I Am the Light of the World

John 8:12-30

Key Verse 8:12

“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." 

Have you ever experienced walking or driving in complete darkness? Many years ago, one man was driving from Dallas to Southern California. He picked up a couple of young hitchhikers. As they were driving past the entrance to the Grand Canyon, he asked them if they had ever seen the Grand Canyon. They said, "No," so they all decided to spend the night there. It was late at night and it was pitch black when they turned off the road. They could not see a thing, but they found what seemed to be an open area, so they parked, pulled out their sleeping bags and went to sleep.  When he awoke in the morning the sun was already up. He stretched his arms and threw them out, only to find that his left arm dropped down in the void! In the darkness of the dead of night they had actually made their bed on the edge of a cliff that dropped into the Grand Canyon!  If they had gone two steps further they would have fallen over the edge. He gave grateful thanks for the light that morning. 

The story tells us how much we need light. God knows our need for light.  So Jesus came as the light of the world. When he came as the light of the world the ignorance of religious leaders was exposed and he provided a solution for their ignorance. Let us see how Jesus did it in detail. My message is divided into two parts. Part I. You do not know. Part II. Then you will know.

You do not know (v.12-20)

Let’s read 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." 

In the Bible, the word ‘light’ is used on many occasions. Usually it refers to God’s presence or God’s revelation or God’s salvation. Sometimes it is used even to refer to the people of Israel or Jesus’ disciples. 

In today’s passage Jesus said, “I am the light of the world.” What does it mean that he is the light of the world? (pause) In John chapter 9:5, Jesus also said, “While I am in the world I am the light of the world.” What is the difference? Do they mean the same thing or different thing? If different what is it? I had to spend one and a half weeks to figure it out. “I am the light of the world” means he is the Savior of the world. Why is this the case? It is because Jesus is talking about life and death right after he said that he is the light of the world. He said, ‘whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.” Here the word ‘darkness’ refers to ‘death’, and ‘light of life’ refers to ‘eternal life’? Think about the meaning of ‘light of life’. Which one is main focus? Light or life? Life because life was expressed as light. John 1:4 says “In him was life and that life was the light of men”. That is the reason why I say ‘light of life’ refers to ‘eternal life’. So when Jesus said, “I am the light of the world” he means “I am the Savior of the world.”

 

Why then didn’t Jesus just simply say ‘I am the Savior of the world’ instead of ‘I am the light of the world’? (pause) When I had to write something about “I am the light of the world” I could not think of anything. His statement is like another self explanatory testimony about himself. Who said that Jesus is not the light of the world? I didn’t. And what is the big deal that he is the light of the world when he has already many other titles like “I am the bread of life. I am the good shepherd. I am the resurrection and the life. I am the vine. I am the way and the truth and the life”. So I prayed to God to know what it means that Jesus is the light of the world.

Then God taught me that Jesus is expressed as the light of the world because darkness cannot overcome the light. Darkness is everywhere and its power seems all powerful. 

In 1977, New York city had blackout because lightning struck consolidated Edition substation. Do you know what happened when the city was dark? People became crazy. They began to loot stores. In all, 1,616 stores were either looted or damaged during the blackout. More than a thousand fires were set. And in the biggest mass arrest in city history, 3,776 people were thrown in the jail. A congressional study later put the damage caused by looting and vandalism at $300 million.

When I first knew about computer virus I thought it naturally appears in the course of using computer. So I was shocked to hear that computer viruses are made by people from missionary Gideon Im. Those people who make computer viruses are talented and intelligent people. They have such  knowledge about computer. But why do they use such knowledge and talent and their time and energy to create something that can trouble others? The answer is we are all dark. Darkness is in man. Not only common people but also very religious people like Apostle Paul also cried out. “I do not know what I am doing. I do not do what I want to do which is to do good but I do what I hate to do which is to do evil. This I kept on doing. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?” Indeed the power of darkness seems overwhelming.

But the truth is that even the greatest power of darkness will never be able to overcome even the slightest of the light of Jesus. Not even a second. 

The concept that darkness cannot overcome light is well expressed in Romans 5:20b.

Romans 5:20b 

“But where sin increased, grace increased all the more” 

Why did grace increase all the more when sin increased? It is because grace is greater than sin. Grace automatically increases in proportion to the increased amount of sin. In the same way the power of light is always greater than the power of darkness. So when the power of darkness increases the power of light increases all the more. When light comes in darkness must humbly goes away. It is God’s sovereign order between light and darkness.

The word ‘follow’ in “whoever follows me” means not only believing but also obeying. That is the reason why Jesus used the word ‘follow’ rather than ‘believing’. Actual obedience is following Jesus. When a man follows Jesus he will never walk in darkness. Right now darkness is like breathing. You cannot escape it. But those who follow Jesus will never walk in darkness. It means they will be in completely different environment. They will be in the light. Since they are in the light they cannot find darkness even if they want to. 

What happens to those who do not follow Jesus? They will walk in darkness. In today’s passage the Pharisees are those who walked in darkness. As soon as Jesus said to people, they challenged him.

    [13] The Pharisees challenged him, "Here you are, appearing as your own witness; your testimony is not valid." 

How did Jesus respond to their challenge?

 [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.”

Usually we do not accept the testimony from a person about himself. Jesus himself also said in John 5:31 "If I testify about myself, my testimony is not valid.” Then why did he say that his testimony is valid in today’s passage? (pause) It is because he knew where he came from and where he was going. John 3:13 says “No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven--the Son of Man.” Jesus is the only person who came from heaven, and he is the only person who has gone into heaven. To know where he came from and where he is going shows that Jesus is God. In fact the word “I am” from “I am the light of the world” is the same Greek word that was used to describe God as ‘I AM WHO I AM’. Therefore Jesus’ testimony about himself is absolutely valid.

But what about the Pharisees? They were Bible scholars and Bible teachers in those days. They diligently studied the Scriptures and doggedly obeyed Moses law, because they thought by doing so they could possess eternal life. However, they had no idea where Jesus came from or where he was going.

[15] You judge by human standards; I pass judgment on no one. [16] But if I do judge, my decisions are right, 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 men is valid. [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."

Human judgment is judgment based on human understanding, and it is another evidence that the Pharisees were walking in darkness. How could they judge Jesus when they did not know him? Can a man born blind who never sees anything judge paintings like Michelangelo’s’ painting in the Sistine Chapel? What would you say? You will say, ‘simply impossible.’ When Jesus came as the light of the world their ignorance was exposed. It turned out that they did not even know God whom they cherished so much.

 [20] He spoke these words while teaching in the temple area near the place where the offerings were put. Yet no one seized him, because his time had not yet come. 

The place where Jesus taught them was crowded and an open area of the temple. But no one could seize Jesus because his time had not yet come. God was in control of Jesus’ time.

II.  Then you will know (v.20-30)

The Pharisees’ ignorance about Jesus was a matter of life and death to them although they did not know it. So Jesus had to say to them once more.

[21] 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'?" 

    [23] 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 the one I claim to be, you will indeed die in your sins." 

Jesus’ warning here is ‘you will die in your sins if you do not believe that I am the one I claim to be.’ They would die not because Jesus judged them but because their sins remained. Since they did not believe Jesus who is the only remedy for their sin they would all die in their sin. 

Jesus told them that there was an unapproachable gap between him and them. No human being can cross over the gap. They were from below and Jesus is from above. They were of this world and Jesus is not of this world. Although they stood together and talked to each other Jesus is God and they were sinners. But they kept saying ‘who are you?”

 [25] "Who are you?" they asked.

    "Just what I have been claiming all along," Jesus replied. [26] "I have much to say in judgment of you. But he who sent me is reliable, and what I have heard from him I tell the world." [27] They did not understand that he was telling them about his Father.

They were still ignorant of Jesus and the Father because they did not believe Jesus’ testimony. Since Jesus had been claiming all along about who he is he could judge them much. But he only told the world what he had heard from his Father. But they did not know Jesus was talking about his Father. 

How then can they overcome such ignorance? How can they know Jesus and the Father? (pause) Is there any way? Yes, there is way. Look at verse 28.

[28] So Jesus said, "When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am the one I claim to be and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me.”

Here “lifted up” means ‘crucifixion’. The religious leaders rejected Jesus to the end. Then they crucified him. They believed that they got rid of Jesus, the light of the world. But Jesus said, “"When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am the one I claim to be .”

When they thought that they finally removed the light by crucifying Jesus, his light shone all the more brightly. His death on the cross provided the most convincing and undeniable proof that he is the Savior of the world. What a paradoxical truth it is!

What do you think was revealed about Jesus when he was lifted up? (pause) What do you think was shown on the cross that such unbelieving and ignorant and unwilling religious leaders could recognize that Jesus was their Savior? If your Savior is standing right in front of your eyes what can you see the most? (pause)

On the cross Jesus was not violent or angry. He did not retaliate. He was in great agony but he did not hate anyone. He said on the cross, (1) "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." (pause) (2) "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise." (pause) (3) "Dear woman, here is your son," "Here is your mother." (pause) (4) "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" (pause) (5) "I am thirsty." (pause) (6) "It is finished." (pause) (7) "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." (pause) Do you think these words are the words of a condemned criminal who would die in resentment, regret, anger, bitterness, rebellion, and sorrow? No! These are the words of a man who cares for others. They are the words of the man who loves all men. He loved all of sinners including those who crucified him and those who insulted him and those who hated him. The love of Jesus was mostly revealed when he was crucified.

I am reminded of the love of God poured upon me through my first Bible Teacher. I was 19, the age of Stephen, and she was about 10 years older than I. I studied the Bible with her about six months. We studied the book of Genesis at that time.  She wanted to study with me once a week, so she persistently invited and served me, but I was such a reluctant Bible student and so we studied on average only once a month. For the Bible study I might have met her seven times because Genesis was divided into seven lessons. I don’t remember whether I finished Genesis or not. But I do remember I studied Jacob because I made a vow although I did not know even existence of God. After half a year I moved to a different school and soon she married and she went to America as a missionary. Although our time together was about a year at best I remember distinctly that whenever I was with her I was so happy. I couldn’t really say exactly what it was that made me so happy, but it still made a profound impression on me. Although I was completely ignorant of God still the thing which I did not know at that time moved my heart so much. It made me so happy that I made a decision that whatever she had I really wanted to make sure to give it back to at least one person in my life before I died. After 8 years later I was born again, and I could see what it was that made me so happy. It was the love of God. It was the love of God poured upon my life through her, and that love was expressed through her one to one Bible study and shepherding.

I know it was the love of God because she could not love me in that way unless it came from God. I was a stranger to her. How could she love me so much and care about me so much pouring out her time, prayer, concern despite my such an unwillingness to study the Bible? 

That is the reason why I am convinced that the centurion in Mark’s gospel saw the love of Jesus when he heard his cry and how he died on the cross. I am convinced that even some of religious leaders could see the love of Jesus for them on the cross and their spiritual eyes were opened and they cried out, “Surely this man is the Son of God!” Then they remembered what Jesus said on the cross, “Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing.” And they cried all the more. What can be other evidence than the love of God which can prove the identity of the Son of God!

That is the reason why Jesus said, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man then you will know that I am the one I claim to be.”

Verse 28b reads, “and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me.” When Jesus was lifted up he will not only show who he is but also where His Words came from. Jesus would speak just what the Father has taught him. All of his words came from God. This is another reason why all of Jesus’ testimonies are valid.

John 8:29

[29] The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him." 

Jesus always does what pleases his Father. He not only did not do anything on his own but also did only what pleased his Father. And his Father never left him alone.

Verse 30 reads, “[30] Even as he spoke, many put their faith in him.” 

Despite unbelieving religious leaders there were people who began to put their faith in him even as he spoke. In another words they believed in him even before Jesus finished his teaching. They could believe because they really wanted to know who Jesus is.

I know a person who really wanted to meet Jesus personally. So a few years ago he packed his bags and left his hometown and went to a foreign country for about half a year. While he was there, his bible teacher challenged him to read the whole Bible. Starting by reading 5 chapters from the Old Testament and 2 chapters from the New Testament on a daily basis. Even though he grew up as a Christian and had countless numbers of Bible studies growing up, upon reading the Bible, he soon realized that the God he thought he once knew, he did not know at all. So he began to read the Bible more earnestly. Before reading the bible, he would pray earnestly that God might open his spiritual eyes so that he would come to meet Jesus personally. So everyday, he would read the Bible. Sometimes even just sitting in his room the whole day doing nothing but reading the Bible. Amazingly, through reading the old testament, for the first time in his whole life, he came to see himself as a sinner before God. Through the laws of Moses, his sins were exposed. And much more than that, the revelation that before a perfect and holy God, it was impossible for a sinner like him to be any good. However, upon reading the new testament, he came to find hope in that only through Jesus Christ and the grace of God, was he able to be saved. And through this, he was able to accept Jesus as his Lord and Savior and ultimately, be born again.

Wow! What a story! Since he had desire to know Jesus ‘even as he read the bible he was born again’. In the same way there were people who had sincere desire to know God and the Savior. Then ‘even as Jesus spoke they put their faith in him.’  

In conclusion, Jesus is the light of the world because darkness cannot overcome the light. When Jesus came the ignorance of men was exposed. But they would all know who Jesus is when he was lifted up on the cross. The light of his love will clearly show that he is the Savior of the world. Indeed Jesus is the Savior of the world and whoever follows him will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.

One word: I am the light of the world.

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