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Weekly Message | June 1st, 2008
JESUS, THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD
Passage: John 8:12-30
Key Verse(s): 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."
Last week we learned about Jesus who forgave an adulterous woman. We were reminded that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. We learned that we are God’s servants who are called not to throw stones but to remember that we are sinners forgiven by grace so we can lead others to the grace of God in Jesus. This week’s passage is about Jesus the light of the world. Jesus calls us out of darkness and into his wonderful light. He wants us to know that his testimony is true and that his cross can drive the darkness out of the darkest of hearts. May the light of Jesus shine on us today!
First, “I am the light of the world” (12). Look at verse 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.’” On the last night of the Feast of Tabernacles there was a lamp lighting ceremony. Large lamps called menorahs were lit in the court of women. Men also lit torches and ran through the streets of Jerusalem singing and dancing. All of this was in celebration of God who led his people out of slavery through his column of fire and light. It was in this context that Jesus said, “I am the light of the world.” He introduced himself as the light of the world. Jesus came to this earth filled with life and light. “In him was life, and that life was the light of men” (1:4). He came to bring the light and life of God to fallen man. In declaring himself the light of the world he was proclaiming himself the Christ and Messiah.
Jesus promises, “Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” Since the fall of man (Gen 3) men have lived in the world filled with darkness (i.e. darkness caused by sin). Jesus the light of the world shines his light on men so they may see their darkened heart and find their way out of the darkness and into his light. Once we were darkness, now we can walk in the wonderful light of Jesus (1: Pet 2:9). Darkness is the absence of light. God is light. When we walk in darkness we walk without God’s light in our lives. When we walk in darkness we are bound to stumble and fall into sin and its consequences. People, who walk in the darkness of sin, live with the lie that they do not sin, or that sinning is better than living the holy life in God’s light. Walking in the light of God and walking in the darkness are totally different, like night and day. God‘s light exposes our sin and leads us to repentance. When we walk in the light we have fellowship with God and with others through the blood of Jesus Christ. The truth is that when we walk in the light of Jesus he will purify us of all sin and lead us to the true joy of a holy life in him. In our leaders Bible study Missionary Joseph Park said, “When we have the light of Christ, our emotions, attitudes and life goals change.” In the darkness of sin he couldn’t concentrate or submit to authority. Now he can concentrate and study on the graduate level. And he is the head of a household with a loving wife and 3 beautiful children. Last night during the messenger meeting Shepherd John Wilson, “When I realized I was a sinner it was like night and day.” And Missionary Mark Yang said, “Before I met Christ I had no life goal. Sin made me shy. Relationships were a serious problem. The light of Jesus exposed my sins and now I have real peace. I can be happy as a shepherd, Bible teacher and missionary.”
In 1 John 1:5-7 we read, “God is light; in him there is no darkness at all… If we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.” Jesus is God. He is the light of the world. He can expose our sins and at the same time show us the path of righteousness and new life. In last weeks passage the Pharisees were like the creatures of darkness. Jesus shone the light of truth on their sins and they scattered like cockroaches that disappear the moment the light is turned on. But to the woman he was a light of hope. She was caught in adultery. She deserved stoning; but Jesus forgave her and gave her the words of repentance: “Go now and leave your life of sin.” Jesus the light of the world shows us our sins and then leads us to repentance. I have struggled most of my life with self-doubt. I doubted that I could ever make real friends so I thought I would be a forest ranger living out in the woods like a hermit. I doubted that I could be a shepherd so I prayed for others to be servants of God. In nursing school I didn’t believe that I could ever become a nurse. Now I have to deal with daily pain, an obsessive-compulsive boss at work, and what seem like daily turmoil at home so I wondered if I had the strength to survive let alone serve God in this ministry. But Jesus the light of the world shone in my heart through this week’s passage and he gave me faith to prepare this message. Jesus the light of the world raised me up to be a shepherd, an RN and a blessing to others. Now we know that we can leave our lives of sin and live righteous lives in Christ. Praise God!
Second, “my testimony is valid” (13-20). When Jesus proclaimed, “I am the light of the world the Pharisees should have repented and sought to follow him. Instead they challenged him, "Here you are, appearing as your own witness; your testimony is not valid." The Pharisees accused him of being his own witness. They wanted to discredit everything Jesus said and did. When people testify about themselves without the support of others’ testimony they are usually lying or bragging. We know that people are limited in righteousness. In Dt. 19:15 it says that the testimony of one is not enough. There has top be two or more witnesses to convict an accused criminal. In this God was trying to protect the innocent from false testimony. Jesus however was neither lying, bragging nor testifying falsely on his own behalf. He was simply stating the truth. Jesus, the light of the world, is God’s truth.
He said, “Even if I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is valid, for I know where I came from and where I am going. But you have no idea where I come from or where I am going.” Jesus used logic to dispute their challenge. Jesus’ teaching is valid because He came from God in heaven. He is not of this world; he came from heaven so there is no limit to his righteousness. What he says is true because his words come from God Almighty. Worldly men who close their minds, eyes and hearts to the truth do not know about Jesus’ origins. They reject the truth because of their ignorance and sin. There is a sharp contrast between Jesus and the Pharisees:
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The Pharisees judge by human standards.
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Jesus does not judge. But his decisions are right because he stands on God’s side.
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The Pharisees are of this world. – i.e. sinners.
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Jesus was sent by God.
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The Pharisees made it a habit of judging and condemning others. They liked to build themselves up by pulling others down. Jesus on the other hand chose to leave judgment to God while he strived to build others up in faith, hope and repentance. We trust Jesus’ testimony about himself because we know that Jesus is a man of truth and honor and his motives are pure and honest.
Jesus testified about himself; but there another who testifies on Jesus behalf. Look at verse 16. “But if I do judge, my decisions are right, because I am not alone. I stand with the Father, who sent me.” Jesus’ other witness is God the Father. God testifies of Jesus through his own testimony – “And a voice came from heaven: ‘You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased’" (Mk 1:11), through John the Baptist’s testimony – “The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, ‘Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world’(Jn. 1:29-34; 5:31), and through the scriptures and the Holy Spirit working in our hearts.
The Pharisees lived by a strict interpretation of the law. They thought their own righteousness was great and they spoke highly of one another. But their testimony was not true, because their hearts were dark. Jesus’ testimony is true and valid. In testifying that he is the light of the world Jesus tried to plant the truth of God in their unbelieving hearts. He appealed to them to accept the truth and be saved; but they would not.
Jesus rebuked the religious leaders saying, “You do not know me or my Father. If you knew me, you would know my Father also.” The Pharisees thought they knew a lot, but they did not know what was important. They did not really know who Jesus was so they also did not know God the Father. Jesus clearly reveals God to the sinful world. Gracious Jesus wants all men to know God and his salvation.
Jesus spoke publicly in the temple courts. He did not hide what he was doing; but spoke publicly so many could hear him. This was a secure place where the priests were constantly watching over the offering. Surely they had guards there. There would have been ample time and opportunity to seize him. But no one seized him, because his time had not yet come. We already know that Jesus was very aware of the time. This was because Jesus lived by God’s time. He did nothing of his own (8:28). He chose to live by God’s timetable. In God’s time the Jews would seize Jesus and crucify him. In the mean time Jesus testified to the truth and did the will of God. And we know that his testimony is true.
Third, "When you have lifted up the Son of Man” (21-30). Look at verse 21. “Once more Jesus said to them, ‘I am going away, and you will look for me, and you will die in your sin. Where I go, you cannot come.’” Jesus first rebuked them for not knowing him or God the Father. Now he warned them that they were going to die in their sins. Jesus was going to the cross. He would be crucified, dead and buried. Then he would be raised to life everlasting. He would be taken up to heaven to sit at the right hand of God. Jesus was going to prepare a place for those who believed (Jn. 14:2-3). This hope in heaven should be the hope of all men. The Pharisees longed for the Messiah to come and lead them to such a heavenly home. But they refused to accept Jesus when he came. Because of their sin and stubborn refusal to believe they, could not accept and thus they could not enter eternal life.
Did they understand Jesus? No they interpreted his words: “Where I go, you cannot come” as meaning he was going to do something drastic like killing himself. When Jesus speaks men should listen and hear, repent and believe, and seek to understand. Jesus offers all men the opportunity to hear and believe. Jesus the light of the world opens the way for men to choose to understand and believe. So why don’t people understand? It is because they choose to reject Jesus and his words. Those who reject Jesus are evil. “This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil” (Jn. 3:19). Evil men cannot follow Christ to his kingdom.
Did they understand Jesus? No they interpreted his words: “Where I go, you cannot come” as meaning he was going to do something drastic like killing himself. When Jesus speaks men should listen and hear, repent and believe, and seek to understand. Jesus offers all men the opportunity to hear and believe. Jesus the light of the world opens the way for men to choose to understand and believe. So why don’t people understand? It is because they choose to reject Jesus and his words. Those who reject Jesus are evil. “This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil” (Jn. 3:19). Evil men cannot follow Christ to his kingdom.
Jesus had much to say about the Pharisees. He has much to say about all people. Look at verse 26. "I have much to say in judgment of you. But he who sent me is reliable, and what I have heard from him I tell the world." He knows our hearts and minds better than we know ourselves. But Jesus did not condemn the Pharisees whose hearts were dark. Jesus proclaimed who he is instead. His message was not vengeful or defensive. It was the gospel message, the message of salvation through the blood of Christ. Jesus’ message was the word of God and it was full of grace and truth.
Still they did not understand Jesus. Verse 27 says: “They did not understand that he was talking about God the Father.” To them God was a vengeful God, who set standards so high that no one could reach them. They knew nothing about God’s love, mercy and grace. Jesus reached out to the ignorant and proud Pharisees that they might know God. Jesus could stand with God because God was near to him, God watches over his people, and He testifies of Jesus. Jesus the light of the world wants all men to know and see God.
Look at verse 28. “So Jesus said, ‘When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am the one I claim to be and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me.’” Jesus taught them that after his crucifixion they would know and understand that He is the Christ and that He came from God and taught the truth of God. Jesus was lifted up by sinful men and crucified on the cross. As the Lamb of God he bore the sins of the world. He died as our ransom sacrifice. If we were to stand at the foot of the cross and look up to Jesus as he died we would see the deep and personal love of God. On the cross, Jesus cried out to God, “Father forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." To the end he shows the forgiving grace and mercy that God has for sinners. When Jesus took our sins upon himself on the cross he was forsaken by God. “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?” he cried out in pain and anguish; but Jesus refused to come down off of the cross. And when the full debt of our sin was paid Jesus bowed his head and said, “It is finished!” On the cross Jesus completed God’s salvation plan. For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son to be the offering for our sins. The cross is the final truth of God revealed in the Son of Man, Jesus. For some, Jesus’ teaching and miracles were not enough. They could not fully see God in Jesus’ beautiful life and ministry. Among them were some the religious leaders. But for some of them, the cross of Jesus was so heart moving that they later repented and believed. Nicodemus was one of them. And later even some of the priests believed the gospel message. (Acts 6:7) The cross of Jesus should lead all men to know that Jesus truly is the light of the world.
“Even as he spoke, many put their faith in him.” There was a great conflict between the Pharisees and what Jesus taught. The Pharisees seemed to be righteous and powerful. But before the truth of God revealed in Christ many came to see that Jesus is the Christ of God. The power of darkness seems powerful and all consuming. But when the light of Christ shines in the darkness, people’s eyes are opened to see God in Christ. When sinners hear Jesus, their hearts can melt and the gospel opens their hearts.
In conclusion Jesus is the light of the world. Jesus alone can drive out the darkness of the world. If we follow him we will not walk in darkness but have the light of life. It is said that life is a journey. And we choose the paths we take. Without Christ we will choose a path of darkness. If we follow Christ we have the light of life. When we walk at night it is nice to have the moon and the stars (or at least street lights) to light the way. But it is far better to walk in the day time when the sun shines bright and we can see all things clearly. When we walk with Christ he will prevent our falling in the darkness; but it is far better that we walk with him in the light of light and see all things clearly. Jesus the light of the world shines and we see the world in a better light. The light of the sun causes plants to grow. It gives beauty to our eyes. And we feel warm and comforted. Jesus the light of the world brings light into the world. Jesus opened the eyes of the Pharisees, who tried to condemn the adulterous woman, to see their own sins. He shone the light of hope and forgiveness on the woman. Those of us, who know Christ, have experienced his light. Jesus the light of the world opened our eyes to see our sin and when we repented, he showed his forgiving grace and mercy. The light of the world called us out of the life devoted to sin into a life devoted to God and his holy mission. The light of the world gives peace and joy to his people who pray and meditate on his word night and day.
For the past month we have prayed for the Purdue Summer Bible Conference. We prayed to invite our friends, families and Bible students to come. We pray because we know that when Jesus the light of the world shines in their hearts they will taste true joy and freedom. We know that Jesus’ testimony is valid and true. And we believe that the cross of Jesus shine the light of life into the darkest heart. May Jesus the light of the world shine his light of life in your hearts and lives today!
Let’s read the key verse 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.’”
June 1, 2008. Toledo UBF.
Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION ®. NIV®;. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society.
Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.
Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.
