Light of the World

It was about 7:20 when the sun finally peeked over the trees behind the Hortman’s house. That light...

John 8:12–30 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.” So the Pharisees said to him, “You are bearing witness about yourself; your testimony is not true.” Jesus answered, “Even if I do bear witness about myself, my testimony is true, for I know where I came from and where I am going, but you do not know where I come from or where I am going. You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one. Yet even if I do judge, my judgment is true, for it is not I alone who judge, but I and the Father who sent me. In your Law it is written that the testimony of two people is true. I am the one who bears witness about myself, and the Father who sent me bears witness about me.” They said to him therefore, “Where is your Father?” Jesus answered, “You know neither me nor my Father. If you knew me, you would know my Father also.” These words he spoke in the treasury, as he taught in the temple; but no one arrested him, because his hour had not yet come. So he said to them again, “I am going away, and you will seek me, and you will die in your sin. Where I am going, you cannot come.” So the Jews said, “Will he kill himself, since he says, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come’?” He said to them, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. I told you that you would die in your sins, for unless you believe that I am he you will die in your sins.” So they said to him, “Who are you?” Jesus said to them, “Just what I have been telling you from the beginning. I have much to say about you and much to judge, but he who sent me is true, and I declare to the world what I have heard from him.” They did not understand that he had been speaking to them about the Father. So Jesus said to them, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he, and that I do nothing on my own authority, but speak just as the Father taught me. And he who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to him.” As he was saying these things, many believed in him.

Broad symbolism focused to a fine point!

I AM - in front of the huge candle stands lighted in the temple, reminding the people of the pillar of fire in the wilderness. Our study has already highlighted the manna from heaven and the water from the rock. We we are seeing a developed picture of Jesus offering Water, Food and Light.

Son of Man - as our sun is the only source of life, He is the only

origin

destiny

identity -

Philippians 3:20–21 ESV

But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.

Have Thine own way Lord Have Thine own way Thou art the potter I am the clay Mold me and make me after Thy will While I am waiting yielded and still

‘lifted up the son of man’ = cross + resurrection. dual meaning. we pray that He will be lifted up, but it has already happened at calvary. death and resurrection.

The Jews argue that Jesus is bearing witness to Himself. He had already called the witnesses of the Word, JtB, Holy Spirit and the Father.

Light does, in fact, bear witness to itself. It lets us know it is there by shining. Do you need anyone else to tell you the sun is coming up? Ever flown at night? Jumped?

Life in the light:

The contrast of darkness:

Jesus’ claim to be the light of the world was:

a promise to guide believers as the pillar of fire guided the Jews in the wilderness

the fulfillment that ended the years of ‘darkness’ for the Jews, from Malachi to JtB

salvation to the gentiles “those who walk in darkness have seen a great light”

There is the choice to not believe. But the consequences are real. Depending on where you are, more or less people believe that there is a hell. But either way, far fewer people believe there is a possibility of ending up there.

We all have the notion we will ‘see them again’ or ‘tell them when we get there’. But “unless you believe that I AM you will die in your sins”.

So Jesus is the light of the world. Where does that take us past salvation?

He told the Jews ‘where I am going, you cannot come’. Because of their unbelief. But where He was going He as promised to take us. John 14:3

Not only do we understand Jesus as the light of the world, but He has made us to be light of the world:

Matthew

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.

As light to this darkened world, we are to reflect the light of Christ. Being the reflection of His light illuminates what is in the dark.

Sometimes His light has to shine on our darkness. Unconfessed sin.

Sometimes we, or the people around us, will react to the light kinda like I react to light early in the morning:

Sometimes, taking His light dispels the fear that comes from darkness.

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