Light of the World

Introduction

There are some people who have a gift of using common experiences to teach significant truths

Ric Edelman - “Squirrel Manifesto” - uses a fictitious squirrel to explain the ways that we use money (or in their case acorns) - spend or enjoy , save for the future, give or share, tax - it’s a fun way to let kids relate to the story and learn financial literacy

Jesus used every day elements to teach as well

Children - come like a child (Mark 10:13-16)

vineyard - vine and branches - (John 15)

Cities on a hill - referencing our influence in the world (Matthew 5)

Festival activities - to point to him - maybe those activities are actually about him.

Today, we’re continuing our look at the Gospel of John - focusing on John 8:12-30.

Before we dive into these verses, let’s consider...

The Scene

Feast of Tabernacles

one of three annual feasts where people were expected to go to Jerusalem

Here, they would be dwelling in tents as a reminder of what their ancestors went through in the exodus

Throughout the festival, there have been times of singing and rejoicing - Singing the Hallal or Praise Psalms (Ps. 113-118).

Jesus arrived late and began teaching in the middle of the feast - which Pastor Armal discussed a few weeks ago.

There are also two significant object lessons. The first is...

Water - in some ways, this is actually - water and wine - where Levites would pour water into a large basin with holes in it. There was another basin with wine in it. As the water is poured in, it begins to leak out through the holes - bringing a reminder when God told Moses to strike the rock at Massah and Meribah (which means “testing and quarreling”) in order to make water flow (Exodus 17:6). It’s in relation to this that Jesus calls people to come to him for living water (John 7:37-38).

Light - during the Exodus, God would lead the people of Israel with a pillar of fire at night and a pillar of clouds during the day (Ex. 13:21). In order to remember the light - there was an elaborate ceremony at the beginning of the week.

Let’s consider a brief glimpse of this from the Mishnah which provided instruction and commentary from the Jewish Rabbi’s for how the festival should be celebrated (for clarity, I have removed some of the markers that divide the Mishnah - in order to allow it to read a bit more clearly):

The Mishnah (Sukkah)

At the end of the first festival day of the Festival [the priests and Levites] went down to the women’s courtyard. And they made a major enactment [by putting men below and women above]. And there were golden candleholders there, with four gold bowls on their tops, and four ladders for each candlestick. And four young priests with jars of oil containing a hundred and twenty logs, [would climb up the ladders and] pour [the oil] into each bowl. Out of the worn-out undergarments and girdles of the priests they made wicks, and with them they lit the candlesticks. And there was not a courtyard in Jerusalem which was not lit up from the light of bet hashshoebah. The pious men and wonder workers would dance before them with flaming torches in their hand, and they would sing before them songs and praises. And the Levites beyond counting played on harps, lyres, cymbals, trumpets, and [other] musical instruments, [standing, as they played] on the fifteen steps which go down from the Israelites’ court to the women’s court—corresponding to the fifteen Songs of Ascents which are in the Book of Psalms—on these the Levites stand with their instruments and sing their song.

(for reference 120 logs is about 58 liters - it seems each of the four priests carried one of these)

So this first day would be marked by this tremendous celebration. It would happen in near the women’s courtyard.

Let me show you a couple of illustrations to give you a feel for what this might have looked like.

(Herod’s Temple - on the temple mount)

Herod’s Temple - model) - It’s difficult to see, but there are steps going from the women’s courtyard up to the main - fifteen steps corresponding with the Songs of Ascents (Ps. 120-134)

(Herod’s Temple - comparison) - note the women’s court

So you can imagine, they have four large bowls of oil, with wicks made from holy garments - because everything has to be holy - perched high - high enough for ladders to be needed. Throughout the week, these candles or torches would remain lit. Each night, the fire from these torches would be used a part of the celebration. The light from these fires were so bright that they would illumine every courtyard in the city.

So, in the passage we’re considering this week, we find Jesus in the temple on the final day of the festival. It’s a big day, a holy convocation. I would guess it may have even been in the evening and seeing the immense light from these torches or huge candles, Jesus makes two bold claims - one about his ministry, the other about his destination - each followed by a vigorous conversation. As we review His claims, we’ll also consider a bit of the conversation and the implications for us.

In light of the setting, Jesus seems to make his first claim about...

His Ministry - Light of the World (8:12-20)

John 8:12 ESV

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.”

Light is a major theme in John’s gospel. It is directly referenced some 24 times.

When we think about the use of light in this festival, it was designed to remind people of how God guided them at night during the exodus. They needed his light to keep them from stumbling. They needed His light to guide their way.

In much the same way - Jesus, as the light of the world, demonstrates how we should live, how to keep from stumbling. But he also guides us to eternal life. Showing us by his sacrifice that eternal life is only achieved by faith in Him through his sacrificial death, but that life in the kingdom of God is marked by service and sacrifice, even suffering.

But there is another element to light, in that it illumines or reveals. Things become much clearer in the light. As my eyes age, I find that I need light more light to read. The contrasts are simply not there without sufficient light.

In much the same way, the pure light of Jesus’ life reveals darkness in us and by default casts a sort of judgment.

In response to Jesus comment, some of the religious leaders that were around him push back and question Jesus.

they begin by questioning...

His Witness

It seems odd for them to hear this claim from Jesus - after all it is a big, bold claim. But they want proof. They want validation.

John 8:13 ESV

So the Pharisees said to him, “You are bearing witness about yourself; your testimony is not true.”

We saw this a few weeks ago in the encounter with the woman caught in adultery that no one could be accused of something on the testimony of only one person - there needed to be at least two.

So these people want validation - and yet this is not the first time.

In fact, they may be referencing a prior encounter with Jesus:

John 5:31 ESV

If I alone bear witness about myself, my testimony is not true.

And yet - they already had other witness testimony:

John the Baptist - who was well known among the religious leaders had already testified that Jesus was the Son of God (John 1:34; John 5:33-35).

In addition to that, there are the multiple signs (water to wine, healing the official’s child, feeding 5000, healing on the sabbath, walking on water…) that Jesus has done which demonstrate that He is something more than just an ordinary Jewish man. And yet they refused to believe the testimony of His works.

Now, when he makes a claim about Himself, they want more proof, more evidence, more testimony.

To which Jesus replies...

John 8:14–18 ESV

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. You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one. 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. In your Law it is written that the testimony of two people is true. I am the one who bears witness about myself, and the Father who sent me bears witness about me.”

Jesus contrasts their perspective and his. He introduced the idea of a different origin and destination - which we will see again in a few moments.

He also introduces a difference between their perspective and his. Flesh vs. ? - Jesus judges and discerns according to a different standard.

But notice how Jesus addresses the matter of the witness testimony. He says that both He and the Father are witnesses in defense of each other.

The OT Law clearly required the testimony of more than one person for a capital offense, but it seems that the application of that was expanded to include other legal situations (Carson). Again the Mishnah says:

The Mishnah Ketubot

“A person cannot give testimony in his own behalf.”

This then begs the question - how would they know the testimony of His Father?

His Father

This side of the cross, we can recognize that they should have known, but they ask anyways...

John 8:19 ESV

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.”

Don Carson commented on this exchange saying, “Not infrequently in John, Jesus says something profound only to have it misinterpreted by others.”

They had the law which spoke of a coming one. They had the Prophets who repeatedly talked about the Messiah in multiple ways. These are all the testimony of the Father. And yet they don’t understand the Father’s testimony.

But, I wonder, how often are we like that? How often do we misinterpret the testimony of God? These religious leaders found comfort in their traditions, in their ceremonies, in their celebrations. When along comes Jesus, the one that had been prophesied about - and they are not willing to listen or obey

Are we guilty of being comfortable with the status quo that we are not willing to adjust when Jesus tries to get our attention - when Jesus, the light of the world, shines his pure light in our lives, in His church?

Oh that we would pay attention to what Jesus illumines in us! It should prompt us, it should prompt me to repent, to turn.

John then concludes this part of the conversation with this comment:

John 8:20 ESV

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.

There is some debate as to exactly where this is in the temple, but many have suggested that the treasury is adjacent to the women’s court. So all of this lighting and singing activity of the festival is happening close to Jesus.

It seems clear that some people are upset with him, but they can’t take action - they are being restrained - because it’s not the right time. Incidentally, this is likely taking place about 6-7 months before his crucifixion. The time is approaching.

In addition to making a claim about his ministry, Jesus makes a claim about...

His Destination - The cross and beyond (8:21-30)

Now, Jesus doesn’t directly refer to the cross, but there are a lot of things pointing in that direction.

John 8:21 ESV

So he said to them again, “I am going away, and you will seek me, and you will die in your sin. Where I am going, you cannot come.”

Jesus spends much more time on this with his disciples closer to the crucifixion - but he seems to be making a bold statement - not only about his destination, but also about his origin and the origin of his authority (Carson).

But his questioners simply don’t get it

John 8:22 ESV

So the Jews said, “Will he kill himself, since he says, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come’?”

Maybe they are projecting their own hopes that he would be out of the way. Maybe it was common to speak about death in this way - Jesus certainly did this later on with his disciples (John 13:33, 36).

Nonetheless - they are puzzled.

So Jesus makes his origin and destination very clear and contrasts it with theirs:

John 8:23–24 ESV

He said to them, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. I told you that you would die in your sins, for unless you believe that I am he you will die in your sins.”

Now, Jesus is not accusing them of being of hell - but rather being mortal - being human - which contrasts his divinity - which is from above.

There are so many people who want to see Jesus as simply a good teacher, or a good man, but we need to grasp this distinction, he is divine. He is different and we need that. We need a solution to our sin problem that is beyond us.

In the midweek email this week I referenced “ah ha” moments. It seems like these religious leaders are in desperate need of one of those moments, because they simply reply:

John 8:25 (ESV)

So they said to him, “Who are you?”

They don’t ask “what do you mean?” They ask about his identity. They want him to plainly say “I am the Christ,” “I am the Messiah” - but he never does that - because they would not believe it

In our walks with Christ, we will constantly need His perspective. We will constantly need to have “the mind of Christ” (2 Cor. 2:16). We need to have the light of Jesus in all of his heavenly authority to grant us understanding. We even need him to grant us faith to believe.

In His grace and maybe in His frustration, Jesus continues:

John 8:25–26 (ESV)

Jesus said to them, “Just what I have l have been telling you from the beginning. I have much to say about you and much to judge, but he who sent me is true, and I declare to the world what I have heard from him.”

And yet they still did not get it. But Jesus gives some insight into when they will have their “ah ha” moment.

John 8:28–29 ESV

So Jesus said to them, “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 authority, but speak just as the Father taught me. And he who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to him.”

Jesus has used this “lifted up” language before with Nicodemus (John 3:14)

John 3:14–15 ESV

And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.

And he will use it again in a few months - or for us, in a few chapters

John 12:32–33 ESV

And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” He said this to show by what kind of death he was going to die.

There is a sense in which Jesus is referring to being lifted up on a cross, but also lifted up to the Father’s presence, to heaven, to “above” - beyond the cross.

Even with all of the misunderstanding, John concludes this paragraph with some encouragement.

John 8:30 ESV

As he was saying these things, many believed in him.

It is clear that some people had their ah ha moment.

Jesus said early on that he is the “light of the world.” His message, his salvation, his grace is for the whole world - for all who are called to believe from every nation tribe and tongue. Some of the religious leaders did not get it - but others did. Some of the commoners didn’t get it, but others did.

His light is for all humanity. His light is for you, for me. Have you believed?

The Lord’s Supper

In some ways, it’s providential that we get to celebrate the Lord’s supper on a day when we’re considering part of the feast of tabernacles.

Remember, I mentioned that there were two clear object lessons at this feast. One was light - which we spent a lot of time on. The other was water or water and wine - as Armal touched on a few weeks ago. This water was to remind people of the water that flowed from the rock. But why the wine? The wine was to flow out slowly - the water rapidly - but why both?

Often times vineyards and wine are seen as a symbols of prosperity and blessing. The water is needed for life.

At the end of Jesus’ life, after he had been brutally beaten and nailed to a cross of wood - with a crown of thorns on his head - he eventually gave up his last breath and died.

John 19:33–34 ESV

But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water.

What flowed out? Blood and water. There are a lot of scientific reasons for this, but imagine being an Israelite who had frequently participated in the feast of tabernacles, in Sukkot - a regular picture was the flow of wine and water - blessing and life.

Jesus is the fulfillment of this symbolism. He is the living water. He is the wine of the blessing of God. He is the bread of life.

I wonder if this is what Jesus meant at the festival when they would understand that he is the One.

In the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, we get the fulfillment of so many OT festivals.

It is just before the cross that Jesus shares with us a new festival. That is what we are going to celebrate now.

In a few moments, we will distribute these trays with bread and juice. These are symbols of the body and blood of Jesus. It is His sacrifice that draws us together. It is His sacrifice that brings us into a right relationship with God. It is His sacrifice that breaks down the dividing lines across all humanity. It is his sacrifice that we are celebrating.

If you are a follower of Christ, you have believed in Jesus as your Savior - trusting in His life, death, and resurrection for your eternal salvation - then this meal is for you. If you’re not yet a follower of Christ, we ask that you would let these elements pass. We want you to partake - when you believe.

Children - wait for your parent’s leading.

There will be some prompts on the screen to guide as you wait for the elements to pass.

Benediction:

Jude 24–25 ESV

Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.

Sources:

Burge, Gary M. The NIV Application Commentary: John. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2000.

Carson, D. A. The Gospel According to John. The Pillar New Testament Commentary. Leicester, England; Grand Rapids, MI: Inter-Varsity Press; W.B. Eerdmans, 1991.

Crossway Bibles. The ESV Study Bible. Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008.

Gangel, Kenneth O. John. Vol. 4. Holman New Testament Commentary. Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2000.

Milne, Bruce. The Message of John (The Bible Speaks Today). Downers Grove, IL. Inter-Varsity Press, 1993

Neusner, Jacob. The Mishnah : A New Translation. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 1988.

Tenney, Merrill C., John: The Gospel of Belief, Grand Rapids, MI. Eerdmans, 1976.

https://www.gotquestions.org/Feast-of-Tabernacles.html

Nasser al’Qahtani - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFOle9ebkSA&list=PLvQAzqyf7lfXfOWhsi6e7tjSIn-OeWS9a&index=15

https://jewsforjesus.org/publications/issues/issues-v06-n07/sukkot-a-promise-of-living-water