the last however many years that happen on different continents mean nothing because we Americans are God’s people now

In the same way, the abundant life with Christ is not a house, two cars and three kids

some of you are over achievers

Psalm 27:7–12 (CSB)

7 Lord, hear my voice when I call; be gracious to me and answer me.

8 My heart says this about you: “Seek his face.” Lord, I will seek your face.

9 Do not hide your face from me; do not turn your servant away in anger. You have been my helper; do not leave me or abandon me, God of my salvation.

10 Even if my father and mother abandon me, the Lord cares for me.

11 Because of my adversaries, show me your way, Lord, and lead me on a level path.

12 Do not give me over to the will of my foes, for false witnesses rise up against me, breathing violence.

the psalmist now has entered a deeper relationship with the Lord

he is seeking grace, knowing that is the only place grace is found

when we see him for who he is, in his glory, repentance is on our lips

he knows there is no where else he can go for life

The light draws us in closer and closer

as we walk in the light we see his glory in all that it is and we begin to truly know how to live

Discussion Questions

Exalting Jesus in John

1. How do Isaiah 49 and Psalm 27:1 point to Jesus as God rather than just as a messenger from God?

2. How do Jesus’s claims of himself as bread, water, and light point back to the exodus?

3. How does the light of the world help us make sense of the world around us?

4. How can you leave a life of slavery by submission to Jesus?