I am the Light of the World.
Notes
Transcript
1 But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.
2 Now early in the morning He came again into the temple, and all the people came to Him; and He sat down and taught them.
3 Then the scribes and Pharisees brought to Him a woman caught in adultery. And when they had set her in the midst,
4 they said to Him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act.
5 Now Moses, in the law, commanded us that such should be stoned. But what do You say?”
6 This they said, testing Him, that they might have something of which to accuse Him. But Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with His finger, as though He did not hear.
7 So when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.”
8 And again He stooped down and wrote on the ground.
9 Then those who heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning with the oldest even to the last. And Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.
10 When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, “Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?”
11 She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.”
12 Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”
Location: Treasury, Court of Women
20 These words Jesus spoke in the treasury, as He taught in the temple; and no one laid hands on Him, for His hour had not yet come.
Inside the temple there were three main articles before entering the holy of holies.
The altar of incense, The table of shewbread, and the Menorah (lampstand).
Last week we examined Jesus’s proclomation, “I am the bread of life.”
Now we turn to the next article in the temple the Menorah.
In Jewish tradition the menorah is associated with the burning bush. As we examined last week, this is where God told Moses His name was I am that I am.
Inside the temple there was no windows, and without the candles. there would have been no light at all. Outside the temple we have the four lampstands that lit up the city of Jerusalem.
It is in this context Jesus proclaims, I am the light of the world.
A little research reveals that the temple treasury is in the Court of the Women. Now in the Court of Women stood four 86 foot high lamp stands, each with a golden bowl in which a fire could be hosted, perhaps similar to the bowl of the modern Olympic flame (see the illustration below from the ESV Study Bible linked from http://www.boundless.org/2005/images/articles/1863_complex.jpg). The temple stood as the highest point in Jerusalem and the light of these four lamp stands would be seen from the entire city, reminiscent of the pillar of fire in the Exodus. On this last night of the Feast, a torch parade would take place, ending in the Temple where the four lamp stands would be lit. It was in this setting that Jesus that Jesus spoke of Himself as the Light of the World.
The court of women was open to all of Israel, both men and women. It was the last point that women could travel into the temple, and just beyond where the gentiles were allowed to go.
To the Jews, Gentiles were filth. They had persecuted the Jews and rejected God.
Here where the Jews were free of the Gentiles, Jesus proclaims that He is not the light of Israel, but that He is the light of the world.
I. The Lights Power.
I. The Lights Power.
There is something powerful about light. It can warm you up and bring calm where once was fear.
In the foothills of Mt Everest there are some caverns that were left from the lava flow of the eruption. As a young man we wold go on youth trips and explore what is known today as the ape caves. The tour guide wood always do an experiment and while deep within these caves have everyone shut off their lights. When the lights were off there was a darkness like none other I have experienced. It was aa darkness that could be felt. What a sigh of relief when the lights came on.
Yes, the light revealed our dirty clothes, muddy faces, and exhausted demeanors. However, none of that mattered we were grateful for the light.
A. Power to overthrow darkness.
A. Power to overthrow darkness.
Darkness in the bible is often a representation of sin and separation from God. (Outer darkness) MATT 22.13
5 And the light shined in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.
The word comprehend has a dual meaning: hold onto or to overtake.
A english dictionary from 1617 defines the word comprehend as cling together.
Warren Wiersbe: ''The only people you must tell that the light is shining are those that are blind, living in darkness.'' (Be Alive, book)
Synopsis:
The LIGHT that EXPOSED Him (12-25)
The LEADERS that EXPELLED Him (34)
The LORD that EXCITED Him (35-38)
B. Power to reveal hidden things.
B. Power to reveal hidden things.
Illustration: turn up the lights at closing in a dirty restaurant to clean.
5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one’s praise will come from God.
Mold, bacteria, and bugs all thrive in darkness. We live in a dark society. Sin is rampant, as a society we have rejected good and embraces evil. Too often the response from the church is to condemn the darkness. Yet, darkness is merely a byproduct of the absence of light.
14 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.
15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.
II. The Lights Projection
II. The Lights Projection
Jewishroots.net
During the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot) there was a great ceremony called the "Illumination of the Temple," which involved the ritual lighting of four golden oil-fed lamps in the Court of Women. These lamps were huge menorahs/candelabras (seventy-five feet high) lighted in the Temple at night to remind the people of the pillar of fire that had guided Israel in their wilderness journey. All night long the light shone their brilliance, it is said, illuminating the entire city.
A. Is as great as it source
A. Is as great as it source
23 The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light.
24 And the nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it.
7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.
B. Is reflective
B. Is reflective
Let your light so shine
16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.