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Light, Authority, and Salvation
Intro
Throughout the gospel of John we are presented with different themes that John wants us to see.
One of those themes is light vs. darkness.
We are all familiar with the ideas and experiences of light and darkness.
That creaky door doesn’t bother us during the day, but when its time to go to sleep we think something nefarious is going on.
Walking outside in the daylight we don’t pay as much attention as we do when its dark outside.
Children like to have a nightlight so that it isn’t so dark in their rooms when its time to sleep.
We feel safer, more secure, and bolder in the light.
But in the dark we are more fearful, more aware, and more prone to being spooked.
Why is that?
Because even from a young age we know that darkness is danger.
And I believe that one of the reasons it’s so ingrained in us is b/c we know the reality of the spiritual darkness all around us.
And that is the meaning and message of this passage.
Jesus knows the true reality of the darkness that we are all subject to.
Light of the World
This is one of the 7 “I am” statements found in John’s Gospel.
In fact, it is the second one in the story.
And it’s absolutely beautiful how and why Jesus uses it.
Remember a few weeks ago when we talked about Jesus using the ceremony of the the water pouring out to tell the crowd that he was the fulfillment of the ceremony.
That if they were thirsty they could come to him and drink and be thirsty no more.
Well he is doing something very similar here.
Not only was the water ceremony a big part of the Feast of Tabernacles, but so what the lighting ceremony.
During the festival in the court of the women in the temple area there would be giant candelabras set up.
They were so tall that they needed ladders to get to the top.
These candelabras would be filled with oil and the priests old clothes and be lit on fire.
The fire would burn so bright at night that all of Jerusalem would be lit.
As this fire was burning there would be singing and dancing.
They were celebrating God’s goodness.
Remember the feast of the tabernacles was a celebration of God’s provision.
One of the ways that God provided for the Israelites after their escape from Egypt was to provide them with a pillar of fire by night and a cloud by day.
Exodus 13:21-22 “21 The Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to lead them on their way during the day and in a pillar of fire to give them light at night, so that they could travel day or night.
22 The pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night never left its place in front of the people.”
Thus, these candelabras represented the light of the Lord provided for them throughout their wilderness wanderings.
“He who has never seen the illumination ceremony has never seen true joy.”
The light pointed to the goodness and providence of God.
His gift of light in the darkness.
And as these lights are lit and the whole city of Jerusalem is bright with thankfulness.
Jesus stands up and says, John 8:12 “I am the light of the world.
Anyone who follows me will never walk in the darkness but will have the light of life.””
Once again, Jesus is pointing to the truth that the ceremony reminded them of.
That He is the supreme and pinnacle of the promise.
That these ceremonies ultimately pointed to him.
He is the fulfillment of all the feasts, the celebrations, and the promises.
In the Old Testament, God is identified with light quite often.
Here are just a couple of Examples.
Ps 56.13 “13 For you rescued me from death, even my feet from stumbling, to walk before God in the light of life.”
Ps 27:1 “1 The Lord is my light and my salvation— whom should I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life— whom should I dread?”
Jesus is showing them that he is the one that came to provide light to the world.
This is a theme in John’s Gospel too.
John 1:5 “5 That light shines in the darkness, and yet the darkness did not overcome it.”
John 1:9 “9 The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.”
Why did the Israelites need a pillar of light to follow them around in the wilderness?
Because it was dark and dangerous.
They needed protection.
So God in his providence and mercy provided them with that protection.
But it wasn’t just Israel that needs light?
The Whole World needs light.
And not a physical light.
A Spiritual light.
A Light that overcomes the darkness.
A light that pierces through the mess of life and provides hope and salvation.
And Jesus is saying here that he is that light.
And people can have that light.
They can be brought out of the darkness.
They can avoid the sting of death and have the gift of the light of life.
But there is a catch.
You have to follow Jesus.
Anyone who follows him will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.
Just like the Israelites in the desert if they wanted to stay in God’s protection.
They had to follow the light.
If they strayed from, ignored, or walked away from the pillar of light they would not have that protection.
So if you want to have the light of life.
If you want to be saved from the darkness of the world.
The Darkness of sin, the darkness of death.
The darkness of Religion.
You need to follow Jesus.
...
What’s interesting is that right here, the conversation about the light of the world stops.
Jesus starts to talk about himself being the light of the world and the religious leaders quickly shut him down.
It’s not until chapter 9 that we truly get to see what Jesus means when he talks about being the light of the world.
So you’ll need to come back in a couple of weeks when we pick back up there.
But know this, the world is full of darkness.
There is wickedness, sin, destruction, and peril everywhere.
However, The greatest threat to you is not the things of this world.
It is your own darkness.
The darkness of sin and rebellion that is within you.
But Jesus is the light that pierces through the darkness.
He is the light that can dispel the darkness of sin within you.
He wants to bring you into the light.
Paul tells us in 2 Cor 4:6 “6 For God who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of God’s glory in the face of Jesus Christ.”
Here’s the problem though, there are some that don’t want the light.
And that is what Jesus is up against here.
Divine Authority
The Religious leaders aren’t actually listening to what Jesus is saying.
They don’t care what he has to say.
They more care about their religion.
More about their rules.
More about their self-righteousness than they do about the God of the universe.
Unfortunately there is a lot of darkness in religion.
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