Light in the Darkness John 8:12-20

Greetings to all of you! Thank you for joining us once again for our Parkside Church online worship service. This is the final week in a series of messages titled Waymaker. We’ve been looking at the biblical themes found in the chorus of popular worship song by the same title. The God we love, worship and serve is a Waymaker and a Miracle Worker. He’s a Promise Keeper - and today we’re going to look at Jesus who is the light in the darkness of this world.

Years ago while driving from Michigan to California, my family and I took a tour of the Meramec Caverns in Stanton, Missouri – just a few miles west of St. Louis. It’s a fascinating place. Back in the day, the outlaw Jesse James and his gang used the Meramec Caverns as a hideout. The caverns were also used as a stop in the historic Underground Railroad. The temperature inside the cavern is a constant 58 degrees Fahrenheit and it’s filled with stunning rock and crystal formations. But the one unforgettable part of our tour was when our guide had shut off in the section of the cavern we were in. It was the first time I’ve experienced what it’s like to be in total darkness. The darkness was so enveloping, I literally couldn’t see my hand in front of my face. I can hardly imagine how frightening it would be to be lost in total darkness in a place like that.

But there’s something that’s even more disconcerting – and that is to be lost in spiritual darkness. All of us have experienced the darkness of a life lived without God. In John chapter 3, Jesus brought forth a stinging indictment against the unbelieving world when He said: This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. But thankfully – through the great mercy and grace of God – as Peter says in his first letter, Jesus has called us out of darkness into His marvelous light.

In the gospel of John, Jesus shares a series of seven “I Am” statements. In these “I Am” statements, Jesus reveals His identity to us. Jesus wants us to know who He is and what He came to this earth to do. Interestingly, when Jesus identified Himself in this gospel, He seldom used names or titles. He instead used metaphors. He said, “I am the Bread of Life. I am the Good Shepherd. I am the Resurrection and the Life. I am the Door to 2 the sheepfold. I am the Vine.” In using these metaphors, Jesus is saying that all of us have needs that only He can meet. I believe that all of us long to experience a life of fulfillment that only Jesus can offer.

Our text today is found in John chapter 8. I’d like to take a moment to put this chapter into context. In chapters 6-8, John shows us how Jesus reenacted the Exodus event. Let me enlarge on this. In chapter 6, Jesus calls Himself the Bread of Life. In this, He’s saying that He’s the manna in the wilderness who provides for the hunger of His people. In chapter 7, Jesus is the water from the rock in the wilderness - providing refreshment for the spiritual thirst of His people. Here in chapter 8, Jesus declares that He is the light of the world. He’s the pillar of fire in the wilderness - providing light, protection and guidance for His people. In these chapters - John is showing us that Jesus is our all sufficient Savior – the One who provides for our every need as we travel through the barren wilderness of this world on our way to the land of promise.

In John chapter 8, Jesus is in Jerusalem for the Feast of Tabernacles. The Feast of Tabernacles was an eight-day celebration that commemorated the wilderness wandering of the Children of Israel – in particular, how God was faithful to meet all of their needs along the way. During this feast, the religious leaders performed two ceremonies. In the first ceremony, which is seen in chapter 7, a priest would go to the Pool of Siloam in the city of Jerusalem. He would draw water out of the pool with a golden pitcher and return to the Temple. The priest would pour the water out at the base of the altar. This ceremony commemorated God’s provision of water from the rock that sustained Israel in the wilderness. Now, Jesus was in the Temple when this ceremony was performed – and John tells us what Jesus said when the water was poured out: Anyone who is thirsty may come to me! Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! John says that the people were completely shocked when Jesus made that declaration.

The religious leaders performed a second ceremony at the Feast of Tabernacles. We see it here in chapter 8. In the Temple court, there were four giant candelabras – each candelabra had four golden bowls that were filled with oil and were then lit. The light emanating from those candelabras not only illuminated the Temple court – the light could be seen throughout the city of Jerusalem at night. This ceremony commemorated the fact that 3 the Lord had been a pillar of fire by night to protect Israel in the wilderness. The light served as a reminder that God will never leave His people alone in the darkness.

As Jesus stood in the glow of those massive candles in the Temple court – He made another shocking declaration. We see it in verse 12: 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. No person standing within earshot of Jesus that day would have misconstrued what He was claiming. Jesus was announcing that He is God – the One who revealed Himself to Moses and the children of Israel as the “I Am” – the One who brings light into the world.

Why were the religious leaders and all of the people shocked when they heard Jesus say this? First, it was because Jesus was making:

1. An exclusive claim. Jesus didn’t say He is “a” light. Jesus didn’t say that He is “one” light among many. He didn’t say, “I can show you the light of the world.” Jesus made a radical, exclusive claim, “I am the light…”

Make no mistake, this claim would not have been lost on the people who heard Jesus say this. The Jews knew their Scriptures. And they certainly knew that throughout the Old Testament the metaphor of light was used exclusively of God. For instance, Psalm 27:1 proclaims: “The Lord is my light and my salvation.” We find this prophecy of the Messiah in Isaiah 9:2: “The people who walk in darkness will see a great light. For those who live in a land of deep darkness, a light will shine.” In Isaiah 42:6 and 49:6, God said that the coming Messiah will be “…a light to the nations.” In Isaiah 60:19 God says to His people, “No longer will you have the sun for light by day, nor for brightness will the moon give you light; but you will have the Lord for an everlasting light.”

This biblical motif of light is carried forward into the New Testament. John writes this in the prologue of this gospel: The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it. The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 1 John 1:5 tells us: God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. What 4 does all of this mean? Jesus’ claim to be the light of the world is a pronouncement that He is God incarnate!

When we consider the famous religious teachers of days gone by – who is equal to Jesus? Not Muhammad. In The Qur’an, Muhammad writes, “Surely I am no more than a human apostle.” In fact, in The Qu’ran - Muhammad asks for forgiveness from Allah—and is rebuked by Allah several times.

Buddha never claimed to be God. He claimed to be enlightened - one who could show others how to escape the darkness of this world and find eternal release from suffering in a state of nonexistence called “nirvana.” Buddha’s followers tried to turn him into a god – but Buddha made no attempt to conceal his human weaknesses.

Confucius said these words, “As to being a Divine Sage or even a good man far be it for me to make any such claim.” Lao-tse the founder of Taoism once wrote, “I am empty and O so ignorant! I am dull and confused!” Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism admitted his struggle to achieve enlightenment and often lamented over his own spiritual darkness. The Guru wrote these words, “I have become perplexed in my search. In the darkness I find no way. Devoted to pride, I weep in sorrow. How shall deliverance be obtained?”

An important question to consider is: Who did Jesus think He was? If Jesus didn’t think He was God - that’s the end of the discussion. Some say, “Jesus never actually claimed to be God.” But if you carefully examine everything Jesus claimed and everything He taught – there’s absolutely no question He claimed to be God incarnate.

Jesus commanded His disciples to love Him in the same way they love God. Jesus said that to know Him is to know God. To receive Him is to receive God. To believe in Him is to believe in God. To see Him is to see God. To deny Him is to deny God. To hate Him is to hate God. Jesus claimed He could forgive sins—something only God can do. He promised He would give eternal life to all who believe in Him. Who besides God can give eternal life to people who die?

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And Jesus also said a day is coming when all of us will stand before Him in judgment – and there will be a separation of sheep and goats – obviously alluding to those who believed in Him and followed Him and those who didn’t. That’s an astonishing claim. Jesus is the only religious leader who had the audacity to say things like this.

I have a friend on Facebook who is fond of posting pictures of his search for spiritual enlightenment. He has posted several pictures of a shrine of Buddha that he’s made in his home. Buddha sits on a table surrounded by candles and incense. He posted another picture of the books he’s read that were authored by the late Dr. Wayne Dyer – who wrote prolifically about unlocking the secrets of human potential. In another post, he shows a photograph he took of a book authored by a popular TV evangelist. He says that he values religious synergy. But of all the pictures and comments he’s posted on his Facebook profile – there’s absolutely no mention of Jesus Christ.

Jesus didn’t come to impart the secrets of human potential to us. He didn’t come to show us how to become prosperous and successful. He never said that happiness and enlightenment is found in the buffet line of different religious ideas – just take a bit of the things that you find palatable. Jesus came to give us Himself! He is the way. He is the truth. He is the life. He is the light. All of these are exclusive claims that Jesus made!

When Jesus said, “I am the light of the world….” He was not only making an exclusive claim. He was also making an:

2. An inclusive claim. What do I mean? Jesus isn’t the light for a special class of privileged and enlightened people. He said: “I am the light of the world….” He’s the light for everyone! John wrote in chapter 3: For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son.

I’m sure you’re well aware that we live today in a culture that takes umbrage at the exclusive claims of Christ and Christianity. People say, “Where do you get off saying that Jesus is the only way to God? What about other religions? Don’t all religious roads ultimately lead to God?” The late Dr. Billy Graham’s daughter, Anne Graham Lotz once appeared on Larry King 6

Live. Larry King asked her, “Do you know how angry people get when that Jesus is the only way to heaven?” Anne said, “Jesus isn’t trying to keep people out of heaven. He died so that everyone could have salvation!” Larry King was left speechless.

When Jesus said, “For God so loved the world…” he wasn’t talking about planet earth. He was talking about people who don’t believe in God or follow God. When Jesus that God so loved the world - it means God loves people who don't love Him back. God loves people who avoid Him, ignore Him, or don't care about Him or His commands.

God loves men and women, boys and girls. He loves the poor and He loves the rich. God loves the elderly and the newborn children cradled in their mother’s arms. God loves the strong and healthy - and He loves the weak and the broken. God loves the educated - and he loves the illiterate. He loves people from every nation and ethnicity. God loves the self-disciplined - and He loves the addict. God loves movers and shakers - and He loves the powerless and oppressed. And God loves you – no matter who you are – and no matter what you’ve done.

Some of you remember a man by the name of Lee Atwater. Atwater was the Chairman of the Republican National Committee. He was a ruthless, win-at-all costs politician. Atwater was the political strategist who dreamed up the Willie Horton ad that sank the presidential candidacy of Michael Dukakis. Soon after the election of George H.W. Bush, Atwater was offered the position of his choice in the new administration. One morning at a fundraising breakfast for Senator Phil Gramm, Atwater collapsed while delivering a speech to prominent donors. Weeks earlier, he had passed a physical exam with flying colors – but subsequent tests revealed that Atwater had an inoperable malignant brain tumor. At first, he struggled to defy the diagnosis. He consulted with the best doctors who came up with an experimental treatment plan. But nothing worked. Atwater prided himself for being invincible. One day while in a meeting, he shouted out in frustration, “I’m Lee Atwater and I will not die!”

But of course all of us are mortal. Faced with this non-negotiable truth, Atwater committed his life to Jesus Christ and began to change. Before his death, he agreed to sit for an interview with a reporter from Life Magazine. 7

Atwater said these words: “My illness helped me to see that what was missing in society is what was missing in me: a little heart, a lot of brotherhood. The '80s were about acquiring - acquiring wealth, power and prestige. I know. I acquired more wealth, power, and prestige than most. But you can acquire all you want and still feel empty. What power wouldn't I trade for a little more time with my family? What price wouldn't I pay for an evening with friends? It took a deadly illness to put me eye to eye with that truth, but it is a truth that the country, caught up in its ruthless ambition and moral decay, can learn on my dime. I don't know who will lead us through the '90s, but I hope they will speak to this spiritual vacuum at the heart of American society, this tumor of the soul.”

Let’s tie this exclusive and inclusive claim of Christ together. Why is Jesus the only way? It’s because the Bible says all of us are sinners and stand guilty before God. We’re powerless to save ourselves. Our sin problem needed to be dealt with – and that’s why Christ died on the cross and rose from the dead. Peter declared in Acts chapter 4: Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.

On April 30, 1975, the City of Saigon, South Vietnam was overtaken by the North Vietnamese Army. The evacuation of Saigon culminated in an operation called Operation Frequent Wind – the largest helicopter evacuation in history. Those who weren’t evacuated and were loyal to the government of South Vietnam were either killed or sent to what the North Vietnamese called “Re-education Camps.” Some of you can remember those disturbing images of people packed in helicopters – taking off from the rooftop of the American Embassy. With communist forces surrounding the city – there was only one way out that day.

As the light of the world, Jesus is the way out of the darkness of sin and unbelief. He promised that everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but will have eternal life.

In bringing this series to a close, I’ll conclude with this thought: One of the unsettling aspects of living in this time of a global pandemic is that the future is unknown. All of us wonder: How much longer will we have to live under 8 lockdown? When will we be able to gather and worship together again as a church family? Will life be the same as it was before? We don’t know the answer to these and other pressing questions.

What we do know is what was expressed in the song this sermon series is based upon. The present day may seem dark – and the future, in many ways, is unknown - but Jesus is with us. He’s moving in our midst. He’s touching, mending and healing hearts. He’s turning lives around.

I want to invite you today to open your heart to Jesus in faith. Follow Him and He will light your path. Follow Him and you will never walk in darkness.