Following The Word 20

The Light Returns

Text: John 8:12-24

Introduction

Q — Isn’t it good to be able to see where you are going in the dark? There have been all kind of tools and gadgets that have the purpose of putting light where you need it. Heaven didn’t send a new gadget to earth, Heaven sent JESUS!

The feast of the Tabernacles had ended.

One thing that Jesus will use to teach others about Him will be the large golden candelabra (aka, the menora).

It had departed from the city prior to the Babylonian invasion and has never lighted the second temple. John Phillips, Exploring the Gospel of John: An Expository Commentary, The John Phillips Commentary Series (Kregel Publications; WORDsearch Corp., 2009), Jn 8:12.

The Jewish people had essentially tried to produce the light of God by way of the many candles.

Jesus comes back to the temple with all of it’s illumination to set forth a great truth about Himself. He came to give hope to a generation of people that they did not have to continue faking through their religion. The real light of God’s presence was there!

1) The Witness Of Jesus Christ

A. Jesus is the True light of the world

This is the second great I AM sayings of Jesus.

It doesn’t seem as if the rulers were blinded by their hate yet.

a) Notice the setting around Jesus when He made this declaration

In the court of the women where Jesus was speaking stood a great golden candelabra, the lamps of which were lighted on the night of the feast of tabernacles, and perhaps on omer nights. It symbolized the shekinah glory light which had guided Israel on its wilderness journeys and which had shone for centuries in Solomon’s temple. John Phillips, Exploring the Gospel of John: An Expository Commentary, The John Phillips Commentary Series (Kregel Publications; WORDsearch Corp., 2009), Jn 8:12.

However, at this point, the Jews were trying to maintain the “appearance” of God’s presence in the Temple. They were simply playing makebelieve.

b) A far greater light than any candle was shining in the Temple that day

Among the fake illumination, Jesus proclaims Himself to be the light of the world.

Among their reproduction of the light of God’s presence, Jesus, the light of the world came walking in!

Illustration: We have some fake electric candles sitting on our mantle. They look good, they put off some soft light, BUT…they are not real!

APP — Other things might have some brilliance about them, however, Jesus is Heaven’s light to all people.

B. Jesus, the True Light was rejected

Matthew 23:38 “38 Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.”

a) To not walk in the light is equal to rejecting Jesus

Light is a characteristic of God — 1 John 1:5 “5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.”

Light was the very first thing God created — Genesis 1:3–4 “3 And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. 4 And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.”

John 8:12 “12 …he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”

Anyone who follows anything other than Christ is walking in darkness!

Those who followed: Pharisees, scribes, priests, etc.

Those who follow: Muhammad, Buddha, Confucius, Krishna, etc…

2) The World’s Lie About Jesus

Verses 13-19

A. The religious leaders rejected Jesus’ claim

Notice verse 13 — John 8:13 “13 The Pharisees therefore said unto him, Thou bearest record of thyself; thy record is not true.”

There were people like Nicodemus and the Religious police who acknowledged the illuminating truth about Jesus.

Jesus knew quit well the source of all things! Whether it be the physical light above or the Spiritual light from above.

Q — How can you determine the reality of light? IT IS SHINNING!

If someone walked up to you on a bright sunny day, “The sun is not shinning.” What would your response be?

Jesus was stating a self-evident truth.

B. The religious leaders were corrected by Jesus

a) (v14-16)Jesus was not mistaken about who He was or where He came from

The only facts Jesus needed was His own character.

Jesus pointed out stark difference between His knowledge and their ignorance.

(v15) Jesus expected nothing more due to their home being of this world.

APP — It is so vital that every believer gain Heaven’s perspective and judgement on things!

During Jesus’ life, He never once had amnesia and had to remember who He was.

Even though he grew up just like every other boy and girl, He always knew who He was.

There was a point when the Father fanned the flame of that understanding (at the age of 12 and later at age 30)

b) (v17-18) Jesus made no mistake regarding the law

Deuteronomy 19:15 “15 One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sinneth: at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established.”

Remember back when the Sanhedrin had to filter through multiple people before they could find two stories close enough to make a case against Jesus.

Jesus made this point: If two or three mortals is enough to validate a testimony, then Jesus and His Father far exceeded that standard.

1 John 5:9 “9 If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son.”

c) The religious leaders rejected the witness of His Father

Notice their question: “Where is Your Father?”

Their response was based on “sight” not “faith.”

Just because you don’t know someone, does not mean that person doesn’t exist.

There was really no reason not to know Whom Jesus was talking about.

Jesus spoke about Him and to Him often.

3) The World Of Jesus Christ

Verses 20-24

A. Jesus brought the presence of God in the Temple

Don’t forget: We just exited a season where we celebrate with much concentration about the silent years being interrupted by the presence of God coming down to earth.

The temple was one place where Heaven came down.

Sacrifices were conducted there.

Priests ministered around the altar.

Priests cleansed themselves at the Laver before going inside the holy place.

Priests would trim the lamps, offer incense on the golden altar, eat the bread on the table.

You then have the large veil that continually reminded them of where God would enthrone Himself by way of a cloud of glory.

Jesus called it His Father’s house.

This time, it was “in Christ” that God came out of the most holy place to speak with the people.

Jesus was “in the treasury, as he taught in the temple.”

This was the most accessible part to the public! (think on that)

B. Jesus brings them to the path to His world

a) (v24) Receiving Jesus as the Christ was their only hope

John 14:6 “6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

b) (v21-23) Many of them could not go to where Jesus would go

Q — Was Jesus determining them to hell? NO!

Jesus was informing them of their current spiritual condition!

C. Jesus brings the presence of God into our temple

a) Your body is a temple meant to be a home for God’s presence

1 Corinthians 3:16 “16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?”

Jesus stepped into a temple of flesh so He might dwell in yours.

Jesus left His heavenly throne that He might sit on the throne of your temple.

Conclusion

Here is some assurance for your soul…

Understand this…Jesus Christ, the one who has indwelled every believer through His Spirit IS THE CHRIST and the LIGHT OF THE WORLD!

Those who “follow” (believe) will walk in a new world of light and turn from a life of darkness!

Christian, you body is the temple of God, are you surrendering it to Him daily?

Here some advice in handling the Light…

A young girl was putting a button on her father’s coat. She was sitting with her back to the window, and she said, “Father, I can’t see; I am in my own light.”

He said, “My daughter, that is where you have been all your life!”

This is the position of some of you spiritually. You are in your own light; you think too much of yourselves. There is plenty of light in the Sun of Righteousness, but you get in the dark by putting self in the way of that Sun. Oh, that your self might be put away! Charles Spurgeon, 300 Sermon Illustrations from Charles Spurgeon, ed. Elliot Ritzema and Lynnea Smoyer (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2017).