I Am the Light of the World

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I Am the Light of the World
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Introduction

• Each I Am statement provides insight into the
  character and nature of Jesus
• I Am
• I am the Bread of Life
• I am the True Vine

John 81212 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.
John 955 As long as I am in the world, I am the
light of the world.
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Introduction

• Setting of these statements
• First is made in the treasury of the temple
• Two lamps were prominent in this part of the
  temple
• Second statement is made in the context of Jesus
  healing a blind man
• Eyes are the window of light into the body
• Jesus would bring light to him by healing him

John 82020 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.

There were two colossal golden lamp stands, on
which hung a multitude of lamps, lighted after
the evening sacrifice (probably every evening
during the feast of tabernacles), diffusing their
brilliancy, it is said, over all the city
Jameison, Fausset, and Brown
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Darkness in the World

• Darkness is used symbolically of wickedness and
  sin in the world
• The opposite of light, which is good and right

1 John 15-65 This is the message which we have
heard from Him and declare to you, that God is
light and in Him is no darkness at all. 6 If we
say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in
darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.
1 John 27-87 Brethren, I write no new
commandment to you, but an old commandment which
you have had from the beginning. The old
commandment is the word which you heard from the
beginning. 8 Again, a new commandment I write to
you, which thing is true in Him and in you,
because the darkness is passing away, and the
true light is already shining.
1 John 29-119 He who says he is in the light,
and hates his brother, is in darkness until now.
10 He who loves his brother abides in the light,
and there is no cause for stumbling in him. 11
But he who hates his brother is in darkness and
walks in darkness, and does not know where he is
going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

1 Peter 299 But you are a chosen generation, a
royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special
people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him
who called you out of darkness into His marvelous
light
John 31919 And this is the condemnation, that
the light has come into the world, and men loved
darkness rather than light, because their deeds
were evil.
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Darkness in the World
Ephesians 417-1917 This I say, therefore, and
testify in the Lord, that you should no longer
walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the
futility of their mind, 18 having their
understanding darkened, being alienated from the
life of God, because of the ignorance that is in
them, because of the blindness of their heart 19
who, being past feeling, have given themselves
over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with
greediness.

• We can certainly see darkness in our world today
• Paul tells us that many walk in darkness
• They were darkened in understanding
• They were alienated from the life of God
• They were ignorant because of the blindness of
  their heart
• They were past feeling, given over to lewdness
• They were working all uncleanness with greediness

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Darkness in the World

• We see this reality in the world around us
• Violence and depravity
• Murder and mayhem in the news
• Television is full of wickedness
• Wickedness surrounds us
• We sometimes think we live in the most wicked of
  times
• But other times were just as wicked
• With so much darkness, we need Light!

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The Light of the World

• Jesus is the Light
• John introduces Jesus as the light early in this
  gospel
• John 14-12
• John identifies Jesus as the Light
• John was not the Light, but was bearing witness
  to the light
• A couple of other instances

John 123535 Then Jesus said to them, A little
while longer the light is with you. Walk while
you have the light, lest darkness overtake you
he who walks in darkness does not know where he
is going.
John 124646 I have come as a light into the
world, that whoever believes in Me should not
abide in darkness.
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The Light of the World

• Jesus is THE Light
• Singular in nature
• He is the only Light, and the only source of
  Light
• Jesus is the source of Light and the Source of
  Life
• Spiritual life is found in the light

John 81212 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.
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The Light of the World

• Jesus wants us to have this lifeabundantly
• This is the life that Jesus has for us!
• With this life comes peace, joy and love
• This life encompasses eternal life, and the
  resurrection from the dead

John 109-109 I am the door. If anyone enters by
Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and
find pasture. 10 The thief does not come except
to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have
come that they may have life, and that they may
have it more abundantly.
John 142727 Peace I leave with you, My peace I
give to you not as the world gives do I give to
you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let
it be afraid.
John 159-119 As the Father loved Me, I also
have loved you abide in My love. 10 If you keep
My commandments, you will abide in My love, just
as I have kept My Fathers commandments and abide
in His love. 11 These things I have spoken to
you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your
joy may be full.
1 exceeding some number or measure or rank or
need. 1a over and above, more than is necessary,
superadded. 1a1 exceeding abundantly, supremely.
1a2 something further, more, much more than all,
more plainly. 1b superior, extraordinary,
surpassing, uncommon. 1b1 pre-eminence,
superiority, advantage, more eminent, more
remarkable, more excellent
John 1125-26 25 Jesus said to her, I am the
resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me,
though he may die, he shall live. 26 And whoever
lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you
believe this?
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The Light of the World

• We must be wary of those that claim to offer
  light, but dont have Jesus
• Many claim to know how to put an end to evil
• World Religions?
• Governments?
• Cannot eradicate darkness without Christ!
• 2 Corinthians 1112-15

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The Light of the World
Isaiah 4966 Indeed He says, It is too small a
thing that You should be My Servant To raise up
the tribes of Jacob, And to restore the
preserved ones of Israel I will also give You
as a light to the Gentiles, That You should be
My salvation to the ends of the earth.
Isaiah 601-31 Arise, shine For your light has
come! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon
you. 2 For behold, the darkness shall cover the
earth, And deep darkness the people But the
Lord will arise over you, And His glory will be
seen upon you. 3 The Gentiles shall come to your
light, And kings to the brightness of your
rising.
Acts 2615-1615 So I said, Who are You, Lord?
And He said, I am Jesus, whom you are
persecuting. 16 But rise and stand on your feet
for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to
make you a minister and a witness both of the
things which you have seen and of the things
which I will yet reveal to you.
Acts 2617-1817 I will deliver you from the
Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles, to
whom I now send you, 18 to open their eyes, in
order to turn them from darkness to light, and
from the power of Satan to God, that they may
receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance
among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.

• Jesus is the Lightof the World
• Not just for the Jews
• For the Gentiles (all nations)
• Prophesied by Isaiah
• Jesus instructed His disciples to go to the
  Gentiles
• Peter taught the gospel to Gentiles in Acts 10

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The Light of the World

• The Light went out to all who believed on Jesus
• Those who believe must be obedient
• Jesus tells us this in our context!

John 124646 I have come as a light into the
world, that whoever believes in Me should not
abide in darkness.
John 81212 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.
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For Those Who Follow Him

• We must follow Jesus to be in the Light
• How?
• Intellectual acceptance?
• Become His Disciple
• Connection between following Jesus and being His
  disciple
• Disciple learner, pupil, disciple
• One who follows after, or a follower

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For Those Who Follow Him
1 John 29-119 He who says he is in the light,
and hates his brother, is in darkness until now.
10 He who loves his brother abides in the light,
and there is no cause for stumbling in him. 11
But he who hates his brother is in darkness and
walks in darkness, and does not know where he is
going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

1 John 15-75 This is the message which we have
heard from Him and declare to you, that God is
light and in Him is no darkness at all. 6 If we
say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in
darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7
But if we walk in the light as He is in the
light, we have fellowship with one another, and
the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us
from all sin.
1 John 23-63 Now by this we know that we know
Him, if we keep His commandments. 4 He who says,
I know Him, and does not keep His commandments,
is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5 But
whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is
perfected in him. By this we know that we are in
Him. 6 He who says he abides in Him ought himself
also to walk just as He walked.
1 John 27-87 Brethren, I write no new
commandment to you, but an old commandment which
you have had from the beginning. The old
commandment is the word which you heard from the
beginning. 8 Again, a new commandment I write to
you, which thing is true in Him and in you,
because the darkness is passing away, and the
true light is already shining.

• Only those who become His disciples can walk in
  His light
• John specifies some things that we must do to
  walk in the light
• Every time we choose to walk according to the
  flesh, we are in darkness

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For Those Who Follow Him

• How do we know how to follow Him?
• By abiding in His word
• If we follow His will, we will be in the Light
• We can be His disciples indeed
• 1 truly, of a truth, in reality, most certainly
• May think we are disciples, when we really are
  not
• Do we truly have Christ?
• Many claim to have Christ but refuse to listen
  to Him!

John 831-3231 Then Jesus said to those Jews who
believed Him, If you abide in My word, you are
My disciples indeed. 32 And you shall know the
truth, and the truth shall make you free.
2 John 99 Whoever transgresses and does not
abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have
God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has
both the Father and the Son.
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For Those Who Follow Him

• How do we become a follower of Him?
• Faith
• Many other things that save us
• How do we put on Christ?

John 31616 For God so loved the world that He
gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes
in Him should not perish but have everlasting
life.
2 Corinthians 71010 For godly sorrow produces
repentance leading to salvation, not to be
regretted but the sorrow of the world produces
death.
Romans 109-109 that if you confess with your
mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart
that God has raised Him from the dead, you will
be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto
righteousness, and with the mouth confession is
made unto salvation.
1 Peter 32121 There is also an antitype which
now saves usbaptism (not the removal of the
filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good
conscience toward God), through the resurrection
of Jesus Christ,
Galatians 32727 For as many of you as were
baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
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For Those Who Follow Him

• We walk in the Light, and we become Light
• We reflect the Light of Christ
• We can prove that which is good, and expose that
  which is not
• We need to be these kinds of lights in the world!
• We must be abiding in His word!

Philippians 215-1615 that you may become
blameless and harmless, children of God without
fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse
generation, among whom you shine as lights in the
world, 16 holding fast the word of life, so that
I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have
not run in vain or labored in vain.
Ephesians 58-118 For you were once darkness,
but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as
children of light 9 (for the fruit of the Spirit
is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), 10
finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. 11
And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works
of darkness, but rather expose them.
Ephesians 512-1412 For it is shameful even to
speak of those things which are done by them in
secret. 13 But all things that are exposed are
made manifest by the light, for whatever makes
manifest is light. 14 Therefore He says Awake,
you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ
will give you light.
Matthew 514-1614 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.
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Conclusion

• This world is filled with darkness
• We gain comfort from Jesus being the Light of
  the world
• We can walk in the light, just as He is in the
  light
• We must shun wickedness, and be obedient
• We can be His disciples indeed!