JESUS IS THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD

John 8:1-12

Key verse 12

“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.”

Introduction

On April 14th, we will be holding our Spring Bible Conference. The main theme of the conference, “Jesus is the Light of the world” was suggested by some of our young disciples. May the Lord richly bless this retreat so that many newcomers may personally see Jesus as the Light of this world. Isaiah 9:2 reads, “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.” Indeed, the whole world had been waiting for Jesus to enter into history as the light of the world. His light shines upon all mankind. In today’s passage Jesus boldly declares, “I am the light of the world.” Jesus also promises that those who follow him will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life. What a wonderful promise! May God bless us to accept Jesus’ word and have the true light in our hearts!

1. Read verses 1-2. Where did Jesus spend the night? (7:53, Lk 22:39) When did Jesus return to the temple courts and what did He do?

1-1, Read verses 1-2.

but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.

2 At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them.

1-2, Where did Jesus spend the night? (7:53, Luke 22:39)

but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.

• While others went home for some rest, Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. The Mount of Olives was Jesus’ common place of prayer.

Luke 21:37 reads,

“Each day Jesus was teaching at the temple, and each evening he went out to spend the night on the hill called the Mount of Olives...”

* The Mount of Olives was also the site of the Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus agonized in prayer before his arrest.

* Jesus kept in close relationship with His Father in Heaven through prayer. During the night he spent time praying before His Father in Heaven. In this way, through his habit of prayer, he never lost his direction and followed God’s will to the end. He set a good example in being united with His Father, becoming one with Him. In doing so, he shed His light in a dark world.

Background

• Among 3 Jewish festivals (Passover, Feast of Weeks, Festival of Tabernacle), it was the last and greatest day of the festival of Tabernacle.

Deuteronomy 16:16 reads,

“Three times a year all your men must appear before the Lord your God at the place he will choose: at the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the Festival of Weeks and the Festival of Tabernacles. No one should appear before the Lord empty-handed: 17 Each of you must bring a gift in proportion to the way the Lord your God has blessed you.”

“But when the Jewish Festival of Tabernacles was near,” Jn 7:2

“On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” 39 By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.” Jn 7:37-39

• During this feast, each family would live in a temporary dwelling (sukkah) to remember and relive God’s protection over them when they wandered in Egypt. This eight-day festival was one of the three “pilgrimage feasts” where all Israelites were to “appear before the Lord” (Deut. 16:16) in Jerusalem.

• The Feast of Tabernacles is an 8 day feast that is all about lights, water, wind, great joy and God coming to dwell among his people. It is all about light in that at this time when the Jews would celebrate it from Jerusalem, even in Jesus’ day. During this time, the lights of Jerusalem could be seen 20-40 miles in all directions. Those north in Galilee and west out towards the Sea would be able to see the lights from this feast.

• Indeed, Jerusalem at this time of year was referred to as “the light of the world”. In the temple court there were four tall candlesticks rising 7.5 stories into the sky. Each would be continually filled with gallons and gallons of oil so that all night the people could continue celebrating. It was at this time that Jesus stood up and declared in John 8:12, “I am the light of the world.”

• Part of the ceremonies performed was that of water libation where 8 priests with singing and music and many following them, would descend from Jerusalem to the Pool of Siloam to draw water with a golden pitcher. They would then march uphill, back to the Temple, with the water as well as a silver pitcher of wine. Once they reached the Temple they would pour water into a cup on the brazen altar and wine into another cup on the altar. While pouring out the water and the wine they would be sing Isaiah 12:3 which speaks of drawing water out of the wells of salvation. Furthermore, when the priests poured out water and prayed for rain, to have good crops the following year, Jesus said, “If any man thirst, let him come to me and drink. He that believeth on me as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water” John 7:37-38.

• While 8 priests were drawing water from the wells of salvation (Yeshua means SALVATION), 8 other priests went out and cut down long (even up to 30 feet) branches of willow trees. Then, they along with a crowd, would travel back to Jerusalem waving the branches causing the great sounds of blowing wind. Everyone else held onto the branches and waved them about during the celebration. The Holy Spirit is depicted in the great feast through the wind blowing from the willow branches.

• The word for ‘Spirit’ in Hebrew actually quite literally means, “wind, breath.” Thus, the blowing wind is symbolic of the blowing of the Spirit. Indeed, later on in Acts 2, the Spirit would come upon those in the upper room who were waiting for the promise of the Father. The Spirit came like the blowing of a violent wind.

• Then, the 8th day of the feast was called Simchat Torah, which means, “rejoice in the teaching” or Word of God. For even as the people needed rain for their crops and were praying to God for that rain, the people also needed the Word of God to fall like rain and for the knowledge of the Lord to cover the earth as the water covers the sea (Isaiah 11:9). The Word of God (Torah) is compared to water and rain. So, their rejoicing was not simply in good food, spending time with friends, singing their favorite songs, or in the hope for rain to come. But rather, their rejoicing was in knowing that God would one day rain down upon all. Their songs were taken from the Psalms and Isaiah. Their joy was in God their Savior!

(https://ameristella.wordpress.com/tag/feast-of-tabernacles/)

1-3, When did Jesus return to the temple courts and what did He do?

At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them.

• Opposition was mounting against Jesus day by day. Many people would go into hiding if they were in Jesus’ situation. But Jesus boldly went to the temple and taught the people. Jesus had a mission to accomplish what God wanted.

• Also, teaching was the best way to enlighten those who were in darkness.

• Jesus must have taught them about the Kingdom of God to help them have Hope.

2. Read verses 3-9. Who interrupted Jesus’ teaching? What question did they ask Jesus in order to trap him? (3-6a) What did Jesus do and say? (6b-8) What happened to those who heard Jesus’ words? (9)

2-1, Read verses 3-9.

The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group 4 and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. 5 In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?”6 They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him.

But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. 7 When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” 8 Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.

9 At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there.

2-2, Who interrupted Jesus’ teaching?

2-3, What question did they ask Jesus in order to trap him? (3-6a)

3 The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group

• This woman was dragged out of bed in shame and embarrassment and made to stand in public before Jesus as he was teaching at the temple.

• It was quite a disturbing scene. The man who was equally engaged in the crime of adultery was missing here.

• Adultery was one of three capital offenses in Israel punishable by death, along with idolatry and murder.

Leviticus 20:10 reads,

“If a man commits adultery with another man's wife-with the wife of his neighbor-both the adulterer and the adulteress are to be put to death.”

Deuteronomy 22:22-24a reads,

“If a man is found sleeping with another man’s wife, both the man who slept with her and the woman must die. You must purge the evil from lsrael. If a man happens to meet in a town a virgin pledged to be married and he sleeps with her, you shall take both of them to the gate of that town and stone them to death.”

• This woman must have been ashamed and trembling in fear. One of these commandments stated, “You shall not commit adultery” (Ex 20:14).

• Jesus also said in Matthew 5:27-28, “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”

• The fact is, we have all sinned and the wages of sin is death. We all deserve to die and be judged by a holy God. No one is able to stand before the holy God.

4 and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. 5 In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?”6 They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him.

• They were using this woman to trap Jesus. If Jesus said, “Stone her,” he would be in trouble with the Romans, for the Jews had no right to execute anyone without a Roman trial (Jn 18:31).

• Also, Jesus would be violating his own teaching on love and forgiveness. But if Jesus said, “Don’t stone her,” he would be contradicting the law of Moses, who commanded that adulterers be put to death.

2-4, What did Jesus do and say? (6b-8)

But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger.

• The writer tells us that this is what Jesus did. Then why did he do this? Then, he did it again in verse 8. It could be that Jesus is showing us something.

• Sometimes, when we don’t know how to best answer someone, it is best to be silent and pray. When we need wisdom, we can pray or write a testimony.

• James 1:5 says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.”

• Often we need to be silent when we are attacked and to pray much more than we usually do.

• Jesus might have written Exodus 23:1 on the ground. It says, “Do not spread false reports. Do not help a guilty person by being a malicious witness.”

• Jesus might have written the Ten Commandments. The Ten Commandments are not negotiable. Before God’s holy law, we all stand guilty.

When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” 8 Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.

• According to Jewish law, the witnesses were to be the first ones to begin throwing stones. But a false witness, if discovered, would suffer the same punishment.

• Jesus did not bypass the law of Moses. If indeed the woman was guilty, then she deserved to die, according to God’s law.

• Jesus simply bought her time, making it practically impossible to carry out a death sentence at that moment.

• Jesus made it plain - whoever the witness was, whoever cast the first stone was just as guilty as the woman who had been caught in adultery.

• Jesus appealed to the consciences of her accusers: “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.”

• Jesus did not abolish the Law of Moses. Jesus simply raised the bar on the qualifications of those who could enforce the execution.

• His condition was that only a sinless person could throw a stone at the woman. In doing this, Jesus exposed the sins of the woman’s accusers.

• They tried to embarrassed Jesus but they were put to shame.

2-5, What happened to those who heard Jesus’ words? (9)

At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there.

• Jesus made the woman’s accusers examine their own hearts and lives. He also gave them time to consider their thoughts and actions, by stooping down and writing on the ground again.

• Jesus’ words convicted them of their own sins. The older ones more quickly identified themselves as sinners, perhaps because they had sinned more or perhaps because they were wiser to recognize themselves as sinners first.

• It was good that they gave up the right to throw a stone at the adulteress woman. But it was not good that they left Jesus and went away in humiliation.

• Without repenting, they would come back to destroy Jesus in another way. What they needed to do was repent and accept Jesus’ wisdom and mercy.

3. Read verses 10-12. What did Jesus say to the woman? (10, 11) How would Jesus’ words change her life of sin? In what respect is Jesus the Light of the world? (12a)

How can we walk in the light and have the light of life? (12b, 31-32)

3-1, Read verses 10-12.

Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” 11 “No one, sir,” she said. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.” 12 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.”

3-2, What did Jesus say to the woman? (10, 11)

10 Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”

• After all the others left, Jesus was still there. Actually, Jesus was without sin. So Jesus was qualified to throw a stone at her.

• In fact, only Jesus is qualified to judge and to execute judgment on the world. And he will judge the world one day.

2 Corinthians 5:10 reads,

"For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad."

• One day we must each stand before the judgment seat of Christ. On that day, we cannot point at others who sinned more than we did. We must give an account of our own lives.

• All of us have said, thought, and done things that we are ashamed of and we don’t want anyone to know about our deeds.

Hebrews 4:13 says,

“Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.”

• On Judgment Day, there will be nowhere to hide. Apart from Jesus Christ, we must face God’s wrath and judgment for our sins. There is no excusing our sins.

• John 1:12 proclaims the good news of salvation in Jesus Christ: “Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God...”

• And again, as we have heard many times, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (Jn 3:16).

• Do you feel condemned for your sins? If not, maybe you’re too self righteous, thinking you are better than others.

Proverbs 14:12 warns,

"There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death."

• Or perhaps you live in self-condemnation, constantly condemning yourself and others.

• Romans 8:1 in your heart, “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus...”

• Jesus knows we are sinners, but he does not want to condemn us. Jesus says to each of us, “Neither do I condemn you,” in order to save us and give us a new life. This is the amazing grace of Jesus.

11 “No one, sir,” she said. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”

• The woman showed deep respect for Jesus. Jesus loved her like a father loves his wayward daughter, who had gotten herself into a big mess.

• It reminds us of Philippians 4:1, “you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, dear friends!”

• Regardless of how sinful we are, we are Jesus’ beloved sons and daughters. Jesus wants to rescue each of us from eternal condemnation.

• Jesus declared to her, “Then neither do I condemn you.” How could Jesus say: “Then neither do I condemn you?”

• Jesus came not to condemn sinners but to save sinners. This was his mission from God.

John 3:17 says,

“For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”

• As the Lamb of God, Jesus would soon take upon himself her condemnation and sin. Only Jesus is qualified to take away our sins.

1 Peter 2:24 reads,

“He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.”

2 Corinthians 5:21 reads,

“God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”

3-3, How would Jesus’ words change her life of sin?

• Jesus came full of grace and truth. His grace is to forgive us of our sins. But he doesn't leave us without an alternative.

• He gives us the truth of a better life. He calls us to a new life in him. After declaring to the woman, "Go now and leave your life of sin.” Jesus called her to a new life.

• Jesus had literally saved her life. Out of gratitude for the amazing grace of Jesus, we would hope that she lived a new life for Jesus who saved her.

• Jesus also calls each of us not only to be pardoned and forgiven of our sins but to live a new life in him.

• As followers of Jesus who live in his grace, we cannot continue in a life of sin. Now we live for him who died for us and who rose again.

• We now live to declare the praises of him who called us out of darkness into his wonderful light (1Pe 2:9).

• Our job is not to condemn others. We are not qualified to condemn anyone. (Romans 2:1-4; Rom 3:10, 23, 20).

• Only Jesus Christ can take away our sin, guilt, and condemnation. He promises to do so when we trust in him rather than ourselves for salvation.

• May God help us to do so - to help even one person to know Jesus’ grace of sin-forgiveness and to live a new life in him.

3-4, In what respect is Jesus the Light of the world? (12a)

When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world.

• It is good for us to think of the connection from John chapter 1. In Jesus there is life and his life gives us light.

• John 1:4 reads, “In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.” The phrase declares that Jesus is the origin and source of life and the author of life.

• "Life" is from the word "zoe," eternal life. Eternal life does not mean a never-ending life. It’s a life of true joy and happiness, both now and forever. This life is in Jesus.

• 1 John 5:11-12 say, “And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.”

• Even though we gain everything in the world, without eternal life we have nothing. Even though we do not possess much in this world, when we have eternal life in Jesus, we have everything.

• Jesus is the source of life. He gives his life to each of us. So all life comes from Jesus and belongs to him. He shares his life with us.

• That is why we should not waste our lives but use them fully to bear much fruit for the glory of God.

• Many people think that how they use their lives in this world is nobody’s business but their own. But that is not true. Since our lives came from Jesus, there will be an accounting. Just as on April 15th, taxes are due for everyone, similarly on judgment day each person will have to give an accounting for how they used their God-given lives.

2 Corinthians 5:10 says,

“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.”

• John 1:4b says “that life was the light of all mankind.” It means that Jesus’ life, which is eternal, gives meaning and direction to mankind.

• Without Jesus, people are like a cut flower in a vase. They have physical life, but have no root in God. They look alive, but suffer from meaninglessness.

• Jesus connects us to God, who is the source of eternal life. His life gives us light. When we follow Jesus our life is filled with meaning, direction, and hope.

• John 1:5 says, “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”

• In this verse “darkness” refers to the evil of the world. By its very nature, darkness hates the light and resists the light (Jn 3:19).

• The power of darkness seems to be so strong that it will extinguish the flames of light in the world. But that is not true.

• No matter how strong the power of darkness is, it cannot overcome Jesus, who is the light. Jesus wins ultimate victory. This is why those who have his life can walk in the light.

• People were spiritually blind. Even though Jesus came into the world as the true light, they did not recognize him. They needed a witness.

• John 1:9 says, “The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.” “The true light” means that Jesus is the unique, universal and eternal revelation who can guide mankind.

• “The true light” has power to dispel all the darkness. Jesus not only shows us the way, but empowers us to walk in the light.

• None of them could solve our sin problem or save us from death. Only Jesus can save us from the power of sin and death and bring us back to God. This is why Jesus is the true light.

• Again light was an important symbol in the Feast of Tabernacles. During the feast, many remembered the pillar of fire that gave light to Israel during the Exodus.

• Now, Jesus takes this important symbol and simply applies it to Himself: I am the light of the world. If we are not abiding in Jesus, we are not in the light.

• The other important picture of light in the Bible relates it to God's Word: Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path (Psalm 119:105). Oh, send out Your light and Your truth! Let them lead me (Psalm 43:3).

• Since Jesus is the Word (John 1:1), it makes perfect sense that He is also the light.

• The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. 24 The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it. 25 On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there will be no night there. (Revelations 21:23-25)

• Spiritually speaking, light refers to God’s revelation that identifies truth and distinguishes it from falsehood. The apostle Paul knew Jesus through revelation.

• Light also reveals God’s will and his deeper purposes that are not always obvious to men.

• Men without God live in the darkness. It is a darkness of deception and hypocrisy. It is destructive. It is also a darkness of ignorance that suppresses the truth.

• The Pharisees’ hypocrisy was like a cloud of darkness. The Pharisees condemned a woman caught in adultery. In reality, they were the same kind of sinners.

• Jesus not only exposed their hypocrisy, but also revealed God’s love and saving grace upon the woman. It was true that the woman was a terrible sinner.

• But Jesus did not condemn her. Jesus forgave her sins and gave her a new beginning. When Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you,” Jesus’ love shone into the woman’s heart like warm sunshine.

• Luke also called Jesus the rising sun. We must come to Jesus each day and let his light, grace, and truth shine into our hearts.

Luke 1:76-79 reads,

“And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him, 77 to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, 78 because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven 79 to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.”

• Jesus is the light of the whole world. Many lived in darkness because of their sins and problems.

• But Jesus visited them, forgave their sins, solved their problems, and gave them peace.

• We believe that through our upcoming conference our fellowship is now brighter because we will all meet Jesus as the light of our lives.

• The love of Jesus drove out the darkness from our souls. We see God’s good purpose in our lives and want to share God’s peace with others. Indeed, Jesus is the light of the world.

3-5, How can we walk in the light and have the light of life? (12b, 31-32)

Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

• Jesus is universally inviting anyone to follow him including even the Pharisees. The word, ‘whoever,’ is a singular term. So, to enjoy Jesus’ light, one must make a personal decision to follow Jesus.

• To follow Jesus, one must personally commit his or her life and future to Jesus and obey his word daily. (John 8:31-32)

• Jesus promises that whoever follows him will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.

• Jesus does not allow His followers to walk in the darkness. Jesus faithfully helps us to have the light of life.

• Also apostle John points out in 1 John 1:5-10. “This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 6 If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. 8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.

• Confessing our sins before God and His words is to follow Jesus, the Light.

• Everyone follows someone or something. Many people want to follow their feelings.

• But only Jesus the light of life tells us the real truth. Only Jesus the light of the world can save us from sin and death.

• So we trust in Him and follow His words.

Conclusion

Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” He said, ‘I am,’ which means that Jesus is alive and ever present in our lives. He loves us, provides for us, and works with us. He is always with us and will never change. Hebrews 13:8 says, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” John 1:18 reads, “but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship to the Father, has made him known.” No one can see God with his physical eyes, or he will die. However, we can see God through Jesus. This is why we study the Bible to know God personally through Jesus, and to be filled with life, light and love. Praise Jesus who is the eternal creator God. Let’s follow Jesus and have life. May God help us to live in the grace and truth of Jesus: “Neither do I condemn you. Go now and leave your life of sin.” Also, may we share who Jesus is with many young people who are still living in darkness, so that through Bible study they too may meet Jesus as the Light of Life.

One word: Whoever follows Jesus!