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I Am The Light Of
The World
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| John 8:12 (KJV) "Then
spake Jesus again unto them, saying,<1>
I am the light<2> of the world:
he that followeth<3> me shall
not<4> walk in darkness,<5>
but shall have<6> the light
of life."
<1. lego, Present Active Participle,
kept on saying> John 8:12 (NASB) "Again therefore Jesus spoke to them, saying, "I am the light of the world; he who follows Me shall not walk in the darkness, but shall have the light of life."" There are three things that the Father wants you to see in this text: 1. Jesus Keeps On
Being The Light First,
The Bible tells us that our Lord Jesus went and sat down to teach in the Temple during the Feast of Tabernacles or Booths (John 7:2; 8:1). Let me explain the setting for our Lord's statement, for then you can better see what is going on. Our Lord sat teaching in the Court of Women. As He sat there a huge candelabra, a menorah, was lit, and that series of candles cast light over the whole Court. The Jews would gather early in the morning during the Feast of the Tabernacle and watch the lighting of this candle. The lighting of the Great Menorah, the candle symbolized the provision that God has always made for His people. The menorah stood in the Court of Women, a portion of the Temple that could be reached by any who were Jewish. You passed through the Court of the Gentiles, an outer court accessible to anyone, regardless as to their nationality - but only a Jew - a believer - could enter the Court of Women. WHERE Jesus preached this message was symbolic. He did not preach in the Court of the Gentiles, an outer Court accessible to anyone. Jesus walked through the Court of the Gentiles, a place where even unbelievers could be, and walked through the "Beautiful Gate" (Acts 3:10) to the Court of Women - a place where all could come. Jesus did not walk through the Court of Women to the Court of Israel or the Court of the Priests - restricted places. No, our Lord walked through that Beautiful Gate to the Court of Women, a place where all believers could go, and there He began to teach. As our Lord taught the Great Menorah shined its light over the whole of the Court, and as it shined and all eyes went to it Jesus spoke: "I keep on being the Light of the world". WHEN Jesus preached this message was symbolic. This was the Feast of Tabernacles. Tabernacles was a feast that our Creator ordered Israel to observe every year (2 Chronicles 8:13). Also called Booths, the Feast of the Tabernacles celebrated the fact that God is our only Provider, our only Supplier, our only Sustenance, our only Protector, our only Light. As all in the Court of Women looked up and saw the lighting of the Great Menorah our Jesus said: "I keep on being the Light of the world". I can imagine the gasps of shock that ran through the audience. Is not God the only Light? Did not God alone give Light to man when He said?: Genesis 1:3 (KJV) "... Let there be light: and there was light." Only God makes Light. The Scripture declare that God divided the Light from the Darkness on the day of creation: Genesis 1:4 (KJV) "... God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness." And didn't God alone lead Israel out of bondage in Egypt with a pillar of light?: Exodus 13:21 (KJV) "... the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night:" HOW Jesus preached this sermon was symbolic. The Jews knew that God alone is Light! There is no Light but God: 1 John 1:5 (KJV) "This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all." Yet here is this Rabbi, this Teacher, this carpenter's Son saying that He is the Light. Imagine the shock of the religious crowd! By calling Himself the "Light" Jesus made an exclusive statement. Jesus said I AM the LIGHT. Actually in the original text Jesus said, "I KEEP ON BEING the LIGHT". There was a Great Menorah in the Temple, but Jesus said that He was the True Menorah, the True Light. Men consider themselves wise, and consider themselves able to walk in their own light. Yet Jesus is the only Light, and the only Hope for the world. Jesus Christ keeps on being the Light. Just as there is only one sun in our sky giving light, there is only One Spiritual Light. Everyone has an opinion, a means, a thought, an idea of how best to get to God. The Jews through to work their way to God through the Light of the Law. Just prior to Jesus' declaration that He is the only Light, some men brought a "woman taken in adultery" to Jesus. Again, how appropriate! Jesus taught in the Court of Women, some self righteous men brought a fallen woman to Jesus and tossed her down at His feet, demanding justice. The Bible says: John 8:4 (KJV) "They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, IN THE VERY ACT." If she was taken in adultery, in THE VERY ACT, then where was her companion? It takes two to commit this sin, a violation of God's holy Seventh Commandment. Where was the man, her partner in crime? No mention is made of him either by the woman's accusers, by the woman, or by Jesus. All the participants of this drama knew that these men were not operating in the Light of the Law. They were operating under their own law, a self righteous thing that condemned sin in others but not in themselves. They operated under their own power, and separating themselves from the Light of God's Word and the Light of Jesus they stumbled in darkness. If these men had been walking in the Light, either of God's Word or of God our Savior, they would have presented both parties to this sin for judgment. As the Scripture says: Leviticus 20:10 (KJV) "And the MAN that committeth adultery with another man's wife, even he that committeth adultery with his neighbor's wife, the ADULTERER AND THE ADULTERESS SHALL SURELY BE PUT TO DEATH." Perhaps these same men later would hold a mock trial to condemn and execute Jesus as a criminal. Jesus Christ keeps on being the only Light. Light apart from Jesus is an artificial thing, an unsatisfying thing, and unedifying thing. Second,
Jesus said in John 8:12 he that followeth<3> me shall not<4> walk in darkness,<5> I often like to ask people, "Are you are saved?" Many times I hear the reply, "I hope so". Beloved, a "hope so" salvation is just not good enough, not for you nor for those around you. You need a "know so" salvation. Jesus literally said: "Those who KEEP ON FOLLOWING ME shall not IN ANY WAY walk in darkness." It is true that the world, though it has beautiful things in it, is yet full of darkness. Medicine has made great strides, yet the medicine that cures is also the medicine that takes the life of the child yet in its mother's womb. Science has done wonderful things, but the science that has created things that make our lives easier has also produced toxins in our environment, and has taught our children that man descended from apes. The same technology that brought us the wonder of the Internet and the airplane has also brought us pornography and the destruction of the Twin Towers in New York. Though we are in a new Millennium, the year 2003, we need Jesus more today than we have ever needed Him. No matter how well advanced we are one thing new changes, and that is the human condition and eternity. Our human achievements make our lives easier while at the same time complicating our lives more. The Great Menorah that lit the Court of Women was a beautiful light, but that light went out in time - the Light that we have in Jesus never fades. The Bible says: Psalms 27:1 (KJV) "... The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?" Psalms 18:28 (KJV) "For thou wilt light my candle: the LORD my God will enlighten my darkness." If you keep on following Jesus, trusting Him, loving Him, serving Him, then the trials and tribulations of this life - the darkness that ever looms with black clouds on the storm tossed horizon - seem so much more bearable. While the children of Israel kept their eyes on the pillar of Fire and the Light of God who led them, they were unbeatable. God gave them light to guide them: Exodus 13:21 (KJV) "And the LORD went before them by... a pillar of fire, to give them light ..." And as long as they kept their eyes on Jesus the Light they were safe. As soon as they looked away the armies of Pharaoh looked more terrifying, more agonizing. When Jephthah (Judges 11:30-31, 35) made a foolish vow apart from the Light of God he sacrificed his beloved daughter. Peter took his eyes off of Jesus in the storm (Matthew 14:30) and began to sink. Moses was threatened by the first unbelieving generation of Israel while they camped at Meribah (Numbers 20:6-8). The Lord Jesus told him to SPEAK to the ROCK and water would come out of it. Instead of speaking to the ROCK, Moses decided to take matters into his own hands at Meribah and said to the Israelites: Numbers 20:10 (KJV) "... Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock?" Moses ignored the Light of God, and instead put himself in Christ's place as the Light. Because of this Moses and the first generation of Israel (all except Joshua and Caleb) lost the Promised Land. 1 Corinthians 10:2-5 (KJV) "And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; {3} And did all eat the same spiritual meat; {4} And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and THAT ROCK WAS CHRIST. {5} But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness." What a sad testament! How many, over the years, have SEEN the Light, yet have lost the promised blessing because they did not KEEP ON FOLLOWING the Light that is Christ. Moses died with his eyes looking at yonder Promised Land. He died without entering the fuller blessing of life in Christ. Hear this, Beloved: Moses is not the only believer who has lost the greater blessing of life in Christ because he or she took their eyes off of the Savior. Do not follow their example. Follow Jesus, follow Jesus! Those who keep on following Jesus will not in any wise walk in darkness, but their lives will be filled with precious blessing. Those who step away from Christ often find themselves stumbling in the darkness of this life. John 12:46 (KJV) "I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness." Those who keep on following Jesus form part of the Great Menorah that is the Church of Jesus Christ. Just as the Great Menorah cast light on those in the Court of Women, the Church, Christ's Bride and Precious Possession, is commanded to be a unified Light in this dark world. Matthew 5:14-16 (KJV) "Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. {15} Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. {16} Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." We must continue to walk in the Light of Jesus for our children's sake, for our spouse's sake, for our family's sake, for our city's sake, for our nation's sake. The Church walking together in the Light of Christ is an assembly that cannot be defeated. It is a institution that, in cooperation with God the Holy Spirit, changes and converts the community that it is in. The procedures that Jesus gave us from the beginning work even today, in our modern, space age society. As the Bible says: Hebrews 13:8 (KJV) "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever." Finally,
This is a guarantee of the Scripture. If we have given ourselves to Jesus Christ our Savior, our God, then we know that: he that followeth<3> me shall not<4> walk in darkness,<5> but shall have<6> the light of life.. Or as the original text tells us, he shall KEEP ON HAVING the Light of Life. You can rest assured that, if you have accepted Christ as Savior, you will one day be bathed in the Light of God in Heaven. There is no sun nor moon in Heaven, nor is there a Temple or a Court of Women. God gave John the Revelator a glimpse into that place, and we read of it: Revelation 21:21-27 (KJV) "And the twelve gates were twelve pearls: every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass. {22} And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. {23} And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. {24} And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honor into it. {25} And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there. {26} And they shall bring the glory and honor of the nations into it. {27} And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life." Isaiah 60:19 (KJV) "The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: but the LORD shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory." No sun, no moon, no stars. The glory of God and of the Lamb lights this city, this golden streeted city. You can go there, you know. You will go there, if you but call on Christ as your Savior. Though words can describe that City of God, we cannot quite grasp the wonder and the beauty of that which Christ has promised us. Only family - those who are family by faith in Christ - shall ever enter this city. This is no place for strangers, though you're welcome to come here if you do so through Jesus Christ our Savior. Sweet Beulah Land VERSE 1 I’m kind of homesick
for a country [Chorus] Beulah Land I’m
longing for you
I’m looking out
across the river |
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