This Dark World's Light Pt.1

Samuel S. Sanchez

The Gospel of John • Sermon • Submitted 7 years ago

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Introduction

From chapter 6 up to where we are today , we have are going to witness 3 great images of the wilderness wanderings. In is the true manna from heaven, an image of manna given to sustain the hunger of the Israelites. In Jesus is the source of living water, an image of the miraculous provision of water from the rock struck by Moses to sustain the Israelites thirst. And here in Jesus is the cloud that gave them shade and protection by day, and by night the light amidst the darkness, that pillar of fire that symbolized God’s presence and protection, a light to guide their way. Putting this to the side for a moment.

This world does not know the great gift of light it has been given. Man does not see the immense darkness in which he lives. Without Christ, man lives in darkness and will remain their for all eternity. Yes, even with all of its greatest achievements, greatest works and deeds, all of its great people, all that is great amongst men, it is in utter darkness. Man somehow seeks for truth in this darkened world, but without the ability to find it, the blind lead the blind and can only produce that in which it lives.

(NKJV)

19 The way of the wicked is like darkness; They do not know what makes them stumble.

They do not know what makes them stumble.

(NASB95)

20 Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness; Who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!

Who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness;

Who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!

(NKJV)

2 For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, And deep darkness the people; But the Lord will arise over you, And His glory will be seen upon you.

And deep darkness the people;

Hope! There is hope! The world celebrates it Christmas day, but sadly many don’t even know what they are celebrating. Don’t you understand beloved that light has come into this darkened world! Don’t you understand that God came unto His own creation!

But the Lord will arise over you,

And His glory will be seen upon you.

(NKJV)

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.

(NKJV)

The Preincarnate Work of Christ

9 That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. 11 He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. 12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: 13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. 14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. 11 He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. 12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: 13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.

The Acceptance of Christ

12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: 13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

The Incarnation of Christ

14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

The light has come into the “world!” I have titled our study today, “This Dark World’s Light.”

Now, back to where we left off. Let me give you a setting and explain to you what’s going on here. Verse 20 tells us that Jesus spoke in the treasury as He taught in the temple.

Payments and contributions to the temple treasury of Jesus’ day (; ) were placed in thirteen horn-shaped containers (shofars), seven designated for particular kinds of offerings and six for freewill offerings (Mishnah Šeqal. vi. 5). The “treasury” in which Jesus taught () was probably an area in the Court of the Women near these collection receptacles.

Myers, A. C. (1987). In The Eerdmans Bible dictionary (p. 1017). Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans.

This was believed to be the part of the temple called the Court of the Women because it was as far as the women were permitted to go and there are indications of this in and when Jesus saw and the poor widow making her mite or cent offering. This was a very busy and very public location. The perfect place for our Lord to teach. There would have been Pharisees around as we will see a little later.

Myers, A. C. (1987). In The Eerdmans Bible dictionary (p. 1017). Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans.

But, as for what’s going on, Jesus is still present at the Feast of Tabernacles, also known as Feast Booths, or Feast of ingathering. This was the last of three of Israels greatest feasts. It was the most anticipated. The feast was to run 7 days beginning with a Sabbath.

On the first day the Israelites were to cease from their daily work and proclaim a memorial by means of a holy convocation of trumpets (). Then for seven days they were to present burnt offerings (v. 36). After the feast proper (i.e., on the eighth day) they were to enjoy another day of rest and to participate in religious activities while making their final offering (vv. 36, 39). All males (slaves as well) were required to participate in this festival.

For the entire length of this feast the Israelites were enjoined to live in booths (, Heb. sukkōṯ) made from branches of palm trees.

Myers, A. C. (1987). In The Eerdmans Bible dictionary (p. 167). Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans.

As we learned earlier, on 7 days of the feast, there was a daily morning offering, the water-pouring ceremony commemorating God’s provision of water in the wilderness wandering, and that’s where we heard Jesus say those beautiful words, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.”

But there was a second ceremony and it was similar to the first.

In the very Court of the Women where Jesus was speaking, four huge candelabra or lamps were lit, pushing light up into the night sky like a searchlight. So brilliant was their light that one ancient Jewish source declared, “There was not a courtyard in Jerusalem that did not reflect [their] light” (cited in F. F. Bruce, The Gospel of John [Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1983], 206 n. 1). They served as a reminder of the pillar of fire by which God had guided Israel in the wilderness (). The people—even the most dignified leaders—danced exuberantly around the candelabra through the night, holding blazing torches in their hands and singing songs of praise. (Mishnah Sukkah 5:1–4).

MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2006). (p. 334). Chicago: Moody Press.

The New King James Version. (1982). (). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2006). (p. 334). Chicago: Moody Press.

Myers, A. C. (1987). In The Eerdmans Bible dictionary (p. 167). Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans.

Now I know I’ve said a lot, but it’s here that amid the part of that ceremony that Jesus makes an amazing announcement!

Jesus’ Claim

The New King James Version. (1982). (). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

John 8:12

John 8:12 NKJV

Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”

Then Jesus spoke to them again. This here links this passage to 7:37-52 and it flows naturally. ( The woman caught in adultery) was not in the earliest of manuscripts and was placed in various locations. We talked about why it has brackets around it or footnotes in some of your translations and we wont go over it again. But Jesus is addressing the crowd again.

I am the light of the world. This is the 2nd of 7 “I Am” statements here in John. The previous “I Am” statement was, “I am the bread of life” back in . This is nothing less than a claim to deity. (Ego, Eimi) I am, I Am as in I am the great I Am which points back to . So picture it another way. I am the great I Am, the light of the world! There are many passages in the Old Testament that allude to God being the light.

(NKJV)

1 The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid?

Whom shall I fear?

(NKJV)

The Lord is the strength of my life;

God the Glory of His People

19 “The sun shall no longer be your light by day, Nor for brightness shall the moon give light to you; But the Lord will be to you an everlasting light, And your God your glory.

Nor for brightness shall the moon give light to you;

Of whom shall I be afraid?

But the Lord will be to you an everlasting light,

And your God your glory.

There was a time when the glory of God left the temple

And many places in the New Testament.

Fellowship with Him and One Another

(NKJV)

5 This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.

There was a time when the Israel turned away from God and the Glory of God left the temple. As part of this ceremony it was recited in the Mishnah in Sukkah 5:1–4:

M and they said, “Our fathers who were in this place turned with their backs toward the Temple of the Lord and their faces toward the east, and they worshipped the sun toward the east ().

N “But as to us, our eyes are to the Lord.”

O R. Judah says, “They said it a second time, ‘We belong to the Lord, our eyes are toward the Lord.’ ”

Neusner, J. (1988). The Mishnah : A new translation (p. 289). New Haven, CT: Yale University Press.

So let’s put it all together. During this candle- lighting ceremony filled with the great illumination of light, the true Light was present, God was in His own again with His own people. This is magnificent. This light that commemorated the pillar of light in the wilderness was a representation of the the One who was now speaking to them. And not only that but He says, “ I am the light of the world.”

In this glorious expression, our Lord, declares Himself to be the promised Messiah or Saviour, of whom the prophets had spoken. The Jews would remember the words,—“I will give thee for a light of the Gentiles.” (; .) And also Simeon had said, he would be a “light to lighten the Gentiles.” (.)

Ryle, J. C. (1878). Expository Thoughts on John (Vol. 2, p. 78). New York: Robert Carter & Brothers.

Neusner, J. (1988). The Mishnah : A new translation (p. 289). New Haven, CT: Yale University Press.

Ryle, J. C. (1878). Expository Thoughts on John (Vol. 2, p. 78). New York: Robert Carter & Brothers.

He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life. Just to get a better understanding of what Jesus is talking about, let’s take a look at .

(NKJV)

“By day the LORD went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night” (). Other passages tell us that God spoke from the cloud and that he sometimes broke forth from it in judgment upon the sins of the people. In one striking passage the cloud is even addressed as God, for God is said to have raised himself up when the cloud rose and to have descended when the cloud descended. “Whenever the ark set out, Moses said, ‘Rise up, O LORD! May your enemies be scattered; may your foes flee before you.’ Whenever it came to rest, he said, ‘Return, O LORD, to the countless thousands of Israel’ ” (). At no time in their wandering were the people of Israel able to forget that the presence of God went with them and overshadowed them in all they did.

17 Whenever the cloud was taken up from above the tabernacle, after that the children of Israel would journey; and in the place where the cloud settled, there the children of Israel would pitch their tents. 18 At the command of the Lord the children of Israel would journey, and at the command of the Lord they would camp; as long as the cloud stayed above the tabernacle they remained encamped. 19 Even when the cloud continued long, many days above the tabernacle, the children of Israel kept the charge of the Lord and did not journey. 20 So it was, when the cloud was above the tabernacle a few days: according to the command of the Lord they would remain encamped, and according to the command of the Lord they would journey. 21 So it was, when the cloud remained only from evening until morning: when the cloud was taken up in the morning, then they would journey; whether by day or by night, whenever the cloud was taken up, they would journey. 22 Whether it was two days, a month, or a year that the cloud remained above the tabernacle, the children of Israel would remain encamped and not journey; but when it was taken up, they would journey. 23 At the command of the Lord they remained encamped, and at the command of the Lord they journeyed; they kept the charge of the Lord, at the command of the Lord by the hand of Moses.

This cloud was Israel’s protection. The desert there was much like ours here in Arizona. Temperatures plummeted below freezing at night and rose to 140 to 150 degrees in the daytime. In the whole account of the Exodus to the promised land you see God’s great provision, manna from heaven, water from the rock and God’s guiding and protecting cloud. So just as the Israelites followed the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire or light by night, Christ calls men and women to follow Him. He says in:

Boice, J. M. (2005). The Gospel of John: an expositional commentary (pp. 615–616). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books.

Just as the Israelites followed the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire or light by night, calls men and women to follow Him.

(NKJV)

46 I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness.

Faith in Christ is following Christ. Following is the same as believing. There are so many people that are willing to receive Him as Savior but refuse to follow Him as Lord. There’s a difference.

One commentator says, “that it is of no use that Christ is the light of the world if we do but follow Him. “Following” is the point on which all turns. It is not enough to gaze upon and admire the light. We must “follow” it.”

Ryle, J. C. (1878). Expository Thoughts on John (Vol. 2, p. 79). New York: Robert Carter & Brothers.

If you follow, if you believe you will not walk in darkness which is sin, this world, and satan, in ignorance and unbelief.

He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life or will possess Christ Himself. This is the light that produces life. Paul says in:

(NKJV)

3 But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, 4 whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. 5 For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

Oh believer, your Lord says:

(NKJV)

4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.

14 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.

(NKJV)

8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light

(NKJV)

15 that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,

(NKJV)

5 You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness.

Conclusion

Do you follow Christ? Does your life show that you follow Him, or does it show that you follow self, this world or the god of this age?

John 8:13 NKJV

The Pharisees therefore said to Him, “You bear witness of Yourself; Your witness is not true.”

(NKJV)

16 Give glory to the Lord your God Before He causes darkness, And before your feet stumble On the dark mountains, And while you are looking for light, He turns it into the shadow of death And makes it dense darkness.

John 8:14 NKJV

Jesus answered and said to them, “Even if I bear witness of Myself, My witness is true, for I know where I came from and where I am going; but you do not know where I come from and where I am going.

:14

Before He causes darkness,

And before your feet stumble

John 8:15 NKJV

You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one.

On the dark mountains,

And while you are looking for light,

John 8:16 NKJV

And yet if I do judge, My judgment is true; for I am not alone, but I am with the Father who sent Me.

He turns it into the shadow of death

And makes it dense darkness.

John 8:17 NKJV

It is also written in your law that the testimony of two men is true.

John 8:

John 8:18 NKJV

I am One who bears witness of Myself, and the Father who sent Me bears witness of Me.”

John 8:19 NKJV

Then they said to Him, “Where is Your Father?” Jesus answered, “You know neither Me nor My Father. If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also.”

John 8:20 NKJV

These words Jesus spoke in the treasury, as He taught in the temple; and no one laid hands on Him, for His hour had not yet come.

John 8:21 NKJV

Then Jesus said to them again, “I am going away, and you will seek Me, and will die in your sin. Where I go you cannot come.”

This Dark World's Light Pt.1

Introduction

Jesus’ Claim

Conclusion

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Conclusion