Light of the World ABF Lesson
Notes
Transcript
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As we continue going through the different names (titles) of God/ Christ, we are going to look at an event recorded in the Gospel of John where Jesus reveals one of His titles… that is meant to remind all those who are listening what it meant to follow after fire.
As we look at our passage today we need to understand that the event is taking place during the Feast of Booths….
Jesus has just stood and invited all who are truly thirsty to come to him and find satisfaction (7:37-38)… Now, today we’ll focus on what Jesus says in 8:12-20.
Let’s read the passage together: John 8:12-20
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.” So the Pharisees said to him, “You are bearing witness about yourself; your testimony is not true.” 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.” 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.” 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.
Let’s first look at the setting.
I. The Setting (20)
If you remember, this portion of the gospel of John (the events from chapters 7 through the beginning of chapter 10) take place during the Feast of Booths.
The feast of booths/ tabernacles took place when all of the harvest had been gathered… and it was a joyous time of celebration.
The feast of booths was a very well attended and exciting festival ...plus it was one of the three festivals that required the attendance of every Jewish male who lived within 20 miles of Jerusalem.
The city of Jerusalem would have been full of people… it was a colorful and interesting time when small shelters or tents would have been popping up all over the city.
One author said that today we might call it the “Jerusalem Camping and RV Expo!”
As the shelters were built, they had to follow certain guidelines. The walls had to be extra thin so that light could come through and the roof had to show enough sky so that the stars could be seen from inside. —
This was a reminder to the Jews of how they had wandered in the wilderness and of how God had provided for them.
People who attended the feast would have dressed in their Sabbath best. People called this festival “the season of our gladness”. It was such a festive time that the Prophet Zechariah had said that it was a symbol of the glorious future of the people of God (Zechariah 14).
At the center of the festival was a daily water ritual... that was performed by the priests.
Each morning large numbers of people would gather at the temple. They would bring certain citrus fruits and tree branches with them that were a reminder of the land that God had given them and a symbol of their ancestors journey through the wilderness.
Each morning the people gathered together, and the priest would hold out a golden pitcher. The priest would then go to the Pool of Siloam and the crowds would follow. As they followed they would chant Psalms. Once they arrived at the pool, the priest would draw water from the pool in the golden pitcher. When the priest did this the people would recite the words from Isaiah 12:3
With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.
Then the crowd would march back to the temple, entering through the Water gate as the priests blew their trumpets. The priests would then circle the altar once, and go up onto the platform and then the water from the golden pitcher would be poured out.
This happened every day of the feast of booths. This part of the festival commemorated God’s miraculous provision of water during Israel’s wilderness wanderings, and encouraged the anticipation of the messianic age.
At this precise moment was when all those in the temple would have been focused on the water in the priests hand… representing the life giving water that God had provided to Israel in the wilderness.... So, it is no coincidence that Jesus chose that moment to makes his statement in 7:37-38… inviting all who are thirsty to come...
This festival is a big deal to the Jews. The city would have been filled with people eagerly gathering at the Temple daily.
OK, so Jesus is in Jerusalem… in Chapter 8:12-20, where does the text say that Jesus is?
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.
It’s important that we understand that where Jesus is when he says “I am the light of the world” in verse 12 is not by accident.
In verse 20 we are specifically told that his words were spoken in a specific place: the treasury.... more technically in an area called “The Court of Women”.
Kent Hughes had some interesting insights ...
This large area would have been one of the busiest parts of the temple. One one side of the large room would have been 13 large offering collection vessels called “trumpets”. They were called trumpets because of their shape. Narrow at the top and rounded at the bottom… Kind of like the bell of a trumpet (or a funnel) sitting on the floor.
According to Bible scholars, the trumpets were used for a program of designated giving in the temple.
The first 2 trumpets would have been designated for the upkeep of the temple. Every Jew would place half a shekel in these offering plates.
The second 2 trumpets were for offerings of purification. Pigeons were used for this type of offering.
The fifth trumpet was used for the wood needed for sacrifices.
The sixth trumpet was for incense
The seventh trumpet was used for the upkeep of the golden vessels in the temple.
Then… if anyone had any money left over… the remaining 6 trumpets were used for love offerings… undesignated giving to the Temple and the work of the Lord.
Because of the offerings people gave in these trumpets.... this part of the temple would have been very busy… a very important area that was heavily traveled by all those in Jerusalem.
When we are told in verse 20 that “These words he spoke in the treasury...”, it is not a mistake that Jesus chose this room as the location for his next great declaration of truth.
As we set the stage for Jesus’ declaration, there is a little bit more background information we need about the feast of Booths before we get to His “I AM” statement.
Remember the water ritual that took place during the feast of booths? The priest would get water from the pool of Siloam and bring it to the temple, march around the altar and then pour the water out. That was 1 of 2 main ceremonies that took place during the feast of booths.
The other great ceremony that took place, which the people strongly focused on, was called “the illumination of the temple”.
This ceremony took place at the beginning of the feast (guess where?) in the treasury (court of women).
In the center of the treasury four great torches were set up. Some say that the torches were as high as the highest wall of the temple… and that the top of the torch poles were great bowls that could hold up to 65 liters of oil.
There was a ladder up the side of each torch, and in the evening a young healthy priest would carry the oil up to the top, where they would light the wicks of the torch.
As soon as the torches were lit, the great flames would have illuminated the whole temple and much of the city of Jerusalem.
Just imagine the amazing sight....
The Mishna (Jewish book of traditions) describes what happened when the torches were lit:
Men of piety and good works used to dance before them with burning torches in their hands singing songs and praises and countless Levites played on harps, lyres, cymbals, and trumpets and instruments of music.”
Jewish historians tell us that these priests and Levites would dance until morning. It was an exotic festival celebrating the great pillar of fire that God used to lead the Israelites through their wilderness wanderings.
It was here… in this room… (around the time of this ceremony) with this imagery in everyone’s mind and heart that Jesus chooses to raise his voice above the crowd and make His profound proclamation.
As people pass by in the shadows of the glowing torches.... meant to be a constant reminder of how God led Israel through the wilderness… Jesus makes this great declaration of truth!
II. The Declaration of truth (12)
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.”
Jesus made the first “I AM” statement back in John 6:35 where He proclaimed… “I AM the Bread of Life”…
Here in chapter 7 verse 12 we have the 2nd of 7 “I Am” statements recorded for us in the Gospel of John.
These “I AM” statements are divine declarations of truth about who Christ is… and why He has come.
Now, remember the flaming torches placed in the treasury during the Feast of Booths represented the Shekinah glory of God. The fiery pillar in which God expressed Himself to the Israelites while leading them through the wilderness. (Exodus 13:21-22)
So, standing in the treasury… surrounded by the illuminated torches symbolizing the presence of God… Christ declares.... I am the light of the world....
It is almost as if He was saying.... do you remember the pillar of fire that came between the Israelites and the Egyptians at the Red Sea? Do you remember who protected God’s people during the wilderness wanderings?
By saying “I am the light of the world”.... Jesus is identifying Himself with the Shekinah glory of God.
What an amazing statement!
By identifying Himself with the pillar of fire and cloud from the wilderness.... He is saying that as the light of the World… all the comforts and benefits that came with the cloud/fire in the wilderness… came from Him.
Jesus is saying… ‘I was the One who protected you in the wilderness.... I was the One who guided you through the dessert..... I was the One who filled the tabernacle.... I was the One who came and filled Solomons temple with such glory that the priests couldn’t even serve…
I am the glory of God.... sheathed in human flesh... so that you all can look upon me… fulfilling the plan of God…’
Many times in the OT, God and the promised Messiah are associated with light. Malachi 4:2 connects that truth when referring to the promised Messiah when he wrote… “But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings....”
Simeon connected this truth to Jesus when he met him and sang his song in Luke 1:78-79
“… because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sun shall visit us from on high to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”
John connects the concepts of “light and life” with Jesus early in his gospel.
In chapter 1:4-9, John refers to Jesus as the light.... and then later in verse 14 John says… “we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.”
That glory that John is talking about would later be revealed during a time when Peter, James and John were taken to the mountain and Christ was transfigured before them…
Matthew tells us in chapter 17:2 of his gospel that… “when He was transfigured before them, … his face shone like the sun and his clothes became white as light.”
Later, while exiled on the Island of Patmos John would write in Revelation 21:23, “And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb.”
The Lord is the source of light...
This I Am statement in chapter 8, refers to different aspects of Christ’s nature as God and to His work as the Savior.
By stating… “I am the Light of the world”… Jesus was without a doubt claiming to be God as well as the promised Messiah… sent by God to be a “light to the nations” (Isaiah 42:6, 49:6).
Jesus is the only true light… shining in a dark world.
He is the only Truth, Wisdom, and Holiness that will disperse the darkness of ignorance, sorrow, and death.
Unlike the fire in the giant torches standing in the treasury court that will eventually be extinguished… the light that Jesus is and that He provides will never be put out.
Just as God called the Israelites to follow Him in the wilderness.... Jesus is calling people to follow Him.
As people respond in faith to Christ and follow Him… they are given a promise. Look at verse 12 again...
… “Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
The word translated as “follow” in our bibles can be used as a general term for following after something or someone…
But, in this context it can also express the understanding of complete submission to Jesus as Lord.
When Jesus calls people to follow Him.... He is not asking for a half-hearted loyalty....
No, Christ is calling those who follow Him to be 100% committed and completely submitted to Him as the Lord of their life.
Jesus actually turned people away who were half-hearted.... Remember when He spoke with the rich young ruler in Luke 18:18-27? This was a man who thought he was righteous. He had money… he had status… he probably had the best seat in the synagogue and the best Hebrew school training that money could buy.... But.... he also had a lot of pride and a divided heart. When asked to choose between his wealth and Jesus.... He chose the comforts of this life rather than the Light of eternal life.
The rich young ruler saw giving up his wealth as too much of a burden....
How many people do we know like that?
People want Jesus when its popular and when He can give them what they need....
When we answer Christ’ invitation to come and drink.... to be satisfied… to follow after Him and walk in the light..... we are at the same time answering the call to make Jesus the one and only Lord of our life.
Those who do claim Jesus as Lord.... Those who respond in faith to Christ.... will no longer walk in the darkness of the world… the darkness of Satan.... under the bondage of sin…
No, they will have Light.... they will have spiritual life that only comes by grace through faith in Christ.
As Christians.... as redeemed image bearers… we are not only illumined by Jesus… but are to reflect His light in the dark world. What a blessing!
Just as a mirror reflects an image into a room… those of us who claim Christ as Lord.... are to reflect the glorious light of Christ to a dark and dying world.
We looked at the setting: treasury of the Temple…
Jesus made His declaration: He is the Light..... the only means by which we may be rescued from the darkness of death and sin.
The last thing I want to show you is a disappointing dialogue that takes place and demonstrates the Pharisees rejection of Jesus.
III. The Dialogue of Disapointment (13-19)
Having no other way to combat Jesus’ divine declaration.... the Pharisees try a last ditch effort to discredit the words of Jesus.
So the Pharisees said to him, “You are bearing witness about yourself; your testimony is not true.” 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.” 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.”
The Pharisees were justifying their unbelief on a legal technicality. Numbers 35:30, which discusses capital punishment, first introduces the idea of needing more than one witness to make something legal. Deuteronomy 17 and 19 clarifies the situation and states that a conviction can only be gained on the basis of 2 or 3 witnesses.
We see this same pattern continue in the New Testament when we read about church discipline in Matthew 18:16, 2 Corinthians 13:1, 1 Timothy 5:19, and Hebrews 10:28.
What the Pharisees were doing was taking a legal stipulation that said that a charge against a person could not be deemed credible unless there were 2 or 3 witnesses.... and applying it to the credibility of Jesus’ declaration.
Basically, in verse 13, the Pharisees were saying… ‘Jesus… you can’t stand here as your own witness and expect us to just believe you.... your testimony is not valid!’
Hoping to persuade the crowd to not follow Jesus, the Pharisees were saying that Jesus’ profound declaration of being “the Light of the World” could not be accepted as truth based on just the testimony of Jesus.
In the Pharisees challenge another interesting reality is revealed…
One author said… “When Jesus is loved, followed, and trusted, He becomes light. But when He is neglected, he becomes darkness.” (Hughes)
Think about how the pillar of cloud in the wilderness had the same effect.
Then the angel of God who was going before the host of Israel moved and went behind them, and the pillar of cloud moved from before them and stood behind them, coming between the host of Egypt and the host of Israel. And there was the cloud and the darkness. And it lit up the night without one coming near the other all night.
To those following God… the pillar of fire by night and cloud by day was a saving grace… it was their redemption… but, to those who were persecuting God and His people… the cloud became a barrier of separation, darkness and confusion… an obstacle…
Think about people who you know who have been exposed to biblical Christianity but rejected it....
Hugh Hefner was raised in a minister’s home. Joseph Stalin prepared for the priesthood. Mao Tse-tung was raised under missionary teaching.... (Hughes)
For those who reject Christ.... His light becomes darkness… When people reject Christ as Lord… He becomes an obstacle to overcome.... instead of an answer for what they are seeking...
Conclusion/ Application:
As Jesus declares.... “I am the Light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”.... what is He doing?
He is connecting who He is and His role in God’s plan of redemption with the image of the pillar of fire & cloud that led the Israelites through the wilderness.
Let’s refresh our memory just a bit as we close today. Turn over to Exodus 13 with me in your Bibles....
In, Exodus 13: 17-22 is where we are first introduced to this pillar of God....
As Pharoah finally let’s the people go, Moses tells us the direction that God led the people out of Egypt… He led them by way of the wilderness towards the Red Sea… the text says that the people of Israel were equipped for battle and that Moses carried with them the bones of Joseph (so that they could be buried in the Promised Land. )
Then, in verse 21, the pillar appears...
And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them along the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night. The pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night did not depart from before the people.
As the people approach the Red Sea with the Egyptians close behind, the pillar of cloud/ fire moves in between the people of Israel and the army of Egypt.
Then the angel of God who was going before the host of Israel moved and went behind them, and the pillar of cloud moved from before them and stood behind them, coming between the host of Egypt and the host of Israel. And there was the cloud and the darkness. And it lit up the night without one coming near the other all night.
Then, a few verses later in Exodus 14:23-24 we are told that the Egyptians went after Israel through the parted Red sea...
The Egyptians pursued and went in after them into the midst of the sea, all Pharaoh’s horses, his chariots, and his horsemen. And in the morning watch the Lord in the pillar of fire and of cloud looked down on the Egyptian forces and threw the Egyptian forces into a panic,
Through the pillar, the Lord was was leading those who were following Him to safety and salvation.... but… those who were chasing after Him in disbelief.... persecuting His people.... that same pillar of salvation became a pillar of confusion ,darkness, and judgment.
Later in Exodus 33:9-11 we are told...
When Moses entered the tent, the pillar of cloud would descend and stand at the entrance of the tent, and the Lord would speak with Moses. And when all the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance of the tent, all the people would rise up and worship, each at his tent door. Thus the Lord used to speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. When Moses turned again into the camp, his assistant Joshua the son of Nun, a young man, would not depart from the tent.
What did it mean for the Israelites to follow the pillar of cloud and fire.. the very glory of God expressed to mankind in the wilderness?
It meant total dependance and submission.
They were to follow the One who was leading them regardless of the direction..... regardless of the situation.... regardless whether they felt like it or not.... when God would call them to move.... the people’s responsibility was to follow.
When Jesus declares… I am the Light of the world....
He is inviting people to follow Him..... .Here I am! I am, the I AM who led your fathers out of Egypt.... I AM the One who provided safety, satisfaction… and salvation to your fathers.... and I am here to offer the same to you… any who will follow me by faith…
I AM not only the Bread of Life.... given for the satisfaction of your souls.... I AM the Light.... sent by the Father to illumine the Way back home.... back to a relationship with God.... back to the relationship we had in Eden… which has been broken and lost by sin.
I am the Light..... Follow Me!
What does following Christ look like? How do we follow Him?
From the life of Christ and the example of Israel… we can see that to follow Christ takes:
Faithful submission and obedience
Following Christ is more than praying a prayer or attending bible study or coming to church....
Following Christ means submitting to Him as your Lord and Sovereign…
As we submit to Jesus as our Lord.... we will willingly follow Him in obedience.
Following Jesus.... having a relationship with Him means that we are constantly looking to Jesus and continuously building our relationship with Him.
As we grow in our relationship with Christ.... we will hopefully be brighter reflectors of light to all those around us.
Here is a convicting thought....
If I were to ask your neighbors.... “In the last week, how has _________________ reflected Jesus to you?” … or maybe.... “How do talking with ____________________ bring you hope?”
The Light of Christ… brings hope....
Or, how about this.... this thought is really convicting to me:
If I were to ask your spouse or your kids… “How is _________________ more like Jesus today than he was last week?”
Truths for today:
Following the I AM… leads to life.
(The Israelites has no choice… if they wanted to live and reach the place where God was leading them… they had to follow (fully depend on) the Fire/ Cloud) — It’s not so different with us.) The only way we’ll get to where God wants us to be… is by following after that same fire..... Jesus… the Light of the World!
Connect this with John’s evangelistic purpose for writing...