Jesus Is The Light of the World
There are lots of people declaring "team Jesus", but he is looking for a demonstration of faith. Don't just talk the talk.
The disciples saw Jesus do many other miraculous signs in addition to the ones recorded in this book. But these are written so that you may continue to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing in him you will have life by the power of his name.
John 20:30-31 NLT
7 signs in the book of John
7 declarations of "I am"
Jesus' declarations of "I am" are jaw-dropping statements.
Light of the World
Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.”
John 8:12 NLT
This statement is attached to different things that give it context.
When - Festival of Tabernacles
After this, Jesus traveled around Galilee. He wanted to stay out of Judea, where the Jewish leaders were plotting his death. But soon it was time for the Jewish Festival of Shelters,
John 7:1-2 NLT
- during this festival, everyone would have come to Jerusalem with their tents
- they would have stayed in their tents for a week
- commemorating that their ancestors were slaves in Egypt, and lived in tents after being freed
- celebrating God guiding them through the wilderness
Where - Temple Courts
Jesus made these statements while he was teaching in the section of the Temple known as the Treasury. But he was not arrested, because his time had not yet come.
John 8:20 NLT
- this place was known as the court of women
- most amount of people in that space
- lit candelabras there that could be seen from miles away
- symbol of God's pillar of light leading Israel through the desert
God Pitches his Tent With Us
In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. So the Word became human and made his home (tabernacled; pitched his tent) among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.
John 1:1, 14 NLT
When Jesus says I am the light of the world, he is saying that he is God in the flesh.
You cannot be on the fence about Jesus. He doesn't give you that option.
I am the only one who can deliver you from the dark slavery of your sin!
That is why I said that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I Am who I claim to be, you will die in your sins.” Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” “But we are descendants of Abraham,” they said. “We have never been slaves to anyone. What do you mean, ‘You will be set free’?” Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave of sin. A slave is not a permanent member of the family, but a son is part of the family forever. So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free.
John 8:24, 31-36 NLT
- we are not just people who occasionally sin
- we are slaves to sin
Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.”
John 8:12 NLT
Follow - present active participle - continuous following
I am the only one who can lead you into the real freedom of abundant life!
As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man who had been blind from birth. “Rabbi,” his disciples asked him, “why was this man born blind? Was it because of his own sins or his parents’ sins?” “It was not because of his sins or his parents’ sins,” Jesus answered. “This happened so the power of God could be seen in him. We must quickly carry out the tasks assigned us by the one who sent us. The night is coming, and then no one can work. But while I am here in the world, I am the light of the world.”
John 9:1-5 NLT
What does it mean to walk in the light?
- Continually - an everyday decision to follow Jesus
- Consistently - we can't just walk in the light on Sundays
- Confessionally - we must not live in the secret shadows
- Secrets are darkness in which death and destruction grow
- in his mercy God outs our secret sins
- Courageously - our world doesn't need more Christian Facebook posts
- They need Christ followers that would demonstrate following Jesus
- That means you would love differently than those around you