I AM: Your Guide.

intro

In the parsonage, in our bedroom is a smoke detector just inside the entrance. Typically if I get up in the middle of the night to do — something — I need to feel my way around or walk slow enough so that when I kick something I shouldn’t or bump my face into something hard, it won’t do much damage. However, on this smoke detector is a little green light. No I don’t know if it was planned, but this little green light puts a little green circle right in front of the door. It helps to guide my path out the door to where I need to go.

We live in a dark world

exp

We live in a dark world. And it is not getting any lighter. A number of years ago I was watching some show, and it seemed to sympathize with whoever the bad guy was. It struck me as sad that I couldn’t just root for the good guy and be happy when the bad guy was defeated. That somehow became the theme of our culture today. If there is something we perceive as incorrect we need to take a deeper look at that thing so that we understand that something tragic must have happened so to explain and excuse the bad guy. In fact in the world we live in today the only thing that that is wrong is having and opinion on what is right and what is wrong.

Well today we start in the second part of the series I AM. Last week we talked about How Jesus said “I Am the bread of life” and how he is everything that we need.. even more then food and water. Today we talk about how he is the light of the world. You see we need a light in this dark world so that we can make it though it. There is a path and we need to be on it. But in order to be on the right path, we need a light.

There is only one light, and that light is Jesus.

Woman caught in the act.

Context of the light… we must put the words in their setting.

Jesus was a teacher and was teaching all the people

Scribes and pharisees bring this woman

in the act

Deuteronomy 22:24 ESV

then you shall bring them both out to the gate of that city, and you shall stone them to death with stones, the young woman because she did not cry for help though she was in the city, and the man because he violated his neighbor’s wife. So you shall purge the evil from your midst.

Dt 22:24

Ezekiel 16:38–40 ESV

And I will judge you as women who commit adultery and shed blood are judged, and bring upon you the blood of wrath and jealousy. And I will give you into their hands, and they shall throw down your vaulted chamber and break down your lofty places. They shall strip you of your clothes and take your beautiful jewels and leave you naked and bare. They shall bring up a crowd against you, and they shall stone you and cut you to pieces with their swords.

Ezek 16:

Not focusing on the obvious question of “where’s the man?” This woman had committed a sinful act that required the penalty of stoning.

Jesus sets a standard - only one without sin should carry out a punishment against the sinner.

Jesus lets her go.

This is not the same as excusing sin. In fact, there is an implied warning that the woman would have understood. I have given you mercy… but don’t keep doing the thing that deserves great punishment.

I am the light

Who is the “them”

John 8:1 ESV

but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.

John 8:2 ESV

Early in the morning he came again to the temple. All the people came to him, and he sat down and taught them.

Jn 8:1

WEIRDEST CHURCH SERVICE EVER.

Light of the World

All of it jews, gentile, ....

Galatians 3:26–28 ESV

for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

gal 3:26-28

Light of life

Light of life

John 1:1–5 ESV

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

if you follow him you have a guide through the darkness that as long as you follow him you will be safe.

If you follow any other ways than his way you are walking in darkness and you are not safe.

The Truth is the Truth

WEIRDEST CHURCH SERVICE EVER … PART 2

Pharisees argument - you cant bear witness to yourself.

That actually makes sense.

Even if I bear witness about myself, the truth is the truth.

You judge according to the flesh

You judge according to the fleshcan only see the best logice they

3. You judge according to the fleshcan only see the best logice they

Without the proper light we make judgment based on the best logic we can come up with.

can only see the best logice they

can only see the best logice they

can only see the best logice they

Their logic was finding truth to trap Jesus

Jesus doesn’t judge.

His light does not lead Him to a path of condemnation. It offers the hope that a person can be clean. (Go and sin no more)

I thing Jesus is still speaking to the Pharisees holding out a light for them and hoping they would see and understand.

There is a Testimony

He is speaking to the Pharisees.

The Pharisees were there when the sky split and the Holy Spirit descended on HIm like a dove.

The Pharisees were there when John the Baptist showed up on the seen in the spirit of Elijah to make Christ’s path straight.

Nicodemus was a pharisee that went to Jesus on behalf of the Pharisees to hear… You must be born again

In verse 17 Jesus admits the rule about 2 witnesses but speaking to those who know better He tells them the Father is the second witness.

If you knew me you would know the Father.

It is so plain what is going on here but unfortunately you just don’t get it.

Conclusion

Light in the middle of darkness.

Maybe your trapped in sin.

Maybe you have a hard time deciding between right and wrong...

follow Him

Maybe the world is going crazy and the truths of God become blurred.

his truth is the truth — always.

How do we accept the light — we submit.. lets pray