I AM the Light of the World |
July 21, 2013
I AM the Light of the World
I AM: Jesus in the Present Tense
John 8:12-13
(Advance Slide 1)
Introduction
Last year I went to Cumberland Caverns for the first time, I'll actually be going back this weekend
- I am not a fan of complete darkness, if not for Joslin I'd probably sleep with the lights on.
- At one point when you are deep into the cave everyone turns off their flashlights…true "deep dark"
- In a situation like that we can understand Moses, "Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, a darkness to be felt.” Exodus 10:21
- It just makes me nervous thinking about darkness that can be touched.
- When we are overcome by darkness we welcome light!
- Our dark world is in desperate need of light!
We are familiar with day and night.
- All around us light and darkness are used at metaphors:
- light = good (good cowboy in the white mask)
- dark = bad (bad cowboy in the black mask)
- In scripture we see the same thing:
- God = is light (1 Jn 1:5)
- Satan = as darkness (Jn 3:19-21)
- We are to be children of light (Eph 5:8-13)
- Sin is darkness (Rom 13:12)
- In John 1:7, John the Baptist announced the Messiah.
- "He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him."
- Because He is the light many believed, repented, and had their eyes opened.
- However, the religious leaders remained in darkness.
TODAY - the most dangerous darkness in our "enlightened age" is darkness that blinds the heart and the soul.
- Jesus came to dispel spiritual darkness
- In doing so, He endured darkness/suffering on the cross.
(Advance Slide 6)
Text
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.” John 8:12-13
The setting for John chapters 7-9 is the celebration of the Feast of Tabernacles.
(Advance Slide 7)
- Lasted for 8 days; during the 7th month of their calendar.
- It was a time for joyful thanksgiving…a celebration of God's care of their ancestors.
- The people celebrating would build, with tree branches, for themselves "booths" and they would live in them during this feast.
Jerusalem - it was alive with celebration and filled with visitors.
- Early in this celebration the priests would carry water from the Pool of Siloam and poured it on the west side of the alter in the temple court.
- It reminded the Jews of God providing water for their ancestors.
- On the last day of the feast the water was then lured out.
- At night the priests would light 4 large candelabra.
- The glow could be seen all across the city.
- The lamps were suppose to remind the Jews of the "pillar of fire" that guided them in the darkness.
- Psalm 27:1 "The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?"
Lesson
For the remainder of the lesson this morning I want us to consider just a few benefits of "the Light"
(Advance Slide 8)
Do You Have Sight and Understanding?
“Light” is “something that makes vision possible.“ - In other words, light makes it possible for us to see.
- Without light, we are hopelessly blind - blind to our surroundings, blind to our situations and circumstances, blind to even ourselves.
- Light makes it possible for us to see clearly – things as they really are.
(Advance TEXT on Slide 8)
Most of the world is spiritually blind…it is unable to see spiritual reality.
- The world has became blind because it had rejected God.
- John says, “God is light.” If you push God out of your life, you will become blind…that is what the world did/continues to do.
- Romans 1:21, “For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened."
- John 12:35, “...The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going."
Mankind lost sight of who we are, where we come from, why we are here, and where we are going.
- Jesus came as light to help a blind world regain its sight.
- John 12:46, "I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness.”
- John 9:39, "For judgment I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind.”
1 John 5:20, “And we know that the Son of God has come, and has given us understanding.”
(Advance Slide 9)
Through Jesus, we now know and understand we are created by a God who loves us and wants a relationship with us.
- We now know and understand that our sin and rebellion has severed our relationship with our God.
- The "True Light" illuminated the wickedness of our lives!
- We now know and understand that we can regain that relationship now and forever through Christ Jesus.
- We now know right from wrong.
- We now know and understand the marvelous place prepared for those who strive to walk in His light and the terrible destiny of those who reject the True Light.
Thanks to Jesus, we can say ‘Once we were blind but now we see.’
(Advance Slide 10)
Do You Have Life?
We learn in grade school that without sunshine there would be no life possible on earth. - The sun provides the basis for all life on earth.
- The sun is the source of energy for all plants, and indirectly, for all animals.
- Take away the sunlight and all life on earth would soon perish.
- Shut up the strongest man in a dark dungeon and he becomes pale like a corpse, loses physical vigor and strength, loses the power to resist disease and he will waste away.
(Advance TEXT on Slide 10)
As vital is sunlight for physical life, even so the Light of the Son of God is vital for spiritual life.
- Why all the talk about needing life?
- Paul says, in Romans 3:23, “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
- Furthermore, Romans 6:23 declares that “the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Jesus is THAT LIGHT!
- Matthew tells us that the coming of Jesus fulfilled the prophecy given in Isaiah “the people who were sitting in darkness saw a great light, and to those who were sitting in the land and shadow of death, upon them a light dawned.” (9:2)
Jesus, as the Light of the World, brings us that light that quickens or restores our spiritual life.
(Advance TEXT on Slide 10)
- John 8:12, "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.”
- Spiritual life can be found in no other than in Christ.
- Just as He is the Giver of all physical life so He is the Provider of spiritual life…He is Life itself.
Spiritual life, and eternal life is possible in Christ.
(Advance Slide 11)
Do You Have Hope?
For good reason, light has been a symbol of hope for ages. - Think of a solider engaged in a nighttime firefight, and the sense of hope we feel when we see the dawn’s first light after that long, difficult night.
- Jesus is the embodiment of hope.
- Hope of salvation, hope of righteousness, hope of peace.
- But the greatest hope He gives is that which pertains to the afterlife….eternity!
For many, death is dark and foreboding.
- Death is dreaded rather than something to be viewed with hope and anticipation...Jesus can change that.
- He is the only One Who can grant us cheerful light when we are in the valley of the shadow of death.
- For, if you belong to Him, death is but an transition.
- John 6:40, "For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him, may have eternal life; and I Myself will raise him up on the last day."
- John 14:1-3, "Let not your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.”
Conclusion
"While on maneuvers, a battleship lookout noted a light in the dark, foggy night. After noting the light’s coordinates, the captain recognized his ship was on a collision course with the other vessel. The captain instructed, "Signal the ship: We are on a collision course, advise you change course 20 degrees." The return signal countered, "Advisable for you to change course 20 degrees." The captain signaled, "I’m a captain, change course 20 degrees." The response was, "I’m a seaman second class, you’d better change course 20 degrees." By this time the captain was furious. His signal curtly ordered, "I’m a battleship. Change course 20 degrees." The reply: "I’m a lighthouse. You make the call."
(Advance Slide 13)
John 8:12, “Jesus spoke….saying, ‘I am the light of the world; he who follows Me shall not walk in the darkness, but shall have the light.’”
Are you walking in the Light today or are you still in darkness?
- Unless you have believed in Jesus as your only Savior…Unless you have repented, decided to leave a life of sin and have chosen to dedicate the remainder of your life to please Him
- Unless you have verbally confessed your belief that Jesus is the Son of the Living God.
- Unless you have been baptized - immersed in water - to wash away your sins…You still are living in darkness and have yet to know the full benefits of His light.
- You make the call.
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