“Light of the World” – John 8:12-20

The captain of the ship looked into the dark night and saw faint lights in the distance. Immediately he told his signalman to send a message: "Alter your course 10 degrees south." Promptly a return message was received: "Alter your course 10 degrees north."

The captain was angered; his command had been ignored. So he sent a second message: "Alter your course 10 degrees south--I am the captain!" Soon another message was received: "Alter your course 10 degrees north--I am a seaman third class Jones."

Immediately the captain sent a third message, knowing the fear it would evoke: "Alter your course 10 degrees south--I am a battleship." Then the reply came: "Alter your course 10 degrees north--I am a lighthouse."

In the midst of our dark and foggy times, all sorts of voices are shouting orders into the night, telling us what to do, how to adjust our lives. Out of the darkness, one voice signals something quite opposite to the rest--something almost absurd. But the voice happens to be the Light of the World. Christ is telling us something important.

The world is telling us so much in the darkness. Much of what its saying is even more darkness for us. We struggle with where we are to go for answers, what to look for, what to ask for. When it comes to direction there is darkness all over. It’s scary… ever been to space mountain? Walking a mountain trail when the batteries of your flashlight goes out? As we walk through life, in Christ we will never walk in darkness at all.

John 8:12–20 NLT

Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.” The Pharisees replied, “You are making those claims about yourself! Such testimony is not valid.” Jesus told them, “These claims are valid even though I make them about myself. For I know where I came from and where I am going, but you don’t know this about me. You judge me by human standards, but I do not judge anyone. And if I did, my judgment would be correct in every respect because I am not alone. The Father who sent me is with me. Your own law says that if two people agree about something, their witness is accepted as fact. I am one witness, and my Father who sent me is the other.” “Where is your father?” they asked. Jesus answered, “Since you don’t know who I am, you don’t know who my Father is. If you knew me, you would also know my Father.” Jesus made these statements while he was teaching in the section of the Temple known as the Treasury. But he was not arrested, because his time had not yet come.

John 8:

I. His claim for Himself

- He is the light of the World

A. Key – Jesus was teaching in the treasury area of the Temple or for Herod’s Temple, the court of the women.

B. That large court was one of the busiest parts of the temple, and at one side of it was a colonnade with thirteen great treasure chests. There were two great ceremonies during the Feast of Tabernacles. One, as we have seen, was the pouring out of the water. The other was called the Illumination of the temple; it took place in the treasury at the beginning of the feast. It was a spectacular celebration—both in its concept and in its annual observance.

There were two great ceremonies during the Feast of Tabernacles. One, as we have seen, was the pouring out of the water. The other was called the Illumination of the temple; it took place in the treasury at the beginning of the feast. It was a spectacular celebration—both in its concept and in its annual observance.

C. In the center of the treasury four great torches were set up. Some accounts say that the torches were as high as the highest walls of the temple and that at the top of these golden candelabra were great bowls holding sixty-five liters of oil. There was a ladder for each candelabrum, and in the evening young, healthy priests would carry the oil up to the top, where they would light the protruding wicks. The great flames that leapt out of these torches illumined the whole temple and much of Jerusalem. It was spectacular!

They would dance until dawn. It was an exotic festival celebrating the great pillar of fire that led the people of Israel during their sojourn in the wilderness. It was in this place, no doubt with the charred torches still in place, that Jesus chose to raise his voice above the crowd and proclaim, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” There would scarcely be a more dramatic way to announce one of the supreme realities of Jesus’ existence.

D. Christ was saying in effect, “Do you remember the pillar that came between you and the Egyptians near the Red Sea, the pillar that protected you and led you on your wanderings in the wilderness? I am the Light of the world. In other words, is He not claiming that he is God? Was this not a beautiful picture of our Lord.

E. Living in this dark world, we need to keep this supreme claim before us. Jesus is the light of life in every way. He is the answer. Some of us may be stumbling along, wondering what life is all about. We may feel barely able to take another step. We are confused. Christ says to us, “I am the light of life.”

II. His claim for us

- Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness

A. The Israelites in the wilderness. No matter how dark the night, when they were under the luminous cloud there was no stumbling, no confusion, no fear. Jesus provides similar benefits for those of us who know him, for we have the light of life. Therefore, we can have courage though dwelling in a dark world.

B. Have you ever tried going through an obstacle course blindfolded? The smallest obstacles become difficult obstructions. If we are not walking in the light of Christ, the obstacles that should not be a problem are great stumbling blocks to us. But when we have that light, we understand how to make our way through this dark world.

C. But remember the beauty of it all… Christ, our Lord is the Light and what is more we see this fulfilled fully in

5 And there will be no night there—no need for lamps or sun—for the Lord God will shine on them. And they will reign forever and ever.

Revelation 22:5 NLT

And there will be no night there—no need for lamps or sun—for the Lord God will shine on them. And they will reign forever and ever.

5 And there will be no night there—no need for lamps or sun—for the Lord God will shine on them. And they will reign forever and ever.