Maryland

Brent Alderman : 240.818.3053 THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD [email protected] (John 8:12-30)

John 8:12-30 - 12 Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “ AN ILLUMINATING PRESENCE the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” 13 So the Once again, as we have seen him do before, Jesus used said to him, “You are bearing witness about the Feast of the Tabernacles (which the Jews had just yourself; your testimony is not true.” 14 Jesus observed) to give his hearers an object lesson. During answered, “Even if I do bear witness about myself, my the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot) there was a great testimony is true, for I know where I came from ceremony called the "Illumination of the Temple," and where I am going, but you do not know where I come which involved the ritual lighting of four golden oil-fed from or where I am going. 15 You judge according to the lamps in the Court of Women. These lamps were huge flesh; I judge no one. 16 Yet even if I do judge, my menorahs/candelabras (seventy-five feet high) lighted judgment is true, for it is not I alone who judge, but I and in the Temple at night to remind the people of the pillar the Father who sent me. 17 In your Law it is written that of fire that had guided Israel in their wilderness the testimony of two people is true. 18 I am the one who journey. All night long the light shone their brilliance, it bears witness about myself, and the Father who sent me is said, illuminating the entire city. bears witness about me.” 19 They said to him therefore, “Where is your Father?” Jesus answered, “You know All through the Scriptures, from Old Testament neither me nor my Father. If you knew me, you would prophecies to the final scenes in heaven, Jesus is know my Father also.” 20 These words he spoke in the associated with light. treasury, as he taught in the temple; but no one arrested him, because his hour had not yet come. 21 So he said to Isaiah 9:2 – The people walking in darkness have seen a them again, “I am going away, and you will seek me, great light; on those living in the end of the shadow of and you will die in your sin. Where I am going, you death a light has dawned. cannot come.” 22 So the Jews said, “Will he kill himself, since he says, ‘Where I am going, you cannot Revelation 21:23 - The [New ] does not need come’?” 23 He said to them, “You are from below; I am the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God from above. You are of this world; I am not of this gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. world. 24 I told you that you would die in your sins, for unless you believe that I am he you will die in your Just as he had used the traditions at the Pool of Siloam sins.” 25 So they said to him, “Who are you?” Jesus said to during the feast to illustrate the spring of living water them, “Just what I have been telling you from the the Spirit would provide for the believer, Jesus takes a beginning. 26 I have much to say about you and much to very visible tradition from the feast to show the crowd judge, but he who sent me is true, and I declare to the that he gives true light to show the way to a world in world what I have heard from him.” 27 They did not darkness. understand that he had been speaking to them about the Father. 28 So Jesus said to them, “When you have lifted up AN IRREFUTABLE WITNESS the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he, and that I do nothing on my own authority, but speak just as Jesus’ claim to be the Messiah again was questioned by the Father taught me. 29 And he who sent me is with the Pharisees who didn’t believe his message because me. He has not left me alone, for I always do the things no other witness authenticated it. We’ve actually seen that are pleasing to him.” 30 As he was saying these several witnesses through this book: , things, many believed in him.

Jesus: The Light of the World the twelve disciples, the Samaritan woman, and Jesus’ Remember Jesus said the same thing to miracles just to mention a few. But Jesus turned when they met during the night back in chapter three. around the unbelief of these men by appealing to the witness of himself and the Father. :18 - Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe in him is condemned But Jesus had just stated that he was the Light of the already because he has not believed in the name of the World. The thing about light is, when it is present . everyone knows it. Light must bear witness of itself. By shining, it proves its reality. It is self-evident to any THE CHRISTIAN DIES “IN THE LORD” BECAUSE HE person who is not blind. Its very existence is its own LIVES “IN THE LORD”, BUT THE UNBELIEVER DIES proof. IN HIS SINS BECAUSE HE LIVES IN HIS SINS. WE EITHER WALK IN THE LIGHT AND HAVE ETERNAL THE INCOMPARABLE FATHER LIFE, OR WE WALK IN DARKNESS AND EXPERIENCE ETERNAL DEATH. But Jesus also claimed his Father as a witness to his message. In Jewish law, at least two witnesses were Warren Wiersbe, The Exposition Commentary needed to establish proof, so Jesus gave them two witnesses. His words in this text sound very similar to what he said in the previous chapter. AN IMPERATIVE CLAIM

John 7:28, 29 - Then Jesus, still teaching in the temple Only Jesus could make this final statement. The courts cried out, “Yes, you know me, and you know Pharisees searched for understanding of who he was where I am from. I am not here on my own, but he who and who he was claiming to be (with this unknown sent me is true. You do not know him, but I know him, “Father”) so Jesus explained why they couldn’t grasp because I am from him and he sent me.” his words. He had a unique origin. He was from above. All the Pharisees knew was their existence in this The main problem with the Father being a witness is world, but there is another world beyond this one. that the Pharisees had no idea what Jesus was talking Unless someone can understand that all people live for about. Their eyes had been so blinded, they couldn’t eternity, they won’t be able to make their plan for what understand the light that they were looking at. While their final destination will be. For the believer in they were trying to put it all together, Jesus explained , this earth is not our primary home. why it was so important to know who the Father is. Philippians 3:20 - But our citizenship is in heaven, and AN IMMENSE WARNING from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.

The warning Jesus gave in verses 21-24 weren’t just The truth that Jesus spoke penetrated the hearts of for the Pharisees, but for all people who have ever some of those hearing him and they believed, which been born. Unless you believe and follow him, you will again proved that the only way the darkened eyes of die in your sins. But if you accept his message, your sinners can see the light is if the Father draws them. sins are paid for by his work on the cross. This is the crux of the gospel. No matter what level one ascends to in this earthly life, the question will not be how prestigious you were. How much money did you make? BIBLE STUDY How nice were you to your fellow man? The only Legislators and Staff (During Session) Thursdays, 8:00 a.m. question will be, what decision did you make regarding (ZOOM) Jesus and his claim to be the only way to the Father?