This Little Light of Mine!
Notes
Transcript
Carrying the Light of the World
Carrying the Light of the World
Bible Passage: John 8:12–20
Bible Passage: John 8:12–20
Summary: In John 8:12-20, Jesus declares Himself as the light of the world, inviting people to follow Him and receive the light of life. In this context, the Pharisees challenge His testimony, yet Jesus emphasizes His divine mission and authority vested by the Father.
Application: This passage encourages Christians to let the light of Jesus shine through them in their daily lives, countering darkness and bearing witness to the truth in a world often filled with uncertainty and disbelief.
Teaching: This sermon teaches that Jesus Christ is the true source of spiritual light. By following Him, believers can navigate the darkness of sin and guilt, living lives that reflect His truth and love.
How this passage points to Christ: Jesus, as the light of the world, fulfills Old Testament themes of God as light. His light reveals truth and provides guidance, leading believers into a relationship with the Father through His sacrificial love.
Big Idea: In Jesus, we find the light that dispels darkness. As followers of Christ, we are called to reflect His light in a world that desperately needs hope and truth.
When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
The Pharisees challenged him, “Here you are, appearing as your own witness; your testimony is not valid.”
Jesus answered, “Even if I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is valid, for I know where I came from and where I am going. But you have no idea where I come from or where I am going. You judge by human standards; I pass judgment on no one. But if I do judge, my decisions are true, because I am not alone. I stand with the Father, who sent me. In your own Law it is written that the testimony of two witnesses is true. I am one who testifies for myself; my other witness is the Father, who sent me.”
Then they asked him, “Where is your father?”
“You do not know me or my Father,” Jesus replied. “If you knew me, you would know my Father also.” He spoke these words while teaching in the temple courts near the place where the offerings were put. Yet no one seized him, because his hour had not yet come.
1. Light of the World
1. Light of the World
When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
You could explore how Jesus identifies Himself as the Light of the World, illuminating the darkness in our lives and guiding us toward hope and purpose as we embrace our own light in His presence.
Coming on the heels of Jesus’ great announcement that he was like the promise of water in the Festival of Tabernacles (7:37–38), his next announcement was no less dramatic. The “again” (palin) of 8:12 introduces a logical continuation of the argument from chap. 7. Formulated in the style of another egō eimi saying, Jesus’ announcement, “I am the light of world,” must have caught the immediate attention of those attending the popular feast. On the first night of Tabernacles and apparently on each night of the feast except on Sabbath, the worshipers awaited the signal of the special lighting of the festive golden lamps of Tabernacles in the court of women. The lamps were intended to remind worshipers of God’s leading the people of Israel through the wilderness at night by a pillar of fire. The lighting of lamps also signaled Israel’s recommitment to the God of light, and it was accompanied by festive music of the Levites and special dancing by chosen men of piety (m. Sukk. 5:1–4). Jesus’ words of announcement in this context would have sounded like an outrageous claim to the ears of the Pharisees. He went beyond the usual religious assertions of enlightenment and actually claimed to be the luminary itself. Moreover, he claimed to be the light “of the world,” a role reserved for Yahweh, the Creator (cf. Gen 1:3), who was regarded as superior to all deities including the sun god of the Gentiles. But that was not all. Jesus picked up the theme of the wilderness wanderings and proclaimed for those who followed him that they would not walk in darkness but have the light of life. To anyone familiar with the exodus story and the celebration of Tabernacles, Jesus was identifying himself clearly with the God who gave Israel this Feast of Tabernacles.
Gerald L. Borchert, John 1–11, vol. 25A, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1996), 295–296.
Jesus is the light of the World
3rd I AM statement in John
I Am He John 4:26
I Am the Bread of Life John 6:35,48,51
This shouldnt need much explanation
Sadly in todays world it does
So many areas of life attempt to “shine light”
Sadly we tend to hold up their light at times, and ignore the Light of the Lord
Jesus says here, Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.
Light of life is very important
It speak to our soul
How, through Him, we experience true light, and are able to see through the darkness that surrounds us
Are you afraid of the dark?
Night light
The difference between Jesus and the religious leaders here is the stark contrast between light and dark
Same with Christ vs the World
2. Trusting His Light
2. Trusting His Light
The Pharisees challenged him, “Here you are, appearing as your own witness; your testimony is not valid.”
Jesus answered, “Even if I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is valid, for I know where I came from and where I am going. But you have no idea where I come from or where I am going.
Perhaps consider the skepticism of the Pharisees and how it reflects our own doubts; we can learn to trust in the truth of Christ when faced with skepticism and discover the light He brings into our lives.
We trust in that little night light to protect us
Halloween, scary movies, darkness
Jesus’ light is far beyond that
We trust in the Light of Christ because it comes from the Father
God is HIS witness
Jesus tells these religious leaders that they do not know Him or where He came from. Would he say the same about us?
Does our life show that we trust in HIs light?
3. Living In His Light
3. Living In His Light
You judge by human standards; I pass judgment on no one. But if I do judge, my decisions are true, because I am not alone. I stand with the Father, who sent me. In your own Law it is written that the testimony of two witnesses is true. I am one who testifies for myself; my other witness is the Father, who sent me.”
Then they asked him, “Where is your father?”
“You do not know me or my Father,” Jesus replied. “If you knew me, you would know my Father also.” He spoke these words while teaching in the temple courts near the place where the offerings were put. Yet no one seized him, because his hour had not yet come.
Maybe discuss the contrast between human judgment and divine authority; we are called to shine brightly in the world, not just by words but through living out the love and truth of Christ in our lives.
We are called to shine brightly in a world of darkness
This is not just our words, but our deeds
We are to rely on divine authority, not the human judgement
Jesus is the true judge and His light is true
They ask where is your Father, and Jesus hits them right in the soul
Do we know the Father?
DO we live in the light?
Or we do simply dance in the dark?
A little light goes a long way, the only light that lasts is that of the Lord
