SEPTEMBER 10 & 17, 2017
JESUS, THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD (PART I)
INTRODUCTION:
1. At the close of the Feast of Tabernacles Jesus retired to the Mount of Olives, then returned to the Temple the next morning where He sat and taught a great multitude of people. (Verse 1) The scribes and Pharisees, who had all retired to their own homes after failing to apprehend Jesus at the feast, also returned to the temple the next morning. They intruded into the sacred assembly bringing with them a woman that was taken in the act of adultery, forcing Jesus to deal with her. (Verses 2-5)
2. The scribes and Pharisees were tempting Him, hoping to find reason to accuse Jesus, either of opposing the Law of Moses, or of usurping the government of Rome. (Verse 6) Jesus did not fall into their trap, but instead, translated the incident from a judicial matter into a moral one, bringing great conviction of conscience on the part of the accusers. (Verses 6b-9)
3. Christ’s enemies will, throughout the rest of this chapter, become more and more aggressive in their opposition until they accuse Him of being demon possessed (Verse 48) and finally try to stone Him. (Verse 59)
4. Nevertheless, Jesus used this occasion of the gathered multitude to proclaim by repeated declarations His Person and work.
5. Jesus continued to represent Himself as the true fulfillment of those miraculous provisions that sustained Israel in the wilderness.
6. In the previous chapter Jesus declared Himself to be the Rock from which comes the water of life. In this chapter He applies the pillar of cloud and fire to Himself, declaring that He is THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD.
I. JESUS DECLARES HIMSELF TO BE THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. (VERSES 12-20)
A. HERE IS JESUS’ BOLD AND REMARKABLE TESTIMONY. (VERSE 12)
1. Considering the present circumstances, one might wonder what it was that caused Jesus to here make this declaration.
a) Some believe it may have been the use of the bright candelabras used during the feast.
b) Jesus is the Light of the World; He is that Light that lighteth every man; He had just shown Himself as a bright light upon the human conscience. (Verse 9)
c) However, having boldly declared Himself to be the true source of living water, i.e. the Rock from whence the waters flow, the connection is more likely the pillar of cloud and fire, that follow Israel in the wilderness.
d) Jesus did thus make the Feast of Tabernacles to speak of His own person. As the Feast commemorated the wilderness experience, Jesus shows particularly how both their source of water and light were emblems of Himself.
2. This was a declaration of His Divine nature, since “light” represents the nature of God. (I John 1:5)
a) “Light” speaks of the perfection of moral and spiritual good.
b) “Light” is the opposite of all darkness and night.
c) “Light” represents God’s goodness (light, warmth, energy).
d) Christ will very soon declare plainly His Divine nature. (Verses 23, 24)
3. We are to follow Christ as Israel followed God in the wilderness.
4. Believing followers are to have the light of life.
a) The light of life.
b) The light of communion with God.
c) The light which illuminates the understanding, thus showing the way.
5. There is a human response implied in both of these declarations which Jesus made at the Feast.
a) First the receiving by faith: “Let him come unto me and drink.” (Ch. 7:37)
b) Then the obedient life. “He that followeth me.” (Ch. 8:12)
B. NEXT WE HAVE THE OBJECTION TO THIS TESTIMONY RAISED BY THE PHARISEES. (VERSE 13)
1. Many were already gone, but these Pharisees still remained.
2. Their objection was based in the fact that He was the lone witness, and He witnessed of Himself.
3. They concluded that His witness, claiming to be “the light” was not true.
C. HERE IS JESUS’ ANSWER TO THIS OBJECTION. (VERSES 14-19)
1. Previously, Jesus had willingly accepted the position of the common man, taking the position of a devout Israelite. (Ch. 5:31)
2. Here, however, He asserted Himself, and claimed His rightful position.
3. He declared a clear knowledge of Himself and His mission. (Verse 14)
a) He knew that He is the God-man.
b) He knew that He came from on high.
c) He knew the beginning and end of His earthly mission.
d) His enemies, however, remained in their native ignorance. “But ye cannot tell…”
4. Jesus contrasted their judgment and His. (Verses 15, 16)
a) They judged Him “after the flesh,” as He appeared to natural sight, as a mere man.
b) Jesus judged no man in such a manner as that, apart from Divine knowledge.
c) Yet where He did judge it was true, because it was not His judgment alone, but also that of His Father Who sent Him.
5. Jesus then appealed to the Law to confirm His testimony. (Verses 17, 18)
a) The Law required two witnesses to be valid. (Deut. 17:6; 19:15)
b) Jesus showed that He had fulfilled this requirement.
(1) As to His judgment of the world.
(2) As to His testimony concerning Himself.
c) Before, He had made the miracles which He did to be one witness. (Ch. 5:36) He now alludes to His inner life and knowledge of God.
(1) Everyone who truly perceives God knows the stamp of Jesus’ Divine authority.
(2) It is by this inner light that Jesus is the Light of the World.
6. The Jews persisted in asking to see the second witness. “Where is thy father?” (Verse 19)
a) They lacked all spiritual understanding.
b) Had they been given eyes to see who He was beyond His humanity, they would have known His Father also. (Verse 19b; Ch. 14:9)
D. JOHN ADDS AN IMPORTANT HISTORICAL NOTATION. (VERSE 20)
1. Jesus spoke these words in the treasury, which was next to where the Sanhedrin met for judgment.
2. Jesus spoke these things under the very ears of His worst enemies, and yet they took Him not, for “His hour was not yet come.”
II. JESUS DECLARES HIS TRUE NATURE AND WORK. (VRS. 21-30) This He had already strongly implied in the preceding testimony, but here there is no misunderstanding so as to prompt the question, “Where is thy father?”
A. JESUS ADMONISHED THEM REGARDING THE BRIEF WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY THAT HIS PRESENCE AFFORDED THEM. (VERSES 21, 22)
1. Their only Savior is to be with them but for “a little while.” (See Ch. 7:33-36)
2. He said, “I go my way,” i.e. back to heaven. Once they had rejected Him, heaven would be closed to them forever. “Whither I go, ye cannot come.”
3. They would afterward seek Him, but their seeking would not be of faith.
4. Only perdition would be left for them, “and ye shall die in your sins.”
a) The “sin” here is singular: i.e. unbelief.
b) Unbelief is the mother of all sins.
c) Unbelief shuts out from God, and causes souls to perish.
5. To this admonition the Jews responded with mockery. (Verse 22)
B. JESUS DECLARED HIMSELF TO BE THE GREAT “I AM.” (VERSES 23-27)
1. Jesus’ Divine nature formed a great abyss between Himself and them. (Verse 23)
a) “From beneath” and “from above” express the opposites in nature.
b) “Of this world” and “not of this world” speak of opposites in moral disposition. “World” is used in a moral sense.
c) One may be “from beneath” by nature and not be “of the world,” by tendency, as a consequence of the new birth.
2. Jesus declared Himself to be the great “I am,” and the only bridge between heaven and earth. (Verse 24)
a) He summed up the entire essence of faith in “if ye believe not that I am He…”
b) By this same expression Jehovah often summed up what He was to Israel. (Deut. 32:39; Isa. 43:10, 11)
c) Jesus here claimed His Divine place as the only God and Savior.
d) Those who do not believe in Him just surely perish.
3. Jesus showed that His words were an adequate expression of His nature. (Verse 25)
a) Although Jesus had been clear about who He was, He had not specifically spoken of Himself as “The Christ.” This accounts for the Jews’ question: “Who art thou?” (Verse 25a)
b) Jesus answered, “Even the same that I said unto you from the beginning.” (Verse 25b)
(1) He said, “I am exactly what I have been telling you from the first.” (T.A.B.)
(2) Or it may be construed that He said, “I am the beginning.” (John 1:1)
4. Jesus continued His authoritative pronouncement of judgment. (Verse 26)
a) His judgment was not His own merely, but His Father’s Who sent Him. “I speak…those things which I have heard of him.”
b) Thus, they are “TRUE” judgments, that is, they are altogether righteous. (Psa. 19:9)
5. The Jews did not understand that He was speaking of the Father. (Verse 27)
C. JESUS PREDICTED HIS FINAL VINDICATION. (VERSES 28-30)
1. It was to take place only after He was “lifted up.” (Verse 28)
a) This includes His crucifixion, resurrection, ascension, and glorification.
b) By putting Jesus to death, they were, in fact, exalting Him to His throne.
2. This recognition would not result in the salvation of all, yet it fully vindicates Jesus as the Son of God.
a) That He spoke only the things that the Father gave Him to say.
b) That the Father did not fully or forever forsake the Son.
c) That the Son did and does fully satisfy the Father’s righteousness for sinners.
3. Thank God, there were some who did believe that His testimony was true, and they believed on Him.
a) While some, the rulers in particular, were asking, “Who art thou?” not seeing that He was the Christ; others were convinced, even though He did not use the term. Who else could this one be?
b) While the Pharisees who were present “understood not that He spake to them of the Father,” many others who heard Him did understand, and believed on Him.
c) As it was so it is still, that while these things are often hidden from wise and prudent, God has revealed them unto babes. (Matt. 11:25)
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