Jesus our Teacher: Light of the World

Intro

Good morning and welcome again to Iglesia Bautista Horeb. Thank you for joining us in person and online. Please open your bibles to John 8:12 and put another finger or bookmark in Matthew 5:14.

Today we will be discovering That Jesus goes from learning to being a companion and today to teaching. Granted all of Jesus life, and resurrected life, revolves him shining a light on what the word of God means.

Something to note is that Jesus doesn’t teach like any other person, or like us here at church. Our authority to teach comes from outside of us, But Jesus’ authority comes from within.

His authority is his, because who better to teach the word than the Word, the LOGOS.

John 1:1–3 ESV

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.

Colossians 1:16 ESV

For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.

Matthew 7:28–29 ESV

And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, for he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes.

The authority in my teaching comes from the Bible, so long as I stick to what is written and digging into it, there is power in the things that are said from this pulpit. Just like the scribes who learned from someone, who learned from someone, who learned from someone. The scribes from his time, just like me and any other preacher at this church, had access to commentaries from a beautiful tradition of rabbinic teaching. Crazy to think that the tradition of the commentary dates so far back.

But Jesus’ Spoke with a different authority, an authority from the source, because he is the source.

This is kind of the extent that I’ll dive in to his teaching authority because we can spend so much time on this. Also, I want us to consider something he taught by example and by word.

I Am the Light of the World

John 8:12 ESV

Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

Let’s consider our verse in John 8:12.

During this time was the Festival of Booths, or tabernacles. This is One of Israel’s three great annual festivals, celebrated at the time of the agricultural harvest, in gratitude for Yahweh’s present and historical provision. This was one of the big 3 Festivals for which the Jewish believer would travel to Jerusalem from where ever they were at. They would build tents and live in them while they were celebrating to remind them of the time spent wandering in the desert.

Jerusalem was packed with people celebrating this feast. Each night of the festival ended with an ‘Illumination of the Temple,’ where 75 ft lamps were lit to remind the people of the pillar of fire that had guided them in their wilderness journey! They provided light to the entire city, making the temple visible from far away. This kind of illumination would have been rare and awe-inspiring centuries before electricity, a visible reminder that God was as present that day as when the people journeyed to the promise land long before.

Just as that great light invited all to come meet God at the temple, Jesus' pronouncement is an invitation: "I am the light of the world" (John 8:12 NRSVue). Jesus declares himself a sign of God's presence, not just for Jerusalem and the surrounding region, but for the whole world. The presence of God was not just in a pillar of fire in a long-ago wilderness. God is with them today, embodied in Jesus' ministry of healing, reconciliation, and love.

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible Chapter 8

two colossal golden lamp-stands, on which hung a multitude of lamps, lighted after the evening sacrifice (probably every evening during the feast of tabernacles), diffusing their brilliancy, it is said, over all the city. Around these the people danced with great rejoicing.

This statement is significant because it positions Jesus as the ultimate source of guidance and truth. Following Him means we will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life. His teachings provide clarity and direction in a world that often feels confusing and dark. In a time where culture has made truth subjective, Jesus is the truth that never changes and will never submit. He is the firm foundation that will never be shaken or eroded.

We can see that in how as he’s saying this, any jewish person who grew up with the readings of the prophets, and definitely any Jewish leader, would have had a ringing in their ears of

Isaiah 42:6 ESV

“I am the Lord; I have called you in righteousness; I will take you by the hand and keep you; I will give you as a covenant for the people, a light for the nations,

Malachi 4:2 ESV

But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall.

We have a light greater than the one before. Greater even than the sign of pillar and fire that God gave israel. This is why I love God’s word. It all points to Christ. Just like Moses, david, and so many other prophets and leaders were types and shadows of the coming christ. So too were the festivals, the lamp stands, the altars the blood sacrifices and the list goes on. every word written in the bible has its purpose. This is also why I love the old testament. Gives me that feeling of expectancy that they may have felt waiting for their messaiah.

Jesus is our light and as we follow him he will light our path to the eternal kingdom and will never get lost, not in a final sense. We’ll get distracted, but his Spirit will bring us back.

You are the Light of the World

The sermon on the mount is one of the most involved of Jesus’ teachings that were written down. Another notable one is the upper room discourse, where he goes super deep, specifically with his disciples, which we’ll go into next Sunday.

In Luke’s account of the Sermon on the Mount it seems as if Jesus is teaching to a great multitude people. Though the Multitude are there, Matthew gives us a more accurate depiction of the scene. This moment of teaching was aimed at his disciples and whoever else was in earshot was collateral edification.

Matthew 5:1–2 ESV

Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him. And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:

Matthew 5:14–16 ESV

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

Didn’t Jesus say that he is the light of the world? Especially because in John 1:8 we see that this name wasn’t suitable for even the highest of all prophets. So how could we be the light of the world? we’re nothing special. Great question.

Ephesians 5:8 ESV

for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light

When Jesus calls His disciples "the light of the world," He means they shine with His light because His Spirit lives in them and they have the same mindset as Jesus. This title is not used for Christians elsewhere in the Bible. Instead, Christians are described as "shining" or as "luminaries in the world" (Philippians 2:15), and John the Baptist is called a "burning and shining lamp" (John 5:35).

A great example is the Moon. It does not shine its own light, but its like comes from the sun. That is very much our job, to shine a light on our fellow man to chirst.

Or another great example is a light house. It doesn’t produce light. But a light is put in it and it shines its light forth to guide and to warn.

Just before this portion of the Sermon on the Mount Jesus calls us the Salt of the earth. Which in their time meant something different. It was like saying, “this person is coo,” or “this person is legitness.”

A cool thought I read on this said The metaphors of salt and light both describe the positive impact Christians have on others, but in different ways. Salt works internally, affecting the substance it touches, while light works externally, illuminating everything it reaches. Thus, Christians are called "the salt of the earth" because they influence the people they interact with, and "the light of the world" because they spread goodness and joy widely. This distinction is also seen in Jesus' parables: the "mustard seed" growing into a large tree represents the light covering the world, and the "leaven" hidden in meal represents the salt working internally (Matthew 13:31-33).

See what I mean about how woven God’s word is?

Go Therefore

This is where we see Jesus drive this point home with something great. If you’ve ever heard me preach you’ll notice that before I give you a bit of work I like to remind you of who you are in christ and then how we are to live. And that ultimately our good works aren’t for us, but for eachother and for our neighbors to experience. I didn’t make this formula up, paul, peter, john, the writer of hebrews, and as we see it here Jesus uses it:

Matthew 5:16 ESV

In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

another great example.

Ephesians 2:10 ESV

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

We are not meant to be Lights for nothing, Like the fireworks people shoot off during the day. but that we point all to glorify God. sometimes we can get caught up in that.

RC Sproul uses a great example from a book he never read, but had the title burned into his mind. It was called “Let the salt out of the Salt shaker.” He reflected on it quickly and said something to the extent of how Just like salt that loses its flavor is of no use, so to salt that stays in the shaker is of no use.

Brothers and sisters are we experiencing God, washed in the blood of christ, citizens of an eternal kingdom, sons and daughters of god the father all to stay in our salt shaker of a church we have here? all to hide our light in these four walls? I’ll tell you what, we have sazon in this church, and it’s bright in here, but are mixing in and being part of this world and bringing chirst in to the small moments and into every nook and cranny of life? Are we shining a light as does a light house so that others know where christ is how to find him and how to correct course before it’s too late?

Is our life reflecting the goodness of god, his love, mercy and grace. The same that has been given to us? Or are we hiding, holding and hoarding? I charge you with this today. Be the light in this world, in every aspect of life, to greater degree each day. Cause we all know we’re not perfect, but being perfected by god’s spirit throught his grace and mercy. Lets strive to be a greater light reflecting people, because we have been given such a great light. because we have been given that identity.

Let’s be the city on a hill that points people to christ through our mercy, grace, truth abiding love and ultimately in our works for eachother.

This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine, This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine, This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine, Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.