I AM the Light of the World

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I AM the Light of the World

Sermon by  Thomas Thornhill Jr

Passage: John 9:5


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TEACHINGS OF Jesus (47)

The “I AM” Sayings of Jesus (3)

 

Today we continuing examining the “I AM” statements of Jesus as found in John.  We are going to notice 8 of them – 2 so far (Before Abraham was, I AM – His eternal deity, and I AM the bread of life – He sustains us).  Today we want to address His saying, “I AM the Light of the World.

  1. Background
    1. This is actually a statement Jesus used more than once. We find it in John 8:12 where John first records Jesus declaring, “I AM the light of the world.”  We addressed this 2 weeks ago dealing with Abraham & I AM.  The conversation He had which led to some of the Jews taking up stones to stone Him.
    2. John 9:1-2 records Jesus passing by a man who was born blind. His disciples asked Him who sinned, his parents or him.
      1. 3-4 – Jesus replies “neither”, but in him (the blind man) the works of God would be revealed. Jesus was about to perform another miracle – He heals a man born blind. Something that was unheard of.
      2. Vs. 5, “As long as I am in the world, I AM the light of the world” Jesus would say.
      3. 6-7 – Jesus spits on the ground and instructs him to go wash in the pool of Siloam.   He complied and came back seeing (for the first time).
      4. 8-12 – His neighbors recognize him and want to know how his eyes were opened. He replied, “A Man called Jesus made clay, anointed my eyes and told me to wash in the pool of Siloam.”
      5. 13 –16 He is then brought to the Pharisees, who were upset because it happened on the Sabbath and immediately started attacking Jesus as being not from God.
      6. 16 – But there was division among the people because of what Jesus did.
      7. 17-34 – This leads to a conversation between the formerly blind man and the Pharisees, in which his belief grows stronger as he is confronted. Finally, he is cast out (probably of the synagogue or temple).
      8. 35-38 – Jesus hears about this and finds him and reveals Himself to him. The man worships Jesus.
      9. 39 – And Jesus said, “For judgment I have come into this world, that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may be made blind.”
      10. 40-41 – Again, Jesus is challenged by the Pharisees who perceived He was talking about them and asked, “Are we blind also?” Jesus replied that they were in sin because they claimed to see.  The point being, they had the ability to understand and CHOSE to reject the truth.  They had no excuse (cf. John 15:22-24).
      11. This is one of the accounts in John where He boldly declares He is the light of the world.
  2. How is Jesus the Light of the World?
    1. In essence this means Jesus reveals to us what we need to escape the darkness of this world.
    2. John 12:46 notes, I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness.
    3. Jesus as light in the gospel of John – To help us understand what it means to say Jesus is the light of the world, let us notice some references in John to Jesus as light.
      1. John 1:4-5, In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.
        This verse joins together light and life – NOTE: Light is a quality we need to live – both physically and spiritually.  Of course, here the application is spiritual and deal with our eternal destiny.
      2. John 1:9, this verse introduces us to Jesus as the light that we all need. That is how John introduces Jesus.
      3. John 3:19-21 – contrasts light and darkness.
        1. Light is the opposite or antithesis of darkness. Consider this: YOU cannot have both light and darkness at the same time.  In a completely dark place, if you introduce light, depending on the power the light, darkness is dispelled.  AND the more light you introduce, the greater the dispelling.
          Which is more powerful? Light or darkness?  Clearly it is light.  You CANNOT introduce darkness to a lit room and remove the light.  In fact, that helps us define darkness as THE ABSENCE OF LIGHT.
        2. This verse comes at the conclusion of the conversation Jesus has with Nicodemus.
        3. Jesus notes “the condemnation” (what leads to being condemned) – He came into the world, but men loved darkness rather than light.
        4. Why? Because their deeds were evil (and they had no intention of repenting).
        5. They hate the light, because it exposes their evil (darkness).  This is just as true today as it was back then.
        6. He who does and loves the truth WILL come to the light. He WANTS to know where he is and what he needs to do.
      4. John 8:12, a key verse addressing this subject and the one that many appeal to first when talking about Jesus as the light of the world. Consider light from this verse
        1. Jesus notes that if we follow His light, we will NOT be in darkness. Again, you CANNOT have light and darkness at the same time.
        2. He is the light of life – as already noted above.  Light and life go together. On another occasion, John 5:39-40 notes, You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.
          John 10:10, He noted that He came so we have life more abundantly.
      5. John 12:35-36, 46 – having entered Jerusalem the week leading up to His death, Jesus noted, “A little while longer the light is with you. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you; he who walks in darkness does not know where he is going. While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.” Then in vs. 46 He declared again, I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness.  Again we a challenge to walk in light, lest you be overcome by darkness.
    4. Consider some of the qualities of light
      1. Light reveals – it lets us see what is around us. This is the primary quality of Jesus as the light of the world.  He reveals to us all that we need (cf. 2 Peter 1:3) – we have all things that pertain to life and godliness
        1. Light reveals what is true – the light of God’s word shows us CLEARLY what we need to do. Consider the
          Jesus lights the path that leads to life.
        2. Light exposes what is dangerous so that it can be avoided. Ephesians 5:11-13
        3. Light gives safety – we have security lights for safety reasons.
        4. Life gives life – we need light to live. It has healing properties.  NOTE: One of the concerns doctors have had with this pandemic is a vitamin D deficiency, which exists because people are not being exposed to sun light.  The point: Light is good for our health.
        5. Light usually gives warmth – think of the sun and fire. Not only do they produce light, they also produce warmth.
        6. Light can attract others – when something or someone is in a dark place, they are often attracted to a light source
        7. ALL of these qualities have spiritual application. Time will not permit the development of each of them though.
  3. What can we learn from this?
    1. We need Him to reveal to us the way out of darkness
      1. Be reminded of John 8:12, He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness but have the light of life.
      2. Psalm 119:105, Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.
    2. We need to let His light expose our weaknesses, and show us the way out of it.
      1. Again John 3:21 notes that he who does the truth comes to the light that he deeds may be clearly seen.  There are 2 points here:
      2. The godly WANTS to know what he is doing wrong so that he can work to make the correction. Psalm 119:11, Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You.
      3. He is not afraid or ashamed that other see the works he is doing. Romans 1:16, 2 Timothy 1:12 – Paul was not ashamed because, “I know whom I have believed…”
    3. We need to follow Him –
      1. John 8:12 – Jesus said, “He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness…
      2. Become a disciple of Jesus. When you think about what a disciple is, you understand what it means to follow Jesus. 1 John 1:5-7 – we are to walk in the light, even as He is in the light.
    4. We need to reflect that light in our lives
      1. Ultimately, what our Lord wants us to do is to take His light within us and reflect it to the world.
      2. Matthew 5:14-16 – He taught this clearly. You do not put your light under a basket (hide it), but on a lampstand.
        In the context of John 8:12, some sources believe this was still the occasion of Jesus coming to Jerusalem for the feast of tabernacles (John 7:1-2), either during or shortly thereafter.  It is certainly possible when you consider how Jesus declared Himself the light of the world.
        During that feast, especially the first night, it is said that in the court of women, 4 larger and powerful candlestick-torches were lit.  They were so powerful, that they could be seen throughout the city of Jerusalem.[1]
      3. We live in a dark world – Ephesians 4:17-19. This world DESPERATELY needs to see the light of the world reflected in us.  Consider Philippians 2:15-16 – we shine as lights in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation.

And thus we see Jesus as the light of the world.  He gives us the light so that we can see our way to heaven.  How has His light influenced you?  AND are you using that light to influence others?  Think about it.

[1] Bryant, Beauford H., and Mark S. Krause. John. Joplin, MO: College Press Pub. Co., 1998. Print. The College Press NIV Commentary.  See comments on John 8:12.

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