WELCOME-Recap: Born Again-Become more Less-Samaritan Woman-Nobleman’s Son-Man at the Pool-Feed 5000-Walk on Water-I am the bread of life-Save Woman Caught in Adultery. John 20:31 But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. TITLE Jesus is teaching in the temple COURTS.
John 8:12-20 When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” 13 The Pharisees challenged him, “Here you are, appearing as your own witness; your testimony is not valid.” 14 Jesus answered, “Even if I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is valid, for I know where I came from and where I am going. But you have no idea where I come from or where I am going. 15 You judge by human standards; I pass judgment on no one. 16 But if I do judge, my decisions are true, because I am not alone. I stand with the Father, who sent me. 17 In your own Law it is written that the testimony of two witnesses is true. 18 I am one who testifies for myself; my other witness is the Father, who sent me.” 19 Then they asked him, “Where is your father?” “You do not know me or my Father,” Jesus replied. “If you knew me, you would know my Father also.” 20 He spoke these words while teaching in the temple courts near the place where the offerings were put. Yet no one seized him, because his hour had not yet come.
Vs12 “I am the light of the world. Whoever FOLLOWS me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
I’ve been in the darkness, lived in the darkness. Today I understand the darkness. In the darkness (which is represented by the world and everything in it) people just wander around lost without really even knowing it, day after day they seek to fulfil their own desires, speak their own truths, and live by their own made up morals and values.
They wander around not even understanding they do it with no real purpose, and with no real reward. Just going were the winds of their own desires lead them. Incapable of experiencing real joy, real peace, and real love.
But when Jesus enters the picture, everything changes. His light shines so brightly that He guides us, step by step, leading us out of the world and towards truth and righteousness.
But the light of Jesus does so much more than just light our path. It also reveals to us our true selves. Because the light of Jesus shines into the darkest corners of our hearts, revealing our deepest sins, revealing to us we are flawed and broken.
The light of Jesus exposes our sin, not to condemn us, but to lead us to repentance which brings HEALING, RESTORATION and TRANSFORMATION.
Yet, that same light at the same time reveals to us how deeply loved we are by God.
When we walk In the light of Jesus, we also see the world around us in a new way. Because it enables us to see the image of God in every person, and the possibilities of the Kingdom of God in every situation.
So, when Jesus declares Himself to be the Light of the World. It means that Jesus is our salvation, the source of all truth, our guide in our spiritual journey, and that He is the only light that we can follow that leads the way to eternal life.
Matthew 5:14-15 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
When we understand we are the light of the world, we’ll live a life that reflects Jesus’s love and compassion. We’ll show kindness to others, speak the truth to others, forgive those who wrong us, and help those in need, that they may see our good deeds and glorify our Father in heaven. (Opportunity to glorify God)
(speaking to Christians) Ephesians 5:8-14 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) 10 and find out what pleases the Lord. 11 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. 12 It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. 13 But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. 14 This is why it is said: “Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” (LIGHT)
These Pharisees are a prime example of this darkness. They challenge Jesus, Deny Jesus, questioning His authority and His testimony. Their hearts are hardened, their minds closed off to the truth of Jesus’ words. They are so entrenched in their own beliefs and traditions that they fail to see the Light standing right before them.
John 8:21-22 Once more Jesus said to them, “I am going away, and you will look for me, and you will die in your sin. Where I go, you cannot come.” 22 This made the Jews ask, “Will he kill himself? Is that why he says, ‘Where I go, you cannot come’?” Jesus knew He was going to heaven. But because of their hatred and rejection of Him, Jesus says “Where I go, you cannot come.” If we follow Jesus here on earth, we will follow Jesus to heaven. But if we have no desire to follow Him on earth, what would make us think we would follow Him to heaven?
Will He kill Himself? This was another insult against Jesus. The Jews of Jesus’ time believed that the lowest levels of Hades were for those who committed suicide. Here the Pharisees tried to twist Jesus’ words to imply that He will commit suicide and therefore be damned.
John 8:23-30 But he continued, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. 24 I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am he, you will indeed die in your sins.” 25 “Who are you?” they asked. “Just what I have been telling you from the beginning,” Jesus replied.
26 “I have much to say in judgment of you. But he who sent me is trustworthy, and what I have heard from him I tell the world.” 27 They did not understand that he was telling them about his Father. 28 So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me. 29 The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him.” 30 Even as he spoke, many believed in him. (Not return void)
Vs24 I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am he, you will indeed die in your sins.” These men were religious leaders, yet they were from below and lived in darkness.
Their darkness would remain because they rejected (didn’t believe) Jesus was the light of and for the world that came from the Father. Jesus here gives them a serious warning; the day of grace would not last forever. Death would make their sinful darkness permanent.
Romans 5:12 Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned—
Psalms 51:5 Surely, I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.
All people are born in sin, and if we choose to hold on to our sin, and don’t deal with it, we to will die in our sins. Since all sin must be dealt with, those who die in their sins will have to pay for their sins in hell. The fire is not quenched-Weeping and gnashing of teeth-Worm does not die. Hell represents an eternal separation from God.
But if we have our sins dealt with now, on this side of death, by trusting in who Jesus is and what He did to save us, we can avoid dying in our sins. Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Jesus is declaring very plainly the truth to these people and to us, and what is that truth? If you don’t believe in Him you’re going to die in your sins. But God has made provision for the forgiveness of our sins, and that provision (the only provision) is believing in Jesus Christ.
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