I AM the Light of the world

Introduction

Today we look at the second of the I AM statements of Jesus found in John’s gospel. Just to recap a little. They are: -

“I am the bread of life.” (John 6:35, 41, 48, 51)

“I am the light of the world.” (John 8:12) To a world lost in darkness, Christ offers Himself as a guide.

“I am the door of the sheep.” (John 10:7,9)

“I am the resurrection and the life.” (John 11:25)

“I am the good shepherd.” (John 10:11, 14)

“I am the way, the truth, and the life.” (John 14:6)

“I am the true vine.” (John 15:1, 5)

Last week we started the series with a look at I AM the bread of life. We followed the bread theme through the Old Testament and saw that the ceremonial bread of the presence, firstly in the tabernacle, and then the temples, were types or metaphors for the spiritual reality. The bread represented the presence of God on the earth, and as we found out, Jesus claimed to be the fulfillment, or the reality, of that symbol.

Today we will be looking at Jesus statement I AM the light of the world. For those listening this would have immediately had them thinking of scriptures from their great prophets like this one from Isaiah: -

Isaiah 9:2 (NKJV)

2 The people who walked in darkness

Have seen a great light;

Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death,

Upon them a light has shined.

Maybe you will remember how we have come across the contrast between light and darkness several times in our messages. The most recent was when we were looking at the servant songs in Isaiah: -

Isaiah 49:6 (NKJV)

6 …I will also give You as a light to the Gentiles,

That You should be My salvation to the ends of the earth.’ ”

As we have heard in our bible reading, John also liked to use the contrast between light and dark when he was writing about Jesus. In fact in the opening verses of his gospel John gives us a preview of what would be the basis of Jesus discussion with the pharisees in our reading.

Let’s turn in our bibles or whatever device you are using and look at John 1: -

John 1:1–5 (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. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

John places Jesus with God and as God at the creation.

4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

If we go back to the creation account in Genesis 1, we can see something truly remarkable. When God said “Let there be light” who said it. Who is the word of God? According to my reading that could only have been the pre-incarnate Jesus.

Let’s follow on and look at the rest of the first day of creation: -

Genesis 1:3–5 (NKJV)

3 Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. 4 And God saw the light, that it was good; and God divided the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night. So the evening and the morning were the first day.

For me this is a little curious because the sun and moon were not created until day 4. Verses 14 to 19 describe the whole creation and purpose of the sun and the moon on day four of creation. Hang on a minute we have light, evening, and morning on the first three days of creation, yet there was no Sun or Moon, what was the source of that light? Maybe I should say, who was the source of that light?

. 2 He was in the beginning with God.

3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

I think that I am on pretty safe ground to say that Jesus was the light of the world from the first moment of creation. In fact, until day four He was the only light of the world.

Just to summarise where we are before we get into the passage for today.

· Jesus was present at creation as God, and was the Word of God, that spoke everything into existence.

· Jesus was the light of the world for the first three days of creation. In fact, He was the only source of light in that time.

Now let us look at this morning’s reading from John 8: 12-19. Jesus is in Jerusalem; in fact, He is in the temple. He had just confounded the scribes and Pharisees with His ruling in the case of the woman caught in adultery. Our passage follows right after this incident.

Jesus says: -

John 8:12 (NKJV)

12 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.”

That is pretty much going to get the Pharisees going isn’t it? I hope that you are beginning to realise just how confrontational Jesus was. Here He is saying that He is the fulfillment of

Isaiah 9:2 (NKJV)

2 The people who walked in darkness

Have seen a great light;

Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death,

Upon them a light has shined.

And of course, they don’t realise that Jesus is also referring to Genesis 1, the creation story. Either way, this was too much for the Pharisees and scribes, they immediately and rather nastily interrupted Jesus.

John 8:13 (NKJV)

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

Or perhaps the message

John 8:13 (The Message)

13 The Pharisees objected, “All we have is your word on this. We need more than this to go on.”

What they are doing is calling Jesus out as a fraud and a liar. Big noting Himself with no way to back up His statements. So how does Jesus respond? Quite reasonably I think.

John 8:14 (NKJV)

14 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.

Jesus is on another level here. He expected the religious leaders to know their Torah, they would have memorized it as a part of their education. He knew their law. He wrote it after all. He was the living embodiment of everything they thought they knew about the law and the other scriptures. He knew the law of needing two witnesses to establish an event. What He was saying was. Listen, I know what I’m talking about because I AM the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. I AM there in the first three days of creation when the Father and I created the universe and this world in which you live. For the first three days of creation I AM the light of the world and you were not there so how can you tell me that I AM not the Light of the World.

Personal Application

What does this mean for me and our church family today?

Jesus is the Light of the World, and right now the world is as covered in darkness as it ever was. But Jesus is not here is He? He is in Heaven. Can you remember back to just after Christmas when we talked about Mary and Joseph bringing Jesus to the temple. About how as they were going up those Southern steps they were met by an old man, Simeon. Simeon had been promised that he would not die until he had seen the messiah and when he held the baby Jesus he made a prophetic declaration over Him.

Luke 2:30–32 (NKJV)

30 For my eyes have seen Your salvation

31 Which You have prepared before the face of all peoples,

32 A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles,

And the glory of Your people Israel.”

Jesus is not just the physical light of the world. He is the light in the darkness that we all face. But Jesus is no longer in the world is He? So how does the light in the darkness work now? Jesus told the Pharisees … 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. He knew that He would not be around for much longer. So what was the plan? The plan was always the plan that we read in

Colossians 1:26–27 (NKJV)

26 the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints. 27 To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

Friends this is plan A. It has been Plan A from before the foundations of the Earth. We are God’s provision of light to the world.

Matthew 5:14–16 (NKJV)

14 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

Who is the light in the darkness now? According to the words of Jesus, we are. Who then is empowered by the Holy Spirit to be the source of comfort and common sense to our community, we are?

OK, then I will say this to each one of us,

LET THERE BE LIGHT,

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

He has given us everything we need to get the job done all we have to do is go out and shine His light in our community.

AMEN

Let us Pray

Dear loving Heavenly Father,

You have always shown us the way from darkness into the light. You sent your son Jesus to be the light of the world. He passed the baton to us and so we pray for those struggling now to see the light, we ask that You shine it a bit brighter through us in our world. Grant us all the grace to light the way forward through the present darkness not only for ourselves but for our communities.

We pray in the name of your dear son Jesus,

AMEN

The Benediction

Jude 24–25 (NKJV)

24 Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling,

And to present you faultless

Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy,

25 To God our Savior,

Who alone is wise,

Be glory and majesty,

Dominion and power,

Both now and forever.

Amen.