Light of the World

Jn 8:12-14

How would you describe yourself? Would it be the same way others would? In the book of John Jesus describes himself in several different ways. For the next few weeks we are going to look at 6 of those descriptions.

Today I want to deal with Jesus’ comment, “ I am the light of the world.” The surroundings of this lesson is so important to understanding the power of his message. Jesus is in the temple during the feast of the Tabernacles. During the first day of this feast to commemorate the journey out of Egypt, 4 huge candelabras were lit to remind the people of the column of fire that led them so they would not lose their way. Imagine Jesus making this comment as those great flames lit the whole of the court of women. The image of the fire leading them to the promised land in their minds. That needs to be in our minds as we continue with this lesson this morning.

PRAYER

I. Light is the essence of Life

A. We cannot live without light

1. One thing I remember in science class is that life cannot exist without light.

2. Light shines down into the plants, they soak up the rays and through photosynthesis, produce oxygen that other life needs to survive.

3. Even forms of life that don’t need light directly can only survive on food that does need life.

4. We would die without light very quickly.

B. We cannot have life without God

1. He is the very essence of life.

2. Our only hope for survival.

3. Just as we cannot live without the sun in the sky, we cannot live without the Son in our hearts.

II. Lessons from the light of the world

A. The light of Access

1. It is important to realize some of the implications behinds Jesus words especially in the book of John.

a) John opens up his book with this statement.

b) READ John 1:1-5

c) Jesus is the son of God, the only way to God is in Jesus.

d) The only way to the promised land was to follow the flame.

2. Jesus didn’t even need to make these statements because his comment in those surroundings implied that message.

3. People don’t like to hear that today.

a) We want to say, pick your own way to Heaven. Jesus, Buddha, Mohammed. It doesn’t matter.

b) In an interview with Jesse Jackson he stated that there were many paths to Heaven -- he said you can come through Jesus, or Buddha, or Mohammed, or whoever, as long as you were sincere.

c) Jn 14:6 says of Jesus - No one comes to the Father except through me.

d) Jn 10:9 Jesus says, Whoever enters through me will be saved.

e) Jesus is the only way to Heaven.

f) He is the light we must follow.

B. Light illuminates

1. Have you ever gotten up at night and tried to get to the bathroom or another room in the house without turning on some light?

a) It can be a very painful experience on your toes.

b) Yet, just a little night light placed in the right spots helps guide you where you need to go.

2. When we talk about understanding something, we comment, “That shed some light on the subject for me”

a) It helps us to understand what is going on around us.

3. Jesus’ light is the exact same way.

a) He is the light that shed understanding into the Love of God.

b) He is the light that shows the way to Salvation.

c) He is the light that shines in the darkness around him.

d) Jn 12:45 says he who looks on me sees the one who sent me.

4. The light of the world also convicts us of our sins.

a) READ Jn 3:19-21

b) If you ever watched a police movie, there is a scene that is in almost every movie. The bad guys are in the process of doing something illegal in the dark when all of a sudden spotlights flip on and a booming voice says, “don’t move, it’s the police!”

c) That light showed the illegal action for what it was.

d) Sometimes we need God to shine his light on us and make us see ourselves for what we are without him.

e) It could be someone talking to you or a sermon or even a time of prayer when you are just so convicted of your sin and how you are living in darkness rather than the light.

5. The good news is that we don’t have to stay that way.

C. Jesus is the light of Salvation

1. A little girl of about 2 was talking with her mother about Jesus. Like any little girl, she was also learning her stories and fairy tales. Sometimes she confused the two. As her mother asked her if she would open the door of her heart if Jesus was knocking, the little girl replied, “Not by the hair of my chinny chin, chin”

2. Sadly though, there people who respond as she did and are not mixing anything up.

3. Too many today are still walking in darkness.

4. John 12:46 I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.

D. Jesus doesn’t want anyone to be in darkness.

1. That is why he was here.

2. That is why he died and rose again.

3. He has done all he could to give us light to walk in.

4. Just as we couldn’t survive long without physical light, we can’t survive without the spiritual Light.

III. Concl.

A. In the medieval times a noble wanted to do something that would impact his town for generations to come. He decided to build a church. As people came to see the new church they remarked where are the lamps, we can’t see anything. The noble lit a torch and showed them the brackets around the walls of the church. Each one was assigned to a family. Whenever you are here there will be light in that spot. Whenever you are gone, then there will be darkness in that spot.

B. God has given us the light of the world in Jesus.

1. Our task is to light up the world around us.

2. Will you carry your light into you community, family, workplace?

C. One last important message from the surroundings of the temple where Jesus made this statement.

1. At the end of the feast, those huge lights would be extinguished.

2. Jesus said if we walk with him we will NEVER walk in darkness.

3. His light will never be extinguished.

4. Will you come to the light of the world or run and hide from it.