[0:00] to begin our worship by singing to God's praise in Psalm 86 in the Scottish Psalter. Psalm 86, page 341, the Scottish Psalter version. We're going to sing from verse 11 down to verse 15. Teach me thy way and in thy truth. O Lord, then walk will I. Unite my heart that I thy name may fear continually. O Lord, my God, with all my heart, to thee I will give praise, and the glory will ascribe unto thy name always. We'll sing from verse 11 to 15, and the tune is Kilmarnock, to God's praise.
[0:54] O Lord, then walk will I. There light my heart that I thy name may fear continually. O Lord, my God, with all my heart, to thee I will give praise. And I, the glory will ascribe unto thy name, glory. Because thy mercy to worthy, and great rest thou excel. And thou deliver us my soul, and from the Lord, and from the Lord, O God, the proud against me right, and my life may
[2:21] O God, the proud against me right, and my life may thou may.
[2:49] And thou flow to battle, and my soul ascribe unto thy soul to thee, for thy soul has no family. And for thy soul has no family, hairstysiae, they more than have no respect. Father who made it.
[3:24] Suffering hand in my youth And mercy, let me hear all Let's bow our heads in a word of prayer.
[3:44] Let us pray. Our gracious Lord in heaven, we do thank you to be able to come and praise you as the one who is worthy of it.
[3:56] We thank you for these words that we have sung together. They remind us that we are to with all our heart give praise to thee and to give glory unto thy name always.
[4:07] And we thank you that day by day you remind us of every reason why we have to give praise to you, that you are the God who provides for us, that you are the God who watches over us, that you are the God who meets our needs in so many different ways.
[4:23] And you are the one who remembers us in our frailties. Even though we are like the dust of the ground, we thank you that you see us, that you see us through your Son, Christ Jesus, that you see us not as we are sinners unworthy of any of your mercies, but that you are full of mercy, that your mercies are plenteous towards us.
[4:45] For we do not deserve it, yet you have given to us through your Son, Christ Jesus, all our needs to be met in him. And we thank you that when we were lost, when we were, like the Bible describes, sheep without a shepherd, when we were wandering astray, that you sent him as a shepherd, an overseer for us, one who would gather his people, gather his own, and take them to himself, one who would come, and even the poorest, the frailest of sheep, he would carry in his bosom.
[5:18] He would hold them close. And we thank you for that wonderful imagery that your Word gives us, of the very compassion and care of our Savior, that he has such a gracious love towards us, that he never casts any away from him, but he always invites us to come, to come no matter our situation or circumstances, to come no matter our past or present, no matter where we are in life.
[5:47] The invitation of the Gospel goes out, and we marvel at that, in a world that so much despises and casts you away, that your mercy is still more in the midst of it all.
[6:00] And we do pray, Lord, to know your mercy upon us, to know your mercy upon us, as our people here and as our community, that we would know your favour upon us, Lord, that we would know what it is for you to work in us and through us and around us, to know what it is to see your Spirit giving life, to see your Spirit bringing hope to the hopeless, to see your Spirit opening the eyes of the blind, bringing your Spirit upon us, Lord, to draw us close to yourself, that you would pour it upon us, even in these days, to know, Lord, the wonder of your reviving power.
[6:39] And we thank you for your word that is truth. We thank you that it stands firm through all generations, passed down from so many, even in our own communities and islands here.
[6:51] We thank you for those who have upheld it, who have stood firm on it, who continue to this day to uphold your truth. And we pray that as your people here, your truth would be the very foundation of our lives and our being, that we would see it not just as words from pages in front of us, but that we would see it as the living word of God, that living word that is active and powerful, sharper than any two-edged sword, able to pierce into our very soul and being.
[7:24] And we thank you for the power of your word, that it is that word that gives life. And we pray in the preaching of it, and as we hear it even this evening anew, that you would speak to us, and that you would give us ears to hear as we hear it read, and as we consider it together, that we would see the wonder, the beauty of Jesus with us, the one who is the I am, the one who we see this evening as we come to read your word, as the one who is the light of the world.
[7:58] And so we pray that that light would go out in our midst here and throughout our communities, throughout our land, throughout the world, as we see the tensions and the difficulties around us in so many different places.
[8:11] We think of the Middle East as tensions continue to rise there, a place, O Lord, that we know is precious to you and your people who are precious to you.
[8:23] And yet we see the violence, we see the worries, the fears, we see the death and atrocities taking place. And Lord, in our human hearts, we are so wicked to the core.
[8:36] We do not judge, for we are wicked ourselves, but yet we know that we need you in the midst of it all. We pray that people there will come to realize the futility of it.
[8:47] We pray, Lord, people to realize their need of peace and that peace that comes from you. And so we pray, Lord, that you will have mercy there, have mercy in the Ukraine and Russia.
[9:00] As ongoing conflict there continues, we pray, Lord, for peace to come. We pray for that in the midst of all the different needs around us and in this world. Lord, we know, Lord, that life brings its troubles, its sorrows.
[9:15] So the ones that we see so internationally, and yet the many that are known only in our own hearts or in a small number around us, but yet, Lord, known to you.
[9:27] And we thank you that in our needs, O Lord, that you are there, that you are there to give us the light of the gospel, the light of life, and that we would follow you.
[9:37] And Lord, help us to see you and to know you in these things. And for us to make known Jesus to all around us, to pray for people around us, to commit our lives unto you in all things.
[9:52] And we thank you for every opportunity we have to serve you. We thank you for our people, young and old alike, and we thank you for the way that we are able to bring the gospel to many people in many different ways.
[10:07] And we do pray for this coming week with the holiday club taking place. We thank you for all that has been done in preparation for it. We ask your blessing over all things in these coming days, your protection over everyone who comes and goes, your strength towards all who help, and your blessing on all who come.
[10:29] Families and children alike, Lord, we pray to see your hand upon us for good. We pray too, Lord, for our community as a whole in these days.
[10:40] We pray for those who mourn, for those who are unwell, for those who struggle in life in many different ways. We do pray, Lord, for your help and your strength.
[10:51] We thank you for times of holiday and seeing visitors in our midst over these days. We thank you for all who find that time of refreshment either coming here on holiday or going away on holiday.
[11:05] But we are mindful too of those who are unable to do so, those who maybe cannot afford it or those who have other commitments, those who have lives that are hectic and busy in so many different ways.
[11:17] And we just pray, Lord, for your help and your strength and your mercy upon us in all of these things. And so we do pray, Lord, that you will continue with us this evening, guide us in our worship, give us that song of praise in our heart to lift up to you as we sing praise to you, Lord.
[11:39] May we do so with gladness of heart and with joy on our lips and lifting our voices together. We pray, Lord, praising you as our Lord and as our God. May you hear our prayers as we offer them up to you in the name of Jesus.
[11:53] May you hear them as we speak them and as we utter them in our hearts, that you would be pleased to answer according to your will. And may you guide us, Lord, and help us to know your spirit with us.
[12:08] For we know that as your word says, apart from you we can do nothing. And so we pray that your presence will be real to us this night, that you will be near, that you will draw close to us as we seek to draw close to you.
[12:23] So continue with us and pardon all our sin. That's all we ask. We ask in that precious name above every name, the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and for his glory.
[12:34] Amen. We'll again sing to God's praise, this time in Psalm 62.
[12:46] In the Scottish Psalter, once again, Psalm 62, page 294 of the Psalm books. And we'll sing from verse 5 down to verse 8.
[12:59] Psalm 62 at verse 5. My soul, wait thou with patience upon thy God alone. On him dependeth all my hope and expectation.
[13:11] He only my salvation is, and my strong rock is he. He only is my sure defense, I shall not move it be. We'll sing from verse 5 down to verse 8, and the tune is Martyrdom.
[13:24] We stand to sing to God's praise. My soul, wait thou with patience upon thy God alone.
[13:47] On him dependeth all my hope and expectation.
[14:03] He only my salvation is, and my strong rock is he.
[14:23] He only is my sure defense, I shall not move it be.
[14:41] In God my glory place in it, and my salvation sure.
[14:59] In God the Lord is all my strength, My refuge most secure.
[15:17] His fire, the Messiah said, fuego esté human rí sand, the lead before and for the under heart God is the recognized high we're going to turn to reading the gospel of John chapter 8 John chapter 8 we're going to take up our reading at verse 12 and read down to verse 30 but just put it into context where we take up our reading at verse 12 is really following on from the end of chapter 7 the whole of chapter 7 speaks about the festival that was going on at this time the feast of booths and it's in light of this feast that's going on that's coming to an end as we'll see as we look at this passage together this evening as we come into chapter 8 this feast went on for a week and it's coming to an end as we read in verse 12 where Jesus utters these words
[16:49] I am the light of the world so it was in the midst of this feast that Jesus was speaking so we bear that in mind as we read these words together John 8 and at verse 12 again Jesus spoke to them saying I am the light of the world whoever follows me will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life so the Pharisee said to him you are bearing witness about yourself your testimony is not true Jesus answered even if I do bear witness about myself my testimony is true for I know where I came from and where I am going but you do not know where I come from or where I am going you judge according to the flesh I judge no one yet even if I do judge my judgment is true for it is not I alone who judge but I and the Father who sent me in your law it is written that the testimony of two men is true
[17:55] I am the one who bears witness about myself and the Father who sent me bears witness about me they said to him therefore where is your Father Jesus answered you know neither me nor my Father if you knew me you would know my Father also these words he spoke in the treasury as he taught in the temple but no one arrested him because his hour had not yet come so he said to them again I am going away and you will seek me and you will die in your sin where I am going you cannot come so the Jews said will he kill himself since he says where I am going you cannot come he said to them you are from below I am from above you are of this world I am not of this world I told you that you would die in your sins for unless you believe that I am he you will die in your sins so they said to him who are you
[19:03] Jesus said to them just what I have been telling you from the beginning I have much to say about you and much to judge but he who sent me is true and I declare to the world that I have heard from him they did not understand that he had been speaking to them about the father so Jesus said to them when you have lifted up the son of man then you will know that I am he and that I do nothing on my own authority but speak just as the father taught me and he who sent me is with me he has not left me alone for I always do the things that are pleasing to him as he was saying these things many believed in him and so on and may God bless that reading from his word before we turn back to look at this passage together we're going to sing again to God's praise in Psalm 27 the Sing Psalms version
[20:04] Psalm 27 on page 32 we're going to sing from verse 9 down to the end of the psalm and the psalm begins with these words that tie into what we're looking at this evening as the Lord's light towards us the Lord's my saviour and my light a psalm that the people of God would often sing and as we'll see it ties into what we're looking at this evening they were looking for the light who would bring them salvation and then at verse 9 we read these words so do not hide your face from me and do not turn aside your servant in your righteous wrath for you have been my guide O God my saviour leave me not do not reject my plea my parents may forsake me Lord but you will welcome me we'll sing from verse 9 down to the end of the psalm and the tune is
[21:05] Belmont oh do not hide your face from me and do not turn aside your servant your servant in your righteous wrath for you have been my guide O God my saviour leave me not do not reject my thing my parents may forsake me
[22:13] Lord but you will welcome me teach me teach me O Lord how I should live and lead me in your way make straight my path be close my foes O praise O praise me every day give me give me your door to the will of the event and and and for liars rise to slander me and leave the cruelty yet
[23:32] I am sure that the endless life God's goodness I will see with Lord the Lord peace come take heart from him wait patiently we can turn back to a reading in John chapter 8 and read again at verse 12 12 John 8 at verse 12 again Jesus spoke to them saying I am the light of the world whoever follows me will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life a couple of a couple of weeks ago on a Sunday evening we were looking at John chapter 6 and Jesus coming to his disciples on the water and in that passage as he comes to them he says a word of comfort to them it is I do not be afraid and as we were looking at that passage we were seeking seeing how that word or these words it is I I really I am and how they tie back to Exodus chapter 3 where God met with Moses in the burning bush and Moses was asking him as he was about to be sent to Pharaoh who will I say sent me and God said to him say I am has sent you and we were reminded in that passage of how God has promised to be with his people there he met in Exodus with Moses in a burning bush a place of light and as you go through the Old Testament you find that so often the Lord with his people is seen with them as light and in that way he is light and life to them in different ways the Exodus itself is a great example to us of the way the Lord was with his people through the pillar of fire the pillar of cloud by night there was this great pillar of fire that was with them that protected them that led them every step of the way the Lord was with them that psalm that psalm that psalm that psalm that psalm that psalm that psalm that we sang together there psalm 27 again there's that powerful reminder the Lord is my light and my salvation whom shall I fear many of the psalms are full of that theme of the light of God psalm 119 speaks of the word as a lamp to our feet and a light to our path it guides us along the way there are also many prophecies looking to the coming of Jesus that show it in that sense of God's presence through light light to the nations
[26:53] Isaiah chapter 49 verse 6 it's one of these servant songs as it's known we're speaking there about the Lord Jesus and it says I will make you as a light for the nations that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth so you see it right through the Old Testament there is that theme of the light to the world the light to the nations and that ultimately this is going to be fulfilled in Christ when you think of significant events that we have in our world at different times maybe our calendar year is filled with different kinds of events events that often have fire or fireworks or something like that in its midst special occasions like Guy Fawkes New Year's Day and other significant events there's often bonfires there's often fireworks up into the sky lighting up the night sky and then this week we've seen an event a festival if you like with the opening of the Olympic Games in Paris and if you haven't seen it it's certainly been in the news since so often when the Olympic Games begin it's the focus is on the lighting of the Olympic flame the torch lights up this flame that burns for the duration of the games this time they've sought to make this something a little bit more controversial by bringing other things into it they were the organizers were saying we wanted to give a strong a message as possible and the message that they were giving is not a message that should surprise us in the world that we live it's a message of confusion a message that's got its heart in darkness but we are thankful that tonight as we come to God's word we have a strong message that we have a powerful message that speaks to us light and life as you see going through the Old Testament we see it fulfilled in the new in Christ Jesus and the Gospel of John in particular is full of this theme of life and light as it's found in Christ and here in chapter 8 in verse 12 we have one of the I am sayings of Jesus as we said last time when we were looking at Jesus saying do not be afraid
[29:36] I am I am with you well here in chapter 8 we've got one of these occasions where Jesus shows us how he is with us and he says in this verse I am the light of the world whoever follows me will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life as I said at the beginning this when he was speaking was in the midst of a great festival that was taking place the festival of booths or tabernacles as it's called we're going to focus on that in a wee moment and it was a time when there were many people gathered in Jerusalem chapter 7 if you read through it it shows us all that was going on this was a festival that lasted a week a festival that brought thousands of people together in Jerusalem and when we think of festivals today so often the summertime is called festival season throughout our land you think of festivals it's often a site of fields filled with tents and thousands of people well Jerusalem at this time of the feast of booths it was these booths these tents that the people had to live in they set up camp as it were in Jerusalem as this festival was going on because it was a time when they were giving thanks to God for his deliverance towards them from the wilderness in the days of Moses how God had brought them through the wilderness and here they are still remembering this event this feast and in their midst and in their midst is this one who they were looking for this one who they kept missing this one who they couldn't see or understand as you read through
[31:31] John 8 and even John 7 you see Jesus caused division and even though he fulfills what this festival means they couldn't see it they were blinded to it and you see that right through the gospel of John how Jesus came to his own and his own received him not they couldn't understand who it was and so they were rejecting Jesus many of them but Jesus reminds them in the midst of this festival that they are enjoying that he is the very one that they should be looking for that he is the light of the world and when we think of the world in which we live with all the festivals and even you think of the events in Paris in these last few days with the lighting of the torch the lamp that will burn and the message that was trying to be put across there here is a greater message because all these lights of this world all these
[32:34] Olympic flames all these festivals that take place all these places with great bright lights these lights are going to go out these messages that they say are powerful they are going to fade but here is the message that will last and here is the light that gives life and so as we look at Jesus saying I am the light of the world I want us to see it in three ways here this evening first of all just looking at the festival itself and what it meant then we see the fulfillment and then thirdly we will see the focus that that gives so we want to think first of all of the festival in order to understand what Jesus is saying in verse 12 we have to see it in its context we have to understand where Jesus is and the occasion that he is speaking into and it was an occasion that was alongside the day of atonement one of the big occasions in the Jewish calendar and still is to this day it was a time of remembering what God had done so it was significant it was important and it brought many people together and it has been remembered since the days of Moses when you go back to Leviticus which outlines many of the festivals that the people had
[34:06] Leviticus chapter 23 verse 33 to 46 it tells us about this festival of booths this festival of tabernacles it was a festival that took place once a year at the end of harvest time around September or October and the people were to cease from work and they were to cease for a week and come and gather together and bring offerings to God during this week they were to live in tents as I said because this reminded them of how the children of Israel had to live in tents during their exodus years and so they were looking back and remembering and giving thanks to God the instructions were there for them as outlined in Leviticus but as with many things as with many instructions things could start to wane over time and the focus could start to be lost and so they would spend this week in celebration and as we're reading here in Jesus' day in Jerusalem at this time the festival was going on this festival of booths the opening verses in verse chapter 7 speak of this now Jesus went about
[35:34] Galilee he would go about in Judea because the Jews were seeking to kill him now the Jews feast of booths was at hand so there was this feast that was taking place that many people were going to and Jesus didn't go there straight away he held back for a few days but the temple where this feast was taking place was decorated and lined out with lights of all kinds the courtyard of the temple had no roof and in the courtyard you see in verse 20 it says where Jesus was speaking to them he spoke in the treasury as he taught in the temple he was speaking in this place where offerings were made a place that was open to the sky and there were all these lights hundreds maybe even thousands of candle lights all around but in the temple were these four large pillars and on these pillars were set four large torches that burnt burning oil for the duration of the festival and this light was seen by all especially especially at night and if you were traveling to Jerusalem or leaving
[36:54] Jerusalem this light was in the night sky all the time it was there for all to see it lit up the whole courtyard of the temple they were in the midst of this light these huge torches were burning that's why it brings to mind the idea of the Olympic Games and the torch burning for the whole time of the Olympic Games being on it's lit and it burns for the duration does not bring even more significance when we think of the message of this week of the mocking of Christ of the ridiculing of the Christian faith that in the midst of this light ceremony there's this mocking of Christ and here we are tonight we look at this passage and what does it say to us here in
[38:02] Jerusalem in Jesus' day was this festival going on where people were mocking Jesus ridiculing Jesus not long before Jesus would be put to death it's a reminder to us that generation after generation people will ridicule and mock Christ and yet in the midst of this festival just as it's about to come to a close you see that Jesus speaks here in the last day of the festival in verse 37 of chapter 7 it says on the last day of the feast the great day Jesus stood up and cried out he was speaking to them here on the last day of this event and it's at this point when things are coming to a conclusion when all the lights are about to go out when darkness is about to come once again that Jesus then speaks these words on the last day of the feast he says as we see in verse 12
[39:15] I am the light of the world whoever follows me will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life how significant this is when their festival is coming to a close when these great lights are about to go out Jesus says I am the light of the world and we think of festivals today think of music festivals sporting festivals when they come to an end what's left nothing but empty fields muddy fields cast off rubbish everything comes to an end the noise dies down the lights go out it's been enjoyed for a time but just a short time and what then silence and darkness it's a bit like what was happening here this festival coming to a close but
[40:25] Jesus speaks I am the light of the world everything that would give enjoyment to us everything that this world seeks pleasure in apart from Christ it comes to an end the festival closes the darkness comes the light goes out but do we hear the voice of Jesus I am the light of the world he is the one who is to be seen who is to be looked at who is to be known so this festival this festival that had been going on for generations is happening in Jesus his own day and yet they don't recognize they don't recognize who he is and for ourselves today when we think of the world in which we live the world of confusion and chaos the world of mixed messages and wrong messages here is
[41:35] Jesus still saying today I am the light of the world why will you walk in darkness when you have the light of life in me so the festival is there for us to see but then we see secondly the fulfillment if Jesus is standing and saying I am the light of the world he is making such a powerful statement a statement that divides the people the Pharisees they question him and deny him they are turned against him they want to arrest him but his hour has not yet come as it says in verse 20 but they are out to get him but what does he mean what is he saying to them well we need to understand that as well that he is the fulfillment of all these things if we we are being told just like they are being told there is more to life than these festivals and there is more to life than these times when there is these powerful lights that will eventually go out and Jesus is saying but I am the light of the world well what does he mean what can we hold on to that Jesus has well if you think of somebody offering you something in this world you want to know it can be trusted you want to know that it will last if you think of someone selling you a product how do you respond you go to buy a car you don't just say
[43:10] I'll take it you want to have a look at it you want to see it you want to test drive it you want to find out it's history make sure that everything is in order about it same with any piece of equipment you buy you want to make sure that it's working and it will do the job before you buy something you can spend a lot of time researching it check the reviews hear what other people are saying other people who have had it or have the same kind you want to see what they think of it would they recommend it what about the Christian faith Jesus is saying I am the light of the world how do you take that how did they take that in his day many rejected but you see in verse 30 as he was saying these things many believed in him and it's so often on the testimony of others that we can see the reasons that we can believe the people were looking for a coming
[44:16] Messiah but the Jews today they're still looking for that Messiah to come the promised one who would be their hope and salvation and you see it earlier in the gospel of John in chapter 4 when the woman at the well meets with Jesus she's conversing with Jesus and she says I know that Messiah is coming he who is called Christ when he comes he will tell us all things and what was Jesus' response to her I who speak to you am he and she went to tell others and they believed not just on her testimony but on the testimony of hearing Jesus speaking and you see when you look to this light of the world it's not some kind of dodgy deal it's not something that's going to fail you when they were looking even to this festival and remembering what God had done they were remembering the very fact that
[45:21] God had been faithful to them that he had taken them through the wilderness that in the pillar of fire and the pillar of smoke that he had protected them and that he had led them along the way he would supply them with every need they already knew that God could be faithful that God was faithful but they couldn't understand that this was the Christ and for ourselves as we look back here we have a fulfillment that we see in Christ when we see all that he has done when you think of the prophecies other prophecies in the Old Testament such as Isaiah chapter 9 a famous prophecy of the coming of the saviour what does it say there it says the people who walked in darkness have seen a great light those who dwelt in the land of deep darkness on them has light shined
[46:23] I say again showing the saviour who would come that promise fulfilled even when you come into the New Testament you see it in John's own gospel again it reminds us of the way the people would reject in John 1 verse 4 when we read of the word that became flesh and dwelt among us it says in him was life and the life was the light of men the light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it there is Jesus fulfilling the Old Testament prophecy the light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it it goes on in verse 14 where these words the word became flesh and dwelt among us and we have seen his glory glory as of the only son from the father full of grace and truth the fulfillment of the one that they were looking for he is here he is the one who is the light of the world there were actually two great statements that Jesus made at this festival the second one is
[47:42] I am the light of the world but if you go back into chapter 7 verse 37 he says there as well on the last day of the feast the great day Jesus stood up and cried out if anyone thirsts let him come to me and drink whoever believes in me as the scripture has said out of his heart will flow rivers of living water and this tied in with another aspect of this festival it was a festival of the drawing of water as well water was such a big part of this festival of booths over the course of the week light and water were two important parts of it and here Jesus is saying that he will quench their thirst and he will shine into their darkness these are the words of Jesus as the festival is coming to a close and the people are thinking how do we go on where do we go when this comes to an end what will satisfy us well you cannot do without
[48:59] Jesus and that is true for ourselves as well this is what you need he is saying I am what you need when you are thirsty in this world when nothing satisfies your thirst I will give you living water when you feel lost in this world when you feel surrounded by darkness in this world I am the light of the world whoever follows me will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life and the seriousness of what he's saying is seen in verse 21 I am going away and you will seek me and you will die in your sins this is the seriousness of it without me you are dead without me you die in your sins and so the challenge to the people then as to ourselves is that in verse 30 many believed in him and belief so often means following following him do you believe as we were hearing from Scott today and in his studies in John as well the gospel of John is full of that question do you believe do you believe that he is the light of the world there is a fulfillment of scripture here in
[50:46] Jesus the fulfillment of the festival that the people have been remembering for so long here he is in the same way as you think of the day of atonement when the lamb was sacrificed when the people remembered the Passover Jesus was the fulfillment of that we don't have these festivals ourselves we don't need them today not the festival or booths not the day of atonement not the Passover why because we have the Lord's Supper and we have baptism we are reminded in these things of what the Lord has done what he has finished what he has achieved for his people they were looking for the Messiah and here he was I am the light of the world so just as we finish I want to think of what this focuses our attention on having looked at the festival and the fulfillment what is
[51:54] Jesus why is Jesus saying all of this is is it to draw attention to himself well you could say yes of course it is that's the purpose of the gospel to show us Jesus to show us the one who is the great I am the one who says I am the way the truth and the life I am the door I am the shepherd I am the bread of life the one who fulfills all things for us his purpose in all of this is that we would believe and see that he is the Christ when you think of the Olympic ceremony an organizer saying the message that they were trying to put across we wanted to have a strong a message as possible is what they said there's nothing more powerful than this not to focus on ourselves not to focus on the things that we see as a world a right or wrong but to focus on
[53:07] Jesus to look to him the one who is full of mercy and compassion the one who is patient and you wonder how he can be so patient in this world in which we live even with ourselves and yet he is the light of the world the one who is calling us to follow him and what does he say to us as we think of just bringing things to a conclusion well he says to us in verse 24 I told you that you would die in your sins for unless you believe that I am he you will die in your sins apart from faith in Jesus we are lost we are in that darkness we are in that lost abyss but he is saying follow me he is speaking about faith and to believe in him so verse 24 tells us you will die in your sins unless you believe that I am he that I am the one who is the light of the world then verse 28 what does he say to them there so Jesus said to them when you have lifted up the son of man then you will know that I am he and that I do nothing on my own authority but speak just as the father taught me he tells them of the cross when you have lifted up the son of man when you have lifted him up on the cross he's telling them this is what's coming this is what's coming for me this is what I am doing for you when I am lifted up then you will know that I am he when they looked how many would think of these words that he has said that here in the midst of the darkness of Calvary when there was darkness even at midday that the light of the world was still shining that he was giving his life for his own that they might have life and walk in it the power of what
[55:40] Jesus has done how he suffered for his people and what think we of that what do you think of your sin do you think of your sin and see without him you will die in your sin but here he is the light of the world or what do you think of the cross Jesus who was lifted up do you believe that he died for your sin yet is the light of the world and darkness is coming darkness is coming for those who do not believe and it will come in a blink whenever I read these verses of Jesus as the light of the world and speaks of the darkness of the world it so often reminds me and I've maybe shared this before of being in a ship's engine room a place full of noise full of light so bright and yet a blackout on a ship it just happens just like that everything goes quiet everything goes dark when the power goes everything stops
[57:08] I remember it happening a couple of times and it's only maybe looking back you think is that what eternity is like how it comes just like that how one minute you're enjoying this life the festivals and everything that comes our way everything that we can enjoy and yet the next moment that's it eternity and what hope do we have for that day what hope do you have as the lights go out another psalm that speaks of this is psalm 36 verse 9 for with you is the fountain of life in your light do we see light life and light that is found in Christ Jesus here was speaking at the end of this festival of booths this festival of tabernacles when these great lights these pillar of lights were about to go out when he says
[58:17] I am the light of the world we have as strong as message as is possible to have that in Jesus there's a light that will not go out a saviour that will never fail us Jesus says I am the light of the world whoever follows me will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life are you walking in this light tonight the darkness comes but with Christ there is light of life light that will never go out let us pray our gracious father in heaven we do thank you for your word that is the light that lights our way and we pray lord that you will continue to guide us by us to help us to see ourselves in it in our own failings but yet to see the wonder of a saviour in Christ who is patient and long suffering the wonder of a saviour who came into the darkness of this world who bore our sins on the cross who was lifted up for us who was mocked and despised and yet we see him as one who showed such great love father forgive them for they know not what they do and so lord may we know that forgiveness ourselves pardon our sins and go before us as we ask it all seeking to believe in you with all our hearts as we ask it in jesus name amen we're going to conclude by singing in psalm 18 in the sing psalms version psalm 18 at verse 27 we'll sing three stanzas down to verse 30 you you you you save the humble and the meek but bring the proud down from their height you lord will keep my lamp aflame god turns my darkness into light we pray that as we sing these words we will know the one who keeps our lamp alight and the god who turns our darkness into light we'll sing verse 27 to 30 in the tune is
[60:48] Duke Street you save the humble and the king I'll bring the proud down from their eyes you lord will keep my lamp of day God turns my darkness into light with help from God I can advance eyes that you and worth their hope love and with thee my
[61:51] God will live I can leave hope the day he home for perfect is the way of God God no noise found within his word to all who put their trust in him a shield and way to change the Lord I will go to the main door after the benediction we will close with the benediction now may grace mercy and peace from God Father Son and Holy
[62:52] Spirit rest upon and abide with you all now and forever more Amen Matthew subscribe and Thank you.