The Light of the World
Notes
Transcript
We continue today to consider the “I Am” statements of Jesus as recorded by the Apostle John in his gospel.
Jesus proclaims to the people in Jerusalem…
John 8:12
“I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness but will have the Light of life.”
When and where these words were spoken by Jesus these is significant.
THE WHEN AND WHERE
THE WHEN AND WHERE
When:
John tells us that the Feast of Booths or Tabernacles, was nearby. (7:2) (Lev. 23:34)
Sukkot
This feast is known today as Sukkot which means a dwelling or covering.
This was one of three pilgrim feasts.
It was to be celebrated in Jerusalem on the 15th day of the month of Tishri.
It was a week-long celebration, and it was a time of great joy.
This feast commemorated the people of Israel’s dwelling in tents or booths as they journeyed through the wilderness after God delivered them from their slavery in Egypt.
In one sense, they were homeless, as God was leading them to the land He promised to Abraham.
Where:
Jesus was In Jerusalem. More importantly, in a specific area of the temple.
John 8:20
These words He spoke in the treasury, as He taught in the temple. (The treasury was in the court of the women.)
These details are important to understanding the setting and timing of Jesus’ words.
This feast came to be known by several names: the Feast of Ingathering; the Feast of Nations; and the Feast of Lights.
· As the “Feast of Ingathering” it celebrated the provision of the Lord in the completion of the year’s harvest.
· As the “Feast of Nations” it looked to the fulfillment of Zechariah’s messianic prophecy.
Zechariah 14:9,16
the Lord will be king over all the earth; in that day, the Lord will be the only one, and His name the only one.
Then it will come about that any who are left of the nations will go up from year to year to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, and to celebrate the Feast of Booths.
· Another name given to this feast was “The Feast of Lights.” By the time of Jesus’ life and ministry, there had been a couple of “added” customs to the celebratory events of this feast.
The first one John has discussed in chapter 7, which was the water ceremony. (water from the pool of Siloam)
Pertaining to this custom John writes (John 7:37-39)
Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. “He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’ ” But this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive; for the Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.
Messianic prophecy (Isaiah 44:3)
the thirsty soul filled with the Spirit of God
The Light Ceremony
To commemorate the pillar of fire that led the children of Israel by night during their wilderness wanderings, four golden candelabras were placed in the women’s court or treasury of the temple area.
Each candelabra reached approximately 75’ into the air. They each had four branches with huge basins at the end of each branch. With wicks made from old, priestly garments, these basins were filled with oil and then set on fire.
According to the Jewish Mishnah, the flames were so intense that there was no courtyard in Jerusalem that was not lit up with light.
How fitting it was for Jesus to stand up and proclaim to His people in very certain terms that He was the light of the world.
John 8:12
“I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.”
And again.
John 9:5
“While I am in the world, I am the Light of the world.”
This feast carried with it prophetic and Messianic expectations.
One of which, the Shekinah Glory of God would once again dwell among His people.
The “sukkah” (dwelling / covering) of God or the “clouds of glory.”
Now on the day that the tabernacle was erected the cloud covered the tabernacle, the tent of the testimony, and in the evening it was like the appearance of fire over the tabernacle, until morning.
So it was continuously; the cloud would cover it by day, and the appearance of fire by night.
Whenever the cloud was lifted from over the tent, afterward the sons of Israel would then set out; and in the place where the cloud settled down, there the sons of Israel would camp.
Then Solomon said, “The Lord has said that He would dwell in the thick cloud.
Jesus was the long-awaited Messiah. He was Emmanuel – God with us.
for a temporary time, He dwelt in a sukkah - God’s Glory was among men
John 1:14
And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Heb. 1:3
And He Jesus) was the radiance (express image) of His glory (God’s glory)
“he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.”
To follow:
One must come to the light.
“But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God.”
One must Walk in the Light.
but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.
As God was with His people in their wilderness and desert places, He will be with us in our wilderness and desert places.
God provided and protected His people in their temporary dwellings.
God is present with us; providing for and protects us.
We must continually believe upon and trust in Him, and we will have the light of Life to keep us from the darkness.
Our Joyful hope - Our rejoicing - our worship:
His light is Everlasting.
“No longer will you have the sun for light by day, Nor for brightness will the moon give you light; But you will have the Lord for an everlasting light, And your God for your glory.
“Your sun will no longer set, Nor will your moon wane; For you will have the Lord for an everlasting light, And the days of your mourning will be over.
And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them,
And there will no longer be any night; and they will not have need of the light of a lamp nor the light of the sun, because the Lord God will illumine them; and they will reign forever and ever.