I AM the Light of the World Ps 40:1-10; Isa 42:1-9; Eph 5:3-14; John 8:12-20
Introduction https://youtu.be/z3tyq_OqVMI
This is the third in our series on the “I am” statements of Jesus. Two weeks ago, we saw how the “I am” spoken by Jesus as he was walking on water moved the disciples from a state of fear to worshipping him. Last week we noticed how his declaration, “I am the bread of life whoever comes to me shall never-ever hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never-ever thirst.” (John 6:35) was so absolute that it turned most of his disciples away from following him. Today’s, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12) is just as powerful. The connection between God and light goes back to the first act of creation, “God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. 4 And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness.” (Gen 1:3-4). If in the Bible, darkness is a metaphor for anti-God forces[1] the testimony, “God is light” (1 John 1:5) opposes it[2]. Emerging from the time of the prophets is the promise that a Servant of the Lord will arise who will be a “light to the nations” of the world (Isa 42:6; 49:6). When at the start of John’s Gospel Jesus is announced as “the light of humanity” (John 1:4)[3] we understand his whole story will be one of supreme illumination. What was not previously expected however is that the medium of revelation of the things of God and the Revealer are one and the same. If this comes across most clearly in John 8 it may because Jesus was speaking at the temple at the time of the feast of tabernacles which contained a torchlight ceremony commemorating the pillar of fire in the wilderness (Ex 13:21cf. Pss. 78:14; 105:39; Neh 9:12,19). Before expounding what Jesus meant by saying of himself, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” I want to talk about darkness.
Darkness
All people “naturally” think that they are already in the light[4] for no one can see their own darkness without a flash from God. A good example of this is Peter who denies knowing Jesus three times, but then “the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.” 62 And he went out and wept bitterly.” (Luke 22:54-62)[5]. Jesus warned his hearers, “your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is full of light, but when it is bad, your body is full of darkness. 35 Therefore be careful lest the light in you be darkness.” (Luke 11:34-35). Once upon a time all of us were living with darkened in our hearts and understanding (Rom 1:21; Eph 4:18).
Opposition
Earlier in John Jesus warned, “the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. 20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed.” (John 3:19-20). This opposition of darkness to light is relentless. We shouldn’t be surprised then that in response to Jesus’ declaration, “I am the light of the world.” his opponents amongst the Pharisees shift the discussion away from light and darkness to a legal technicality. Since according to the Law of Moses there must be two or more witnesses to sustain a testimony (Deut 17:6; 19:15) they accuse Jesus of self-praise, “You are bearing witness about yourself; your testimony is not true.” (v.13). Jesus’ reply, “Even if I do bear witness about myself, my testimony is true, for I know where I came from and where I am going, but you do not know where I come from or where I am going. 15 You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one.” (vv.14-15) speaks about a reality beyond ordinary human perspective and experience[6]. He knows exactly where he comes from[7], but since his accusers have no idea of his origin they have no idea “what manner of man he is”[8] and have no authority to accuse him[9]? Now he expounds exactly what he is talking about.
16 Yet even if I do judge, my judgment is true, for it is not I alone who judge, but I and the Father who sent me. 17 In your Law it is written that the testimony of two people is true. 18 I am the one who bears witness about myself, and the Father who sent me bears witness about me.”[10]
Since later in this same chapter Jesus will say to this same group that their “father” is the devil (John 8:44), the Pharisees totally lack a “God’s eye view”, or more accurately, a “Father’s eye view” about who Jesus is and the truthfulness of his testimony to himself as “the light of the world”. The judgement of Jesus, with the help of God, is “the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth” because his Father is with him in it[11]. Jesus’ co-witness is the Creator of the world, the sender of the prophets and the author of scripture so his every word is true. There can be no higher witness.
19 They said to him therefore, “Where is your Father?” Jesus answered, “You know neither me nor my Father. If you knew me, you would know my Father also.” Christ’s adversaries have zero understanding because knowing Jesus and the Father[12] implies a spiritual communion[13] with God they completely lack[14].
20 These words he spoke in the treasury, as he taught in the temple; but no one arrested him, because his hour had not yet come.
The offended Jewish leaders would have arrested Jesus on the spot, but “his hour”, the hour appointed by the Father for his saving sacrifice had not yet arrived[15]. Until then Jesus could not die[16].
Light
What exactly was Jesus claiming when he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”? Firstly, that Jesus is “the light of the world” doesn’t mean there isn’t any other light, less intense lights that he himself has distributed to reflect him throughout creation[17]. (JY early this morning just prior to sunrise. “obvious” there is a God.) God may be visible through the things he has made, like the sun, moon and stars and people made in his image (Ps 19:1-6; Rom 1:20), but he is only known through faith in the one place where he has fully and finally revealed himself, Jesus. The emphatic claim “I am the light of the world” is a claim to be the luminous Word and the audible Light, the true light (John 1:9; 1 John 2:8) in whom there is no darkness, no deceit, no insincerity and no unreality. Jesus is the Light of God lived out through a human life so that in him we see what we were always called to be. In the God-human Jesus, God doesn’t reveal some thing about himself he reveals both himself and human destiny[18]. In Jesus the eternal uncreated Light of God came to a full, final and perfectly concentrated focus. A focus unveiled in his death and resurrection bearing a light and clarity beyond all our natural human capacities.
Gospel Light
This is why Paul can say, God has saved us and called us to a holy calling “manifested through the appearing of our Saviour Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel” (2 Tim 1:10). People sense that they are meant to be something more, the gospel of Jesus shows us the way to this higher calling[19]. Through the message of the gospel the invisible radiance of the glory of God radiates out to us (2 Cor 4:4-6; Heb 1:1-4) telling us that the darkness of our sin has been removed through the sacrifice of the cross (Rev 1:5) so that our humanity can be but made whole and new in the Light of the Lord (2 Cor 5:14-21). Generally, such illumination comes through scripture, but sometimes the Lord is pleased to give extraordinary experiences of supernatural light.
There are some famous examples of such encounters, but I want to use one from one of my friends[20]. James didn’t know the Lord but was hearing about Jesus on a regular basis. One morning he woke up with a serious hangover and had to get ready to prepare a presentation for an international conference. In distress he called out to the Lord to help him and promised his own life in return. The whole room filled with light he was flooded with joy and peace and the hangover miraculously disappeared. I once had an encountered by the most intense WHITE light which made me immediately conscious of my need to be freed from spiritual uncleanness[21] and gave me a tremendous desire to worship God forever. Every kind of experience we have of Jesus as “the light of the world” has one great purpose, discipleship.
Follow
We are called to follow Jesus “in the light of life” with our light shining before others so that they might “see our good works and give glory to our Father in heaven” (Matt 5:14-16)[22]. Leaving behind the old ways of darkness and depravity we have become “light in the Lord” (Eph 5:8) radiating through s new Christlike nature an identity to “walk as children of the light” as “sons of light and sons of the day” (1 Thess 5:5). Proclaiming the gospel, we are “a light for the nations…” (Acts 13:47) miraculously giving forth light[23] of the presently dawning new creation[24]. Can the searching, judging, healing, transforming and renewing light-bearing life-giving Light of Christ really shine through us? “Yes”, but not through self-effort as if our trying to be holy could make us more transparent[25]. If the Word of Christ and the Light of Christ are essentially one reality[26] he has told us what we must do for such a glorious transformation, “believe in the light that you might become sons of light” (John 12:35-36). I love this scripture, Psalm 119:130 “The unfolding of your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple.” Who here is “simple”….? To be simple is to exercise the childlike dependence on God that pleases him (Matt 11:25; 19:14).
Conclusion
““I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12). Only God in human form could sensibly make such a claim about himself[27]. To believe in and embrace this promise and call is no easy thing, for the pure light of the Lord cleanses, sterilises and kills any darkness in us that should not be there. To see ourselves as “light in the Lord” (Eph 5:18) we must see ourselves as new creations (2 Cor 5:17) In the light of Christ crucified and risen we must stop judging ourselves from a human point of view (John 8:15)[28], we must see that all our darkness descended on Christ on the cross so that it might be taken away[29] and a new and fully enlightened humanity might rise from the dead. In Christ, we must stop thinking of ourselves as people of darkness and by faith follow Jesus in beaming his light into the dark places of this passing world. Knowing that God’s light is not a natural human possession but comes only as we turn to Christ is the message of eternal hope we can take to the world.
[1] The wicked (Prov 2:13), judgement (Ex 10:21), death (Ps 88:12), evil powers (Luke 22:53; Eph :12; Col 1:13). This contrast in the moral realm is universally understood. A recent newspaper article about law enforcement and the dark net ended with, “There is no dark internet. We can and will shine a light.”
[2] See also, God “dwells in unapproachable light” (1 Tim 6:16) and “Father of lights” (James 1:17).
[3] Jesus as the world’s light is a common theme in John (9:5; 11:9; 12:46).
[4] “The invincible authority of ignorance.” (Leon Morris)
[5] See also the blinding vision of Saul on the road to Damascus (Acts 9).
[6] Cf. John 3:6; 6:63
[7] A repeated issue in John, (7:27-29; 8:14).
[8] See especially the perplexity of the disciples in Mark 4:36-41 and the guards in John 7:45-46.
[9] ““You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world.” (John 8:23), “you are of your father the devil” (John 8:44)
[10] Elsewhere Jesus appeals to the works of the Father as evidence of who he is claiming to be (cf. John 5:31-32, 36-37).
[11] Cf. John 5:30; 8:29; 16:32
[12] As per, “And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” (John 17:3).
[13] The idea of “knowing” in the Old Testament is always deeply experiential (Gen 4:1, 25; Jer 31:34; Amos 3:2)
[14] Only through Jesus can people know the Father (John 1:18; 4:23-24; 14:4-10).
[15] A major theme in John (2:4; 7:30; 8:20; 12:23,27; 13:1; 16:32; 17:1)
[16] God’s sovereign power preserved his life e.g. Luke 4:28-30; John 8:9; 10:39.
[17] So called “lesser” or “little” lights (K. Barth).
[18] In traditional language, Jesus is very God and very Man. “Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.” (1 John 3:2).
[19] “Not that I have already obtained this or mam already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. 13 Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” (Phil 3:12-14)
[20] The famous evangelist D.L. Moody praying intensely alone saw the whole room ablaze with light. Likewise, contemporary Singaporean pastor Edmund Chan in a time of prayer and fasting.
[21] Similar to Isaiah’s experience of the glory of the Lord (Isa 6:1-7).
[22] For this theme in Matthew see also 6:22-23; 10:27.
[23] “And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb.” (Rev 21:23).
[24] We were created to reflect the light of God’s generous love (see for example Eph 2:8-10).
[25] Just the opposite, this was the Pharisees problem.
[26] Jesus is the luminous Word and the audible light.
[27] I am reminded of C.S. Lewis’ famous argument for identifying Jesus as God. He is either Lord, lunatic or liar. But only the first fits his actual life.
[28] Compare Paul’s passing from evaluating ourselves and others from “a (this) worldy point of view” and to see ourselves as a “new creation in Christ (2 Cor 5:16-17).
[29] Compare, “At the same time, it is a new commandment that I am writing to you, which is true in him and in you, because the [old world of] darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining.” (1 John 2:8)