September 15, 2024
Morning Service

Joh 1:1-5 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  (2)  He was in the beginning with God.  (3)  All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.  (4)  In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.  (5)  And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

          This is the memorable opening to John’s gospel as he tries to explain to us in five short verses who Jesus is.  “In Him was life and the life was the light of men.”  Jesus is the Creator and the Source of life for all of us.  This is true in both the physical world, as we were “formed in our mother’s womb, being fearfully and wonderfully made.” (Ps. 139 14-15) It is also true in spiritual world as Jesus brings us light to see the true meaning of life that can be found there.  We are born physically and then “born again” spiritually when we accept Jesus as our true source of eternal life.  Jesus is the “light of men” in that He illuminates to us the true meaning of life.  He is the Light in which we can see the purpose in our life and the path He has created for us to be reconciled to our Heavenly Father.  Without Him, the path is dark and we are confused on which way to go and even what really is the truth. He shows us the way to life and to truth. Though He shines brightly in the darkness, not everyone can comprehend Him, or they simply choose not to and reject the Light choosing rather to live in the darkness.

            In Exodus as God was leading the Children of Israel through the wilderness, His presence was seen as “a pillar of a cloud by day and by a pillar of fire by night to give them light.”  God’s presence was noted as a light that literally illuminated the path that they were to walk on their journey to the promised land.  This is a shadow of things to come as now we see Jesus as our Light illuminating the spiritual path we are to walk to our promised land.

            Today in chapter 8, we go deeper into this as Jesus makes His second “I AM” statement in John’s gospel.  The first was He proclaimed “I AM the Bread of Life” inviting us to abide with Him through partaking of the communion service.

 

John 8:12 Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life."

            The darkness He is referring to is the darkness of sin, ignorance and aimlessness.  Jesus is the “Light of the world” in that He guides us to the knowledge that He is “the Way, the Truth and the Life.” (Jn. 14:6) He shows us that there really is a purpose to our life and He is the orchestrator of that purpose.  Through His Light we can see the evil in this world and understand that He has defeated it making a way for us to come to the Light.  In the presence of light, all darkness flees.  Through His Light we see ourselves clearly as who we really are; sinners in need of a Savior. In coming into the light, we confess our sins bringing them into the light asking God to forgive us of them.  When we begin to follow Him and walk in His Light, He removes the darkness and illuminates the path for us showing us the right way to live.  We are no longer stumbling in the dark not knowing where we are going, but we now have the way illuminated for us. 

            We now again encounter the Pharisees, who are still in the dark and refuse to accept Jesus as the truth that He is “Light of the world.”

 

John 8:13-20The Pharisees therefore said to Him, "You bear witness of Yourself; Your witness is not true."  (14)  Jesus answered and said to them, "Even if I bear witness of Myself, My witness is true, for I know where I came from and where I am going; but you do not know where I come from and where I am going.  (15)  You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one.  (16)  And yet if I do judge, My judgment is true; for I am not alone, but I am with the Father who sent Me.  (17)  It is also written in your law that the testimony of two men is true.  (18)  I am One who bears witness of Myself, and the Father who sent Me bears witness of Me."  (19)  Then they said to Him, "Where is Your Father?" Jesus answered, "You know neither Me nor My Father. If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also."  (20)  These words Jesus spoke in the treasury, as He taught in the temple; and no one laid hands on Him, for His hour had not yet come.

            It becomes very obvious here that these Pharisees are still in the darkness as Jesus tells them they are judging Him “according to the flesh” (man’s perspective), peering into the darkness without a light.  Jesus tells them that He and His Father bear witness of who He is fulfilling the requirement of two witnesses within the law to confirm the truth (Duet. 19:15).  They continue to question Him, but because His hour had not come they do nothing else at this time.  Jesus goes deeper with them as we continue.

 

Joh 8:21-30 Then Jesus said to them again, "I am going away, and you will seek Me, and will die in your sin. Where I go you cannot come."  (22)  So the Jews said, "Will He kill Himself, because He says, 'Where I go you cannot come'?"  (23)  And He said to them, "You are from beneath; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world.  (24)  Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins."  (25)  Then they said to Him, "Who are You?" And Jesus said to them, "Just what I have been saying to you from the beginning.  (26)  I have many things to say and to judge concerning you, but He who sent Me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I heard from Him."  (27)  They did not understand that He spoke to them of the Father.  (28)  Then Jesus said to them, "When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and that I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things.  (29)  And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him."  (30)  As He spoke these words, many believed in Him.

            Jesus illuminates for us another truth here in verse 24. (Read) People who do not believe and accept Jesus as Savior will die in their sins.  At the judgment there will be no forgiveness of their sins available to them so they are in essence condemning themselves by their unbelief.  In answering the question Jesus asked the disciples, “Who do you say that I am?” each of us will either being saved by our answer through faith or condemned by our answer of unbelief.  We must believe He is the Son of God and accept His offer of forgiveness of our sins OR we will die in our sins and be judged for those sins.  Our salvation is to be a “know so” salvation, not a “hope so” salvation.

            The Pharisees still did not understand His words as they continue to doubt Him and reject the light (truth)He is offering to them.  He then offers a prophecy that will come true in in verse 28 (Read) These same men will “lift up the Son of Man” upon a cross and the many signs that follow will confirm that He was telling them the truth.  He is faithfully following the will of His Father in all that He does.  He is fulfilling the perfect plan of salvation that was written before the world began.

            In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus calls us to follow in His footsteps and become the light of the world being His voice, hands and feet now in this world.

 

Mat 5:14-16 "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.  (15)  Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.  (16)  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

          In following Jesus, we are now to continue His work of shining His light into the darkness.  We must live a life that shines brightly that God is still on the throne and is at work among us. Those around us should see Jesus in us, which then gives our words influence and power.  If we are silent, who will shine the light of truth to this dark world?  Society today is pushing us to be quiet.  They want us to stand in our corner and put a basket over our light keeping to ourselves.  Time is short.  The end is nearer now than ever before.  The darkness is creeping into every aspect of our lives but don’t give up.  Know and be confident that light wins over darkness every time.  “Let you light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”  Be that light in your home.  Be that light in your neighborhood.  Be that light at work.  If not you, then who?

 

Heavenly Father, thank You for sending Jesus, the Light of the world, into our lives to illuminate us to truth and chase away the evil darkness.  Empower us through the Holy Spirit to be the light you have called us to be reflecting the True Light of our Lord and Savior to this dark world.