Jesus, The Light of the World

Introduction

We are in John 8. at a feast of the Jews. It is believed that there was a lamp-lighting festival every evening of the feast that filled the courtyard. (Jn. 8:20)“These words He spoke in the treasury, as He taught in the temple; and no one seized Him, because His hour had not yet come.”

It’s also necessary we are reminded of the purpose of this book Jn. 20:30-31 “Therefore many other signs Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.”

Our text

John 8:12 NASB95

Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.”

This text is not only saying something about Jesus but is saying something for us. Because later down in this body of writing Jesus says, Jn. 8:24 ““Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.”” Essentially the same as the affirmation in Jn. 20:30-31!

What does this phrase say about Jesus?

This is a declarative statement by the Lord. (This is not up for debate, though some did) “I am The Light of the world”

Jews familiar with the OT, would have been uneasy with this claim because they knew the significance of light. Thus, they would’ve known the implications of Jesus (this man from Galilee) making this statement.

Consider the OT concept of light:

Gen 1:3, the first command God gave was, “let there be light”

It was God’s presence

Moses at the burning bush at Horeb Ex. 3.

Moses face shone after meeting with God Ex. 34. (Num. 6:24-25)

It was God’s guidance Ex 13:21; Neh 9:12 ““And with a pillar of cloud You led them by day, And with a pillar of fire by night To light for them the way In which they were to go.”

It was God’s salvation Ps 27:1 “The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the defense of my life; Whom shall I dread?” Mic 7:7-8 “But as for me, I will watch expectantly for the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation. My God will hear me. Do not rejoice over me, O my enemy. Though I fall I will rise; Though I dwell in darkness, the Lord is a light for me.”

It was knowledge Ps 119:105 “Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.” cf. Ps 119:130

It was healing Isa 58:8 ““Then your light will break out like the dawn, And your recovery(healing) will speedily spring forth;”

Consider Messianic prophecies concerning Light

Isa 9:2 “The people who walk in darkness Will see a great light; Those who live in a dark land, The light will shine on them.”

Isa 42:6 ““I am the Lord, I have called You in righteousness, I will also hold You by the hand and watch over You, And I will appoint You as a covenant to the people, As a light to the nations,”

Isa 49:6 “He says, “It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant To raise up the tribes of Jacob and to restore the preserved ones of Israel; I will also make You a light of the nations So that My salvation may reach to the end of the earth.””

Consider Jesus from John’s record

John 1:4-5 “In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.” cf. vs. 9

John 3:16-19 ““For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.[remember John’s purpose] “For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. “He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. “This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil.”

Consider our Text

Jn 8:12 “Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.””

The Declaration

This declaration means that Jesus is SALVATION. One that is greater than the one the Jews would be familiar with; a salvation from Sin! Jn 1:29 “The next day he saw Jesus coming to him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”

KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING Jn 1:18 “No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him.”

Everything that light was in the OT is now present in Jesus! The Light of the World!

The Decision

Based on this declaration Jesus adds, “he who follows me”. The word means to go after or obey. Appl. It’s not enough to just agree with Jesus, you need to obey Him. Rabbis would go certain places and the disciples would “follow after” them. [Remember the purpose of John] “Some love darkness”

“will not walk in darkness” - This is an assurance. Appl. There is something in the dark - Darkness is not just the opposite the light but it is antagonistic towards the light.

Eph 6:12 “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.”

Jesus is the way of deliverance from the power of darkness Col 1:13 “For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son,”

1 Pet 2:9 “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;”

This also means responsibility.

“but will have the Light of life”

Jesus speaks again to the doctrine of life. This life is a renewed life the disciple enjoys in relationship with Christ.

This will be with you (longevity)

We must shine our lights Matt 5:14, and appear as lights (Php 2:15) because, Paul says in Eph 5:8 “for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light”

Appl. This is where we can trust Him, because we have something.

The fight against The Light

2 Cor 4:4 “in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.”

There is so much right now that is distracting us from the “Light”

Politics, Virus, Schisms, Opinions etc.

Are we really walking in the light?

Obey the gospel and come to the light