I am the Light of the World    

The Light of the World

John 8:12-30  Three true declarations based on the fact that Jesus is The Light of the world

The meaning of His statement is that He, Jesus, is as the Father is – absolutely Holy!

Jesus testified to His holiness and John the Apostle, not only recorded Jesus words, but also testified from his own knowledge of Jesus that He is the Light – He is Pure – He is Holy!

1 John 1:5  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.

I.  The Revelation of Jesus’ holiness.

John 8:12-30  Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. The Pharisees therefore said unto him, Thou bearest record of thyself; thy record is not true. Jesus answered and said unto them, Though I bear record of myself, yet my record is true: for I know whence I came, and whither I go; but ye cannot tell whence  come, and whither I go. Ye judge after the flesh; I judge no man. And yet if I judge, my judgment is true: for I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent me. It is also written in your law, that the testimony of two men is true. I am one that bear witness of myself, and the Father that sent me beareth witness of me. Then said they unto him, Where is thy Father? Jesus answered, Ye neither know me, nor my Father: if ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also. These words spake Jesus in the treasury, as he taught in the temple: and no man laid hands on him; for his hour was not yet come.

Refer also to Jesus’ statement recorded in –

John 12:46  I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.

The meaning of being Light –

1 John 1:5-7  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. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

II.  The Reason for the Revelation.

   A.  To Convict men of sin.

John 1:5-7  And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.

   B.  To Convince men of the truth. 

2 Corinthians 4:4-6  In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

  C.  To Convert men from death to life.      Again –

John 12:46  I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.

Acts 26:18  To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.

  D.  To Conduct the believers in the way of truth.

Ephesians 5:8-10  For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.

1 John 1:6  If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:

III.  The rejection of the Revelation.

Men choose to sin and hide the sin in the surrounding darkness.

John 3:19  And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

They justified their pride and their lust,  Note –

  A.  The Arrogance in their reply – “The Pharisees therefore said unto him, Thou bearest record of thyself; thy record is not true.”  (They claim that they are not blind!)

“Then said they unto him, Where is thy Father?”   (They have Abraham!)

  B.  The Attitude of those in darkness –

John 12:32-36  And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. This he said, signifying what death he should die. The people answered him, We have heard out of the law that Christ abideth for ever: and how sayest thou, The Son of man must be lifted up? who is this Son of man?

Even though they replied to the Lord in pride and arrogance, He continued to care for their souls and warned them –

Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth. While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light.

Jesus would finally leave them to make their own decisions, even though –

  C.  The Aftermath of walking in darkness is destruction.

Matthew 15:14  Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.

Thoughts to consider –

Then said Jesus again unto them, I go my way, and ye shall seek me, and shall die in your sins: whither I go, ye cannot come. Then said the Jews, Will he kill himself? because he saith, Whither I go, ye cannot come. And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world. I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins. Then said they unto him, Who art thou?

They insisted on protecting their Pride of life  – they were still walking in darkness, the blind leading the blind.

Notice their way of thinking – why does He think that He can go where they cannot go?  He thinks that He is our Judge and is better than us!

“Then said the Jews, Will he kill himself? because he saith, Whither I go, ye cannot come.”

“Then said they unto him, Who art thou?”

The Truth –  Sent to bear witness of the Truth

And Jesus saith unto them, Even the same that I said unto you from the beginning. I have many things to say and to judge of you: but he that sent me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I have heard of him. They understood not that he spake to them of the Father. Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things. And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.  As he spake these words, many believed on him.

He is the Light of the World which they will lift up and afterward, many will believe on Him. 

IV.  The Choice you will make today

  A.  Follow the world?  “…will ye also go away…?”   Remain  blind or

  B.  Follow the Lord.  “…to whom shall we go?  Thou hast the words of

        eternal life…”