The Light of the World

Awakening Prayer

Jared Pruett

Student Scripture Reading

John 8:12 ESV

12 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.”

John 8:12–20 ESV

12 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.” 13 So the Pharisees said to him, “You are bearing witness about yourself; your testimony is not true.” 14 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. 15 You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one. 16 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. 17 In your Law it is written that the testimony of two people is true. 18 I am the one who bears witness about myself, and the Father who sent me bears witness about me.” 19 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.” 20 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.

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Weekly Briefing

Old people are lonely. They love children and they love company. One of the greatest ways to minister and love on elder shut-in’s is to be with them. Have a meal with them. Drop in on them and say “hi”. So this month at our “Trunk or Treat” on October 31st we are going to host the hay ride again with a trick or treat twist. We will have set up multiple stops where children can get off and go “trick or treating” and come into some of our shut-in’s houses.

Here’s where you come in: I’m challenging every student to bring one bag (large) of candy over the next two weeks. There are 80ish students so we are looking for 80 bags! Let’s do this. This is a great way to love on some lonely people. We will provide them with the candy to pass out to all the “trick or treaters”.

Introduction

Introduction

Let’s get our bearings. Jesus in has arrived in Jerusalem for the Feast of Tabernacles or Booths. This feast was one of three major pilgrimage feasts that Israel celebrated each year.

What is a pilgrimage feast?

It is a feast people travel for - they make a pilgrimage to Jerusalem to celebrate. It’s kind of a BIG deal.

So, during the 7th month at the end of the agriculture season - after harvest - the Feast of Tabernacles would be celebrated for 7 days. It was a time of celebrating the harvest which meant wine and dancing and singing, but it was also a historical feast - it pointed backward:

Leviticus 23:41–43 ESV

41 You shall celebrate it as a feast to the Lord for seven days in the year. It is a statute forever throughout your generations; you shall celebrate it in the seventh month. 42 You shall dwell in booths for seven days. All native Israelites shall dwell in booths, 43 that your generations may know that I made the people of Israel dwell in booths when I brought them out of the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.”

LEviticus 23:4

The Feast of Tabernacles was to point back to a time when Israel was rescued from Egypt and when they wandered the desert for 40 years. During that time they lived in booths or tabernacles. which are just a temporary shelters made of palm branches and other lightweight material.

Here’s a picture of a modern day “sukah” or tabernacle/booth:

Show picture of Sukah Katie’s friend - missionaries in Israel (Katie grew up with them).

Okay, this is the setting for Jesus’ statement tonight - but over the years as the Feast of Tabernacles was celebrated a few rituals were added to the celebration.

This is normal - think about your Christmas. The first Christmas that was celebrated most likely looks different than today. Do you read the Christmas story? Do you bake Jesus a birthday cake? Do you have naughty elves on your shelves? Do you act out the Christmas story? Do you go to a candle light service? Do you give gifts away instead of getting gifts?

Celebrations have a way of shifting and changing over the years and one thing that the people of Israel, back in biblical times, added to the festival was a lighting ceremony. In the temple, one night, they would light giant lamps. The wicks of these lamps were made from the worn-out garments of the priests. And the light from the lamps would illuminate the temple area and the people would gather and sing praises and dance.

The lighting ceremony was a reminder of how God led the people during the wilderness years - a pillar of fire at night..

I Am The Light Of The World

And, during this feast, at the end of the feast, Jesus makes this claim:

John 8:12 ESV

12 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.”

Jesus is aware of his culture. He knows his audience. I’m not making this up! It’s like a movie! Fresh on the minds and eyes of the people gathered would have been the lighting of the lamps and as that memory is fresh - Jesus says “guys, guys, come in, listen…I am the light of the world. Those lamps they are cool, they have some meaning and significance. They remind you of my Father’s rescue and guidance during the wandering years, but they aren’t THE light - I AM THE LIGHT!”

The Bible Knowledge Commentary d. The Light of the World Discourse (8:12–59)

the lighting of giant lamps in the women’s court in the temple (see the diagram). The wicks were made from the priests’ worn-out garments. The light illuminated the temple area and the people gathered to sing praises and dance.

So what does this all mean:

(1) Jesus Or Darkness

Bring Katie to the front. I am a husband of Katie vs. I am the husband of Katie.

Jesus being “the light of the world” means at bottom our world has no other light than him. Like it says in , “the true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.” And the light that we are talking about is a spiritual light - not a physical light. Jesus is not a lamp, physically speaking. He is the spiritual light of the world. The only hope our world has for light is Jesus. Jesus makes it clear - he draws a line in the sand - it is me or it is darkness. Nothing else in this world can be spiritual light. Every religion that claims to be a path to “god” is darkness.

says, “whoever follows me will not walk in darkness...” so that means every other path of “non-truths” or “good teaching” or “religious observance” is a dark path. It is darkness. Students, Jesus makes the claim here that it is Him or it is darkness.

But we also see a massive problem...

(2) We Love Darkness

Do you want to know the sad news?

Even though Jesus has come as the true spiritual light, our inclination as sinful people is to hate Him and run from this light. Listen to this:

John 3:19 ESV

19 And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.

John 3:19

We love the darkness. We were not born mostly good. We were born into sin and we’ve been completely corrupted by sin.

Give a kid a coke. Oh, yeah it is 1% urine.

1% ruins the batch. We’ve inherited a nature of sin and the result is we love darkness.

I’ve seen this in my kids. I didn’t have to teach my kids to lie or to misbehave or to roll their eyes. They came by that naturally, because, as much as I love them, they are sinners - from birth.

As John says - we love the darkness. We love our sin. We love our idols. We love crafting them in our own images.

Application: girls - isn’t the idol of beauty and image - isn’t it attractive? Doesn’t it pull on your heart strings. Isn’t it seductive? And doesn’t it bring about some instant gratification? We love darkness because it’s our nature.

But we were made for the light...

(3) Made For The Light

Jesus is the light of the world which means everyone needs Jesus as their light. We were made for the light and by the light. This is what Paul tells us in :

Colossians 1:16 ESV

16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.

All things - including you - have been made through him (he created you) and for him (you were made for him).

teaches that those who have Jesus have the “light of life.” That means not only are we no longer in darkness - it means we no longer love darkness. It means we have the light that gives life. It means, not only does Jesus reveal what is good and beautiful in this world, but we can actually see these things and enjoy these things. You were made to be illumined by Jesus.

Application: when Jesus enters your world as the “light of the world” what happens is, because he is light, he begins to reveal ugliness in your life. He begins to point out that your relationship with your boyfriend is not pure and is sinful and ugly before him. He begins to light up that hate you have for “so and so”. He begins to reveal the ugliness of your gossip and lust and pride. When Jesus speaks through his word by his Spirit he shows you how far you fall from being “solid and good” with God.

But, he also reveals His goodness and His mercy simultaneously.

It’s kind of like light. Light is both particles and waves. It’s both simultaneously.

Well, in a similar fashion Jesus has this uncanny ability to reveal sin and reveal his goodness and grace at the same time.

Students you were made for the light of the world. You were not made to walk in darkness - though that may be natural to you. You were made to walk in the light. And that’s exactly what Jesus offers you: “whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

When we embrace Jesus as the bread of our soul and the light of our soul - the only light - we have the light of life. We all need Jesus as our light. Following Jesus is a physical description of believing in Jesus. Faith in Christ is what you need. Some of you have believed on Jesus and have him as your light, but others in here are walking in darkness thinking “I’m good, I go to Fuel. I’m good Josh prays for me. I’m good I listen to K-Love. I’m a good person - God will accept me.” Nope. There is no third option that Jesus presents to us. It is him or darkness. No alternatives. Tonight some of you need to trust Jesus for the first time as the light of your life. Your savior.

Some of you in here need to hear this:

But for the others - think back to the context of Jesus statement - during the Feast of Tabernacles a reminder of God’s leading through the wilderness years (40 of them). God led the Israelites through the wilderness for 40 years by pillar of cloud during the day and by pillar of fire during the night.

In much the same way - for you who are believers in Christ you have the light of life. He is your guide. His word is a lamp unto your feet and a light unto your path. He is your guide. The way we say it here at FBC is Jesus is our true north. Some of you in here just need to be reminded to listen to Christ and say yes to his guidance. Follow his word. Follow his teachings. Trust his heart for you. Trust his wisdom. Trust his saving work every day.

Whether you are saved or lost - you’ve been made by and for Jesus the light of the world. Tonight come speak with me if you need guidance on what your next step is with Jesus - whether it is first time faith or listening to Him through his as your daily light and guide.

Pray

It means that the world was made for this light. This is not a foreign light. This is the light of the owner of the world. When this light comes, it not only makes sin plain as foreign and ugly, but it also makes everything good in the world shine with its full and true beauty. This world was made to be illumined by this light. This light of Christ is native to the world.

And finally, Jesus being “the light of the world” means that that one day this world will be filled with this light as the waters cover the sea, and all darkness, and all the works of darkness, and all the sons of darkness will be cast out. That’s why Jesus called hell “outer darkness” (; ; ). In that day, all will be light. Jesus, the radiance of the Father, will fill the world, and everything will be beautiful with the light of Christ.