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HOOK
1. The gospel of John records at least seven remarkable claims by Jesus...
2. In making such statements, Jesus reveals much...
About the world around us, and the lives we live
About Himself,
and what He has to offer to us
3. We looked at the first “I AM” statement a couple weeks ago,
"I am the bread of life" - Jn 6:48
Today we are going to look at the second statement Jesus makes
In JOHN 8:12-30
PRAYER
12 When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
Jesus has been ministering in the Galilee region
He has being avoiding Judea and Jerusalem ever since He started His ministry
Even though word of Him has already spread to that area
And some the Jewish leaders who had heard of Him were already looking to kill Him
But it came to be the time of year, about mid-October on our calendars
The Feast of Tabernacles was going to soon start in Jerusalem
This is when, maybe you remember this,
Jesus’ brothers are embarressed of Him and don’t believe the claims He’s made about Himself
They tell Him, “You should go,
Go to Judea, go to the Festival where there’ll be lots of people’
“Then you’ll be a real public figure”
Jesus knows their intentions are pure
He does go to the festival in secret
Jewish leaders are on the prowl for Him, “Where is He?”
The crowd is whisphering about Him,
“He is a good man” “No, He deceives”
This is the Feast of Tabernacles
As called the Feast of Booths
It was one of the three major feasts in which all Hebrew males were required to participate each year
It was associated with the end of the year when agricultural work concluded
It was a harvest festival, celebrating the blessing of food
But it was also a “pilgrim” festival,
People built booths, simple shelters made of interlaced branches,
And lived in them during the festival
To remind them of Israel’s time spend wandering in the desert
The intent was to emphasize the nomadic character of the wilderness period
It’s a big festival and there a lots of people there
But its not til halfway through the week long festival
Jesus goes to the temple courts and begins teaching
On the first night of Tabernacles and on each night of the feast
The worshipers would watch the special lighting of the immense festive golden lamps in the temple court
The lamps were intended to remind the people of God’s leading the people of Israel through the wilderness at night by a pillar of fire.
The lighting of lamps also signaled Israel’s recommitment to the God of light,
A ritual performed during the Feast of Tabernacles.
Four immense candelabra burn continually at the temple to remind the Jews of the pillar of fire by which God guided and protected their ancestors during their wandering in the wilderness after escaping bondage in Egypt
Its here at the temple courts, maybe at night
After or while waiting for the lighting of these lamps that signify God’s presence
That Jesus makes the statement
“I am the light of the world”
One of Jesus’ most well know statements
Just as God’s presence was light in the night sky darkness
For the Israelites
Jesus has come to be a light, not just for the Israelites
But for the whole world
6 he says: “It is too small a thing for you to be my servant to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back those of Israel I have kept. I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.”
Jesus’ words of announcement would have sounded like an outrageous claim to the ears of the Pharisees.
He went beyond the usual religious claims of bringing enlightenment And actually claimed to be the source of light itself.
Moreover, He claimed to be the light “of the world,” a role reserved for Yahweh, the Creator
Jesus also picked up the theme of the wilderness wanderings and proclaimed for those who followed him that they would not walk in darkness
To anyone familiar with the exodus story,
And the celebration of Tabernacles,
Jesus was identifying himself clearly with the God who gave Israel this Feast of Tabernacles
JOHN 8:13
And so the Pharisees challenge Jesus
“You’re making these claims about yourself
“You’re appearing as your own witnesss
“So you’re testimony is not valid”
Israel had a law that one person was not enough to convict someone accused of a crime
It needed two or three witnesses
Jesus responds to the Pharisees and says this in
John 8:17-18
19 Then they asked him, “Where is your father?” “You do not know me or my Father,” Jesus replied. “If you knew me, you would know my Father also.”
20 He spoke these words while teaching in the temple courts near the place where the offerings were put. Yet no one seized him, because his hour had not yet come.
23 But he continued, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world.
24 I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am he, you will indeed die in your sins.”
JOHN 8:25-26A
28 So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me.