The Light of the
World
Book of John Chapter
8
If we remember when
we were lost and out in the world, we had a great need, but we had no
idea what that need was. We seem to forget that now but those who are
out in the world, even some of our own families still have that need
today and they do not know where to go to meet that need, just like
we were.
1Co 6:11 And such
were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye
are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our
God.
In verses 1-11 the
Jews we have been referring to, had brought to Jesus some poor woman
who had been setup by those Jews as a test for Christ Jesus.
Their story was that
she had been caught in the very act of adultery. Whether that was
true or, not is irrelevant.
What we must realize
is the Jesus was seen as the mortal enemy of these Jewish rulers and
every trick possible was used to trap the Lord or to make Him look
bad in front of His followers.
Jesus caught them
all off guard when He said these words:
Joh 8:7 So when
they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them,
He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.
Wouldn't you have
liked to know what Jesus was writing in the sand with His finger?
So let’s pickup
our passage with Chapter 8 and verse 12:
*****Joh 8:12 Then
spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he
that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the
light of life.
We live in a dark
world not because there is no light but because our world is full of
the darkness of sin.
What is this
darkness? Darkness is the blindness of the mind by the reason of
sin!
1Jn 1:5 This then
is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that
God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
1Jn 1:6 If we say
that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and
do not the truth:
1Jn 1:7 But if we
walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with
another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all
sin.
1Jn 1:8 If we say
that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in
us.
How are we to deal
with this darkness?
2Co 4:5 For we
preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your
servants for Jesus' sake.
2Co 4:6 For God,
who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our
hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the
face of Jesus Christ.
This darkness brings
with it, wickedness, ignorance, bondage and misery.
The truth is we all
walk in darkness until we follow the Light, The Lord Jesus Christ!
The big commotion of
Nicodemus and the Jewish rulers had happened the previous day toward
the evening and every one of those had gone to their homes but at
daylight Jesus was back in the Temple teaching the people again.
Now again some of
these same hard-line Jews clearly knew Jesus was claiming to be the
Messiah.
Isa 60:1 Arise,
shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon
thee.
Isa 60:2 For,
behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the
people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be
seen upon thee.
Isa 60:3 And the
Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy
rising.
They had already
rejected that Jehovah could be the God of the Gentiles so it nothing
greater to reject His Son Jesus as the Light of this world!
The truth is sin
does not like to reveal itself and therefore wants no part of any
light.
To these Jews their
God was just for the Jews and not anyone else in the world.
*****Joh 8:13 The
Pharisees therefore said unto him, Thou bearest record of thyself;
thy record is not true.
Let's go back and
review a verse in Chapter 5, where this same topic had already come
up.
Joh 5:31 If I bear
witness of myself, my witness is not true.
What Jesus meant
here was that He witnessed only the will of His Father so certainly
His own witness would not be true if it differed from that of the
Father.
These enemies of
Christ had not forgotten what the Lord had said but they certainly
could not grasp the meaning of what Jesus had said!
*****Joh 8:14 Jesus
answered and said unto them, Though I bear record of myself, yet my
record is true: for I know whence I came, and whither I go; but ye
cannot tell whence I come, and whither I go.
Jesus then said He
could bear witness of Himself because He knew everything about the
Father and they both do exactly the same things all the time.
There are so many
things that only God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit
know, that no one can know but them.
The Evolutionist
make some great big deal about what they know but they cannot begin
to describe the truths of life and its beginning because to them life
is just one big accident. How can people believe such nonsense?
God on the other
hand gives us all the information that we need to know about life and
then life after the death of this thing we call the flesh.
The truth is only
God knows His own beginning and His own ending. In fact God says He
has always existed.
Isa_48:16 Come ye
near unto me, hear ye this; I have not spoken in secret from the
beginning; from the time that it was, there am I: and now the Lord
GOD, and his Spirit, hath sent me.
Psa_14:1 The fool
hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have
done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.
Only God knows where
He comes from and where He is going and to us that means God is
everywhere.
There is no place in
this cosmos that you cannot reach out to the Lord and He will not
already be there.
God is Spirit (not a
spirit) because He has no form.
God is everywhere
because He cannot be limited to surroundings.
God has substance,
yet He is not material.
God is life which
means He is the source of all life.
God is independent
of His being but also independent of all His creation.
God is perfect,
therefore He can never change!
Mal 3:6 For I am
the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.
Jas 1:16 Do not
err, my beloved brethren.
Jas 1:17 Every good
gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the
Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of
turning.
Jas 1:18 Of his own
will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of
firstfruits of his creatures.
God will never
change in His response because God will never change in His person!
Jesus said He is the
Light of this world and this is a true statement!
For there to be
communication with the Spiritual dimension then the Spiritual world
had to come to this physical world and this is what happened when the
Lord Jesus Christ was born in Bethlehem.
Jesus allows us to
look through His eyes to get a glimpse into the Spiritual World.
Knowing and
understanding this truth opens the door to understanding all the
Words of Jesus Christ.
*****Joh 8:15 Ye
judge after the flesh; I judge no man.
Joh 8:16 And yet if
I judge, my judgment is true: for I am not alone, but I and the
Father that sent me.
Mankind is
incompetent to "judge" anyone because we "judge"
by sight, the appearance of things.
Joh 7:24 Judge not
according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.
When mankind
attempts to "judge" the Lord Jesus Christ, they cannot do
so on the basis of physical things because Jesus is not of this
world!
Jesus can only be
"judged" by "Faith"!
Jesus is either
believed or His Words are rejected!
In Jewish Law it was
required that there be at least 2 witnesses for someone to be
believed.
Jesus said since our
Father in Heaven was with Him at all times then they both were
witnesses of the truth at all times!
Jesus could not bear
false witness, it is impossible!
Jesus could not lie,
for it is impossible!
Jesus could not make
a deceptive claim, for it is impossible!
Jesus stressed the
Father, Son relationship because this is the relationship our God
seeks with each of us!
Joh 17:11 And now I
am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to
thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast
given me, that they may be one, as we are.
Joh 17:22 And the
glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one,
even as we are one:
Food for thought:
God the Father and God the Son are distinct persons but only One God.
God is sometimes
said to come down from Heaven but at the same time God never leaves
Heaven.
Because Jesus is the
Light of this world, then He is the Light of all life!
*****Joh 8:17 It is
also written in your law, that the testimony of two men is true.
Joh 8:18 I am one
that bear witness of myself, and the Father that sent me beareth
witness of me.
We touched upon this
earlier but let's look closer now. The Law of Moses said:
Deu 19:15 One
witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any
sin, in any sin that he sinneth: at the mouth of two witnesses, or at
the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established.
We say a lot about
the air we breathe and the water we drink that we would die without
them. The truth is that without our Sun there would be no life upon
this planet. The natural Sun is the fountain of life to this world.
Again the truth is
that without Jesus Christ, the Son of God, there would be no physical
life nor Spiritual life in this world.
The witness of Jesus
is always true because everything He did, He did in obedience to God
the Father.
Everything that
Jesus did was to bring eternal life to "whosoever" believed
upon Him and this was because His was the plan of His Father in
Heaven.
1Jn 5:8 And there
are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and
the blood: and these three agree in one.
1Jn 5:9 If we
receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this
is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son.
1Jn 5:10 He that
believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that
believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the
record that God gave of his Son.
1Jn 5:11 And this
is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life
is in his Son.
We must understand
that none of the laws of this physical world apply to our Triune God.
Then we see that
just like every false religion that exist upon this earth have the
same question.
*****Joh 8:19 Then
said they unto him, Where is thy Father? Jesus answered, Ye neither
know me, nor my Father: if ye had known me, ye should have known my
Father also.
What is the
difference in Christianity and Religion? It's called the truth!
You will never know
the true God until you accept His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ!
They did not ask who
was His Father, they asked "where is thy Father".
We might ask
ourselves, just as these foolish men asked, show us physical proof of
your Father.
The same truth says
if you cannot accept the Lord Jesus Christ, then you cannot know God.
This drives the
Muslim crazy, but this is what the truth will do.
This drives all
false religion crazy because, this is what the truth will do.
This drives the
Atheist crazy because, they have to believe to say they do not
believe. They will die knowing that they actually believe!
If Jesus Christ is
not your Lord, then you will never meet God!
The truth is Jesus
had given them the truth and they could only mock Him. Jesus did not
owe them any other explanation because they had no "faith".
Just the day before
these same Jews had sent the Temple police to arrest Jesus but Jesus
had returned this next day to teach in the Temple, yet no one made
any attempt to arrest Him.
*****Joh 8:20 These
words spake Jesus in the treasury, as he taught in the temple: and no
man laid hands on him; for his hour was not yet come.
Joh 8:21 Then said
Jesus again unto them, I go my way, and ye shall seek me, and shall
die in your sins: whither I go, ye cannot come.
The treasury was
located in a certain part of the women’s court. A place where there
was much foot traffic, but no one dared to lay a hand upon the Lord.
This place would have been heavily guarded but again no one attempted
to arrest the Lord, "for His hour had not yet come"!
We should also
understand that though it appears that they may never get another
opportunity to repent and show faith, as long as Jesus is still
warning the unbeliever He is still seeking for them to repent.
These people never
did repent so they did die in their sins.
Rom 6:23 For the
wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through
Jesus Christ our Lord.
The truth is no one
can come to the Lord unless they are called.
1Pe 5:10 But the
God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ
Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect,
stablish, strengthen, settle you.
1Pe 5:11 To him be
glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
As Christians we see
death as sad for those left behind but wonderful for that one who is
going to be with the Lord.
2Co_5:6 Therefore
we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the
body, we are absent from the Lord:
2Co_5:8 We are
confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and
to be present with the Lord.
For those who do not
accept the Lord Jesus as their Savior, death is a nightmare.
To die in our sins
was the judgment laid upon us all because of Adam's disobedience.
To die is a complete
separation from everything you know. If you have rejected the Word of
God while you were alive then it is too late to seek Jesus and you
will die in your sins.
Rom 3:23 For all
have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Rom 6:23 For the
wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through
Jesus Christ our Lord.
About 40 days after
His resurrection the Lord Jesus Christ went back to Heaven. While we
are alive we can choose to join Him there or we can reject His offer
of "Grace" and end up in eternal torment.
We all claim to be
seeking the "fountain of youth" which does not exist but
the promise of eternal life in Heaven does exist, but we must get up
close and personal with Jesus Christ to get there.
Jesus knew these
Jews that confronted Him would never accept Him as the Messiah, so
they would die in their sins having lost the ability to be saved.
The sin that cannot
be forgiven is the sin of unbelief all other sin can be forgiven!
We do not possess
enough brain power to know what a life in Heaven would be, but the
Scriptures do tell us a good bit of what is not in Heaven.
God is perfect, so
His home is a place of perfection!
Joh 14:2 In my
Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have
told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
Joh 14:3 And if I
go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you
unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
Joh 14:4 And
whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.
If we know Jesus
Christ as Lord, then we already know how to get to Heaven. We can
look anywhere we want to but if we do not look to Jesus we will never
get to Heaven!
Joh 14:6 Jesus
saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh
unto the Father, but by me.
Joh 14:7 If ye had
known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye
know him, and have seen him.
The worst possible
thing that we could ever do is to alienate ourselves from Jesus
Christ!
*****Joh 8:26 I
have many things to say and to judge of you: but he that sent me is
true; and I speak to the world those things which I have heard of
him.
We must understand
that Jesus is God's spokesperson here on earth.
Jesus is exactly who
He claimed to be!
Joh 12:49 For I
have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a
commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.
Joh 12:50 And I
know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak
therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak.
We have the message
the Father gave to His Son and the message of the 4 Gospels teach us
the same message.
We know that the
Lord will return so His first message was a message of salvation,
then by default Jesus will return for "Judgment".
The cross shows us
the love of God!
The resurrection
declared the power of God!
The ascension
allowed the Holy Spirit to replace Christ on this earth!
It is all these
things that prove that Christ Jesus is the God of the Bible!
This seems to give
people the greatest problem, but this is why it takes "Faith".
*****Joh 8:28 Then
said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then
shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as
my Father hath taught me, I speak these things.
Again we see Jesus
speak of the Cross, but it also describes the end when every knee
will bow before the Lord!
We can just imagine
the smile on Satan's face when the Lord was placed on that cross. Had
God used His own power to come down off that cross then we would
still be dead in our sins!
Since He did not
come down off that cross Jesus paid the ultimate cost for our
salvation.
The Cross proved
that Jesus was the Messiah, God in the flesh.
The Cross proved
that Jesus did not act alone but with all the power of the Holy
Trinity.
The Cross proved
that Jesus was the Messenger of His Father in Heaven.
The Cross proved
that we have a Savior.
Heb 2:3 How shall
we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began
to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that
heard him;
Heb 2:4 God also
bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers
miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?
*****Joh 8:29 And
he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I
do always those things that please him.
Joh 8:30 As he
spake these words, many believed on him.
Jesus Christ is our
example in all things so as Jesus did, we to are do always things
that please God the Father.
It is God the Father
who sent the Lord to the Cross.
God the Father was
with God the Son at all times, when the Lord was upon this earth,
even when He was upon that Cross.
Many will never
accept the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior, but God will never
abandon His Son.
God will never
provide any other means to join Him in Heaven no matter what religion
teaches you at the same time God the Father gets no satisfaction at
the death of those who refuse His Son.
Isa_53:10 Yet it
pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou
shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he
shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in
his hand.
Eze_18:32 For I
have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord GOD:
wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye.
It is only the work
of the Lord Jesus Christ that can reconcile us to God the Father!
When you meet Jesus,
some will believe and be saved, and some will reject His Words and
die the death of a non-believer!
What is true
"freedom"?
*****Joh 8:31 Then
said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my
word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
Joh 8:32 And ye
shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
The absolute truth
is that all mankind has been in bondage to sin since the time of
Adam.
Rom 5:12 Wherefore,
as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so
death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
We are not good
people who occasionally sin. We are sinners who occasionally do good!
Luk 16:13 No
servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and
love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the
other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
There is very little
truth in this world we live in because it is a wicked world!
As sinners we will
bear the consequences of our sin unless we accept that the work Jesus
Christ did upon that Cross has set us free from sin's bondage.
We must be free from
sin to enter into God's Heaven!
We must escape the
clutches of Satan!
2Ti 2:26 And that
they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are
taken captive by him at his will.
Without Christ
Jesus, Satan takes us as he sees fit and the only escape is "Faith"
in the work of Jesus!
The Word of God is
the absolute truth and if we do the best we can to follow the Word of
God, then Satan has no power over us anymore.
We must also know
that we cannot reach perfection until the Lord returns to take us
home!
As the "Born
Again" children of God we have chosen a new Father and even more
than that He has chosen us!
Jesus Christ is
truly the Light of this world because He is the Light of Creation and
the Light of Salvation.
We need to make the
Word of God our own personal Temple to dwell in as the Holy Spirit
dwells in us and we are a Temple of God!
Amen
Let's Pray!
