WEBVTT 00:00:00.560 --> 00:00:05.560 Xboxes and iPods and all those other gadgets that kids seem to have today. 00:00:06.179 --> 00:00:11.279 We had to invent our own entertainment, which I think was far more exciting. 00:00:12.200 --> 00:00:18.059 My friends had organised a sleepover, so we'd all headed over to his house, 00:00:18.160 --> 00:00:21.160 and the plan was that when the parents were sleeping, 00:00:21.820 --> 00:00:26.199 we would sneak out of the house and go for a night walk. 00:00:27.039 --> 00:00:28.320 That was our entertainment. 00:00:28.320 --> 00:00:34.340 So about one or two in the morning, when the parents were fast asleep, 00:00:34.960 --> 00:00:41.600 we snuck out of the house, we left the lights of the neighbourhood behind, and we headed out. 00:00:42.620 --> 00:00:49.100 It was all a bit of fun, and everything was going really well until we found ourselves in this field. 00:00:50.579 --> 00:00:54.920 And very soon we discovered that we weren't actually alone in this field. 00:00:54.920 --> 00:00:57.780 There were also animals in this field. 00:00:58.320 --> 00:01:00.600 And to this day, I still don't know what they were. 00:01:00.719 --> 00:01:03.560 Were they horses or cows? I haven't a clue. 00:01:04.819 --> 00:01:08.239 But although we couldn't see them, we could hear them. 00:01:08.739 --> 00:01:10.859 And they started to run towards us. 00:01:10.859 --> 00:01:18.459 So in absolute terror, with kind of a hill like this, we took off down the hill, running as fast as possible. 00:01:19.200 --> 00:01:29.480 And one by one, we all ran headfirst into this huge hedge full of briars and nettles and every other stinging plant and prickly bush. 00:01:29.480 --> 00:01:36.859 Because of the dark, we simply couldn't see where we were going. 00:01:37.460 --> 00:01:43.159 It all started out as a bit of fun and games, but then it got quite scary and dangerous. 00:01:43.880 --> 00:01:51.700 If only we had a little bit of light, a little torch or something, and we would have been okay. 00:01:51.700 --> 00:01:58.859 You see, being in the light is much safer than being in the darkness. 00:01:59.980 --> 00:02:04.439 Did you see what Jesus said in John chapter 8 verse 12? 00:02:05.159 --> 00:02:06.159 He says, 00:02:06.159 --> 00:02:26.460 Now, I don't think Jesus was kind of giving a little hint for naughty boys who wanted to sneak out the house and run around at night time. 00:02:27.120 --> 00:02:33.139 Now, I don't think it's literal that Jesus is some kind of massive big torch in times of difficulty. 00:02:33.139 --> 00:02:40.879 It's using concepts like light and darkness to explain a deeper meaning and truth. 00:02:41.879 --> 00:02:44.579 So what does it mean when Jesus says, I am the light? 00:02:45.379 --> 00:02:48.699 And what's it talking about when it says, walking in darkness? 00:02:49.779 --> 00:02:53.899 Well, to help us understand this, we're going to ask ourselves three questions. 00:02:55.179 --> 00:02:57.139 And the first question is this. 00:02:57.859 --> 00:03:00.399 What is the light? 00:03:00.400 --> 00:03:05.379 You see, when Jesus talks about light, it's full of significance. 00:03:06.379 --> 00:03:11.540 And we can find the reason for why he uses light by going back to chapter 7. 00:03:12.560 --> 00:03:15.840 This is all one big long story and we follow the context. 00:03:16.060 --> 00:03:18.860 Look at verse 14 of chapter 7. 00:03:20.219 --> 00:03:28.580 It says there that not until halfway through the feast did Jesus go up to the temple courts and began to teach. 00:03:28.580 --> 00:03:41.000 So Jesus is in Jerusalem at the time of a great feast, a particular celebration, which we know is called the Feast of Tabernacles. 00:03:41.000 --> 00:03:47.979 So when we get to chapter 8, verse 12, and it says Jesus spoke again to the people, 00:03:48.879 --> 00:03:52.319 he's speaking during the time of this great feast. 00:03:52.879 --> 00:03:57.240 Every year towards the end of harvest, when all the crops had been gathered in, 00:03:57.819 --> 00:04:04.199 all the Jewish people would head up to Jerusalem for a weeks-long celebration, a great big party. 00:04:04.199 --> 00:04:09.619 We're going to read about what that celebration was like. 00:04:10.280 --> 00:04:16.199 We can go back to Leviticus, which is right at the front of your Bible, Leviticus chapter 23. 00:04:17.259 --> 00:04:22.959 So keep a finger in John chapter 8 and go to Leviticus. 00:04:22.959 --> 00:04:32.199 I haven't got a page number. Has somebody got a page number? 00:04:33.759 --> 00:04:38.199 1, 2, 6. It's on page 1, 2, 6. 00:04:42.919 --> 00:04:47.959 Leviticus is a strange book. It's got all kinds of different laws and things. 00:04:47.959 --> 00:04:53.060 And one of them it tells us about the different feasts that the Jewish people celebrated. 00:04:53.239 --> 00:04:56.539 And that feast that Jesus was at is explained here. 00:04:57.319 --> 00:05:00.439 So Leviticus chapter 23, verse 33. 00:05:02.839 --> 00:05:07.899 The Lord said to Moses, say to the Israelites, on the 15th day of the seven months, 00:05:08.319 --> 00:05:11.339 the Lord's Feast of Tabernacles begins. 00:05:12.120 --> 00:05:14.399 And it's to last for seven days. 00:05:15.679 --> 00:05:16.859 Verse 39. 00:05:17.959 --> 00:05:21.599 So beginning with the 15th day of the seventh month, 00:05:21.859 --> 00:05:24.539 after you've gathered the crops of the land, 00:05:25.199 --> 00:05:28.979 celebrate the festival to the Lord for seven days. 00:05:31.399 --> 00:05:34.500 But it was more than just a harvest festival. 00:05:35.099 --> 00:05:42.019 It was primarily a celebration of God rescuing his people from slavery in Egypt. 00:05:42.199 --> 00:05:43.539 Look at verse 42. 00:05:44.539 --> 00:05:47.159 During this celebration, he says, verse 42, 00:05:47.160 --> 00:05:50.700 to live in booths or tabernacles. 00:05:50.800 --> 00:05:52.120 That's like little shelters. 00:05:52.320 --> 00:05:53.580 We might call them tents. 00:05:54.580 --> 00:05:57.120 So live in shelters for seven days. 00:05:57.939 --> 00:06:00.700 All the native-born Israelites are to live in shelters 00:06:00.700 --> 00:06:03.320 so that your descendants will know 00:06:03.320 --> 00:06:06.500 that I made the Israelites live in shelters 00:06:06.500 --> 00:06:09.180 when I brought them out of Egypt, 00:06:09.280 --> 00:06:11.160 when I rescued them out of Egypt. 00:06:11.160 --> 00:06:14.600 I am the Lord your God. 00:06:14.800 --> 00:06:18.439 So, while it was all about harvest, 00:06:18.640 --> 00:06:20.939 it was also a festival celebrating 00:06:20.939 --> 00:06:24.000 and remembering God's great rescue, 00:06:24.160 --> 00:06:26.700 his salvation of bringing them out of slavery 00:06:26.700 --> 00:06:29.720 to a new land to have a fresh start, 00:06:29.920 --> 00:06:30.800 a new beginning. 00:06:30.800 --> 00:06:32.980 So we can imagine, 00:06:33.120 --> 00:06:36.160 as Jesus has gone up to Jerusalem with everybody else 00:06:36.160 --> 00:06:37.920 for this festival, 00:06:38.400 --> 00:06:41.139 we can imagine all the families traveling up, 00:06:42.319 --> 00:06:45.020 building their little makeshift huts and tents. 00:06:45.160 --> 00:06:46.340 Even the people who lived there 00:06:46.340 --> 00:06:48.879 would have built little huts and tents on top of their roofs. 00:06:49.439 --> 00:06:51.540 Others would have been doing it out on the street. 00:06:51.540 --> 00:06:53.340 And all the families, 00:06:53.480 --> 00:06:55.300 all the kids getting ever so excited 00:06:55.300 --> 00:06:58.360 for this week-long celebration of camping out. 00:06:58.560 --> 00:07:00.300 Because everybody likes to camp out. 00:07:00.980 --> 00:07:03.200 And whenever the children would ask mum or dad, 00:07:03.360 --> 00:07:04.620 why are we camping out? 00:07:04.680 --> 00:07:05.540 What's all this about? 00:07:06.280 --> 00:07:07.960 They would be able to tell them, 00:07:08.300 --> 00:07:09.360 long, long ago, 00:07:09.540 --> 00:07:11.420 that God had rescued their people. 00:07:12.439 --> 00:07:13.759 And during that rescue, 00:07:14.220 --> 00:07:15.080 on their way out, 00:07:15.160 --> 00:07:16.620 they would live in little shelters 00:07:16.620 --> 00:07:20.040 as God was bringing them to a new place to live. 00:07:20.040 --> 00:07:22.120 So it was a huge, big party, 00:07:22.260 --> 00:07:23.620 a great, big celebration. 00:07:24.640 --> 00:07:27.760 But there was something more significant about this feast. 00:07:29.000 --> 00:07:31.740 On the first day of this particular feast, 00:07:32.120 --> 00:07:33.700 huge metal bowls, 00:07:34.879 --> 00:07:36.500 all the way around the temple, 00:07:37.259 --> 00:07:39.120 would be filled with olive oil, 00:07:39.980 --> 00:07:42.060 and then they would put cloth inside it, 00:07:42.100 --> 00:07:43.240 which would act like a wick. 00:07:43.480 --> 00:07:46.140 Basically, they were giant-sized candles, 00:07:46.300 --> 00:07:47.960 or nightlights, if you like. 00:07:48.420 --> 00:07:50.020 All the way around the temple. 00:07:50.040 --> 00:07:51.220 And at night, 00:07:51.580 --> 00:07:53.240 these candles would be lit, 00:07:53.600 --> 00:07:55.280 and they would be so bright, 00:07:55.680 --> 00:07:57.879 that the light would shine up, 00:07:58.379 --> 00:08:00.460 and illuminate the whole city. 00:08:01.960 --> 00:08:02.900 Now, for us, 00:08:02.980 --> 00:08:04.600 in a day where we've got electricity, 00:08:04.939 --> 00:08:06.560 and just a simple switch, 00:08:06.960 --> 00:08:07.600 light bulbs, 00:08:07.720 --> 00:08:08.620 and street lights, 00:08:08.820 --> 00:08:10.080 it doesn't seem much. 00:08:10.860 --> 00:08:11.620 But back then, 00:08:11.680 --> 00:08:12.740 when there were no lights, 00:08:13.160 --> 00:08:14.100 when it got dark, 00:08:14.200 --> 00:08:15.080 it got dark. 00:08:15.220 --> 00:08:16.259 You couldn't see anything. 00:08:16.259 --> 00:08:19.719 So here you could imagine this great big city, 00:08:19.719 --> 00:08:21.379 that didn't have lights, 00:08:21.819 --> 00:08:23.920 all these bowls being lit. 00:08:24.719 --> 00:08:27.079 It was something spectacular, 00:08:27.360 --> 00:08:28.319 something wonderful. 00:08:28.860 --> 00:08:29.240 Light, 00:08:29.659 --> 00:08:31.759 all around the city would shine. 00:08:31.759 --> 00:08:35.519 Now, 00:08:35.720 --> 00:08:37.720 we can begin to see the significance, 00:08:38.399 --> 00:08:39.580 of what Jesus said, 00:08:39.659 --> 00:08:40.159 can't we? 00:08:40.960 --> 00:08:42.460 When Jesus said, 00:08:43.120 --> 00:08:44.419 at the end of the feast, 00:08:44.939 --> 00:08:47.139 when the lights were extinguished, 00:08:48.240 --> 00:08:50.360 Jesus announces to everybody, 00:08:50.360 --> 00:08:53.659 I am the light of the world. 00:08:55.580 --> 00:08:58.539 He was making an extraordinary claim, 00:08:59.180 --> 00:09:02.680 that I am the true means of rescue, 00:09:03.120 --> 00:09:04.019 and salvation, 00:09:04.560 --> 00:09:05.440 and deliverance. 00:09:05.879 --> 00:09:07.539 I bring a new beginning, 00:09:08.159 --> 00:09:09.080 releasing you, 00:09:09.340 --> 00:09:10.539 and freeing you. 00:09:11.919 --> 00:09:14.100 But it's not just for the Jewish people, 00:09:14.180 --> 00:09:15.399 it wasn't just for that culture. 00:09:15.519 --> 00:09:16.879 Look at what it says in verse 12. 00:09:17.259 --> 00:09:17.600 He says, 00:09:17.700 --> 00:09:19.820 I am the light of the world. 00:09:20.360 --> 00:09:24.620 Jesus is salvation for everybody, 00:09:25.019 --> 00:09:25.919 whatever race, 00:09:26.139 --> 00:09:26.759 or culture, 00:09:27.019 --> 00:09:29.200 or religious background you may come from, 00:09:29.240 --> 00:09:30.200 whether you go to church, 00:09:30.279 --> 00:09:31.019 and read your Bible, 00:09:31.100 --> 00:09:32.060 or whether you don't. 00:09:33.659 --> 00:09:34.779 Jesus is saying, 00:09:35.320 --> 00:09:36.519 that I have come, 00:09:37.159 --> 00:09:38.240 to give life, 00:09:38.419 --> 00:09:39.500 in all its fullness. 00:09:40.320 --> 00:09:41.180 Look at what it says, 00:09:41.220 --> 00:09:42.159 at the end of verse 12, 00:09:42.259 --> 00:09:43.220 whoever follows me, 00:09:43.300 --> 00:09:44.420 will never walk in darkness, 00:09:44.920 --> 00:09:47.320 but will have the light of life. 00:09:48.879 --> 00:09:49.600 You see, 00:09:49.600 --> 00:09:50.580 when the Israelites, 00:09:50.860 --> 00:09:52.120 were coming out of Egypt, 00:09:52.259 --> 00:09:53.100 and making their way, 00:09:53.180 --> 00:09:54.279 to the promised land, 00:09:54.820 --> 00:09:55.840 it would be a life, 00:09:55.879 --> 00:09:56.659 of prosperity, 00:09:57.060 --> 00:09:57.600 and peace, 00:09:57.740 --> 00:09:58.259 and fullness, 00:09:58.460 --> 00:09:59.379 and completeness. 00:10:00.340 --> 00:10:01.980 Now Jesus comes, 00:10:02.159 --> 00:10:03.320 announcing to everybody, 00:10:03.500 --> 00:10:04.220 that he offers, 00:10:04.560 --> 00:10:05.779 the light of life, 00:10:06.659 --> 00:10:07.740 eternal life. 00:10:08.480 --> 00:10:09.340 The promise, 00:10:09.420 --> 00:10:10.720 of a new beginning today, 00:10:11.040 --> 00:10:12.019 not of wealth, 00:10:12.120 --> 00:10:12.600 and money, 00:10:12.680 --> 00:10:13.680 and materialism, 00:10:13.679 --> 00:10:16.139 but a new beginning, 00:10:16.139 --> 00:10:17.439 of sins forgiven, 00:10:18.199 --> 00:10:19.620 not of success, 00:10:20.219 --> 00:10:21.039 and health, 00:10:21.919 --> 00:10:23.519 but of guilt, 00:10:23.639 --> 00:10:24.639 being removed, 00:10:24.779 --> 00:10:25.599 and the guaranteed, 00:10:26.239 --> 00:10:26.659 hope, 00:10:27.019 --> 00:10:28.059 of the ultimate, 00:10:28.259 --> 00:10:29.159 promised land, 00:10:30.019 --> 00:10:30.579 paradise, 00:10:31.079 --> 00:10:31.419 heaven, 00:10:31.779 --> 00:10:32.319 itself. 00:10:33.319 --> 00:10:34.159 So Jesus, 00:10:34.319 --> 00:10:35.099 came announcing, 00:10:35.319 --> 00:10:35.839 to the world, 00:10:36.539 --> 00:10:37.379 that I, 00:10:37.719 --> 00:10:38.799 am the true light, 00:10:38.799 --> 00:10:40.579 the means of salvation, 00:10:41.620 --> 00:10:42.719 the way of rescue, 00:10:43.139 --> 00:10:44.479 the way of deliverance, 00:10:45.179 --> 00:10:46.979 the way of a new beginning. 00:10:49.620 --> 00:10:51.199 So that's the first question, 00:10:51.319 --> 00:10:52.079 what is the light? 00:10:52.219 --> 00:10:53.139 Well it is life, 00:10:53.519 --> 00:10:54.279 for the world. 00:10:55.259 --> 00:10:56.299 The second question, 00:10:56.399 --> 00:10:57.139 we need to ask is, 00:10:57.240 --> 00:10:57.399 well, 00:10:58.000 --> 00:10:59.299 why do we need, 00:10:59.539 --> 00:10:59.899 this light? 00:11:00.000 --> 00:11:00.699 That's fair enough, 00:11:00.799 --> 00:11:01.579 Jesus is the light, 00:11:01.659 --> 00:11:02.199 but why do, 00:11:02.359 --> 00:11:03.279 I need the light? 00:11:03.279 --> 00:11:05.759 Well if you can remember, 00:11:05.860 --> 00:11:07.019 back to the story, 00:11:07.139 --> 00:11:08.039 I said at the beginning, 00:11:08.759 --> 00:11:09.699 being in the dark, 00:11:09.819 --> 00:11:10.439 and running around, 00:11:10.559 --> 00:11:11.720 in fields at night time, 00:11:11.759 --> 00:11:13.000 can be pretty dangerous. 00:11:13.879 --> 00:11:14.319 You don't know, 00:11:14.419 --> 00:11:15.600 where you're going to end up. 00:11:17.139 --> 00:11:18.019 Well look back, 00:11:18.079 --> 00:11:18.659 at the beginning, 00:11:19.159 --> 00:11:20.179 of this gospel, 00:11:20.519 --> 00:11:21.720 Joe read it to us, 00:11:22.079 --> 00:11:22.819 earlier on. 00:11:23.059 --> 00:11:23.439 John, 00:11:23.919 --> 00:11:24.639 chapter 1, 00:11:24.740 --> 00:11:25.419 verse 3. 00:11:33.279 --> 00:11:34.860 Light is a big theme, 00:11:35.059 --> 00:11:35.839 in John's gospel, 00:11:36.019 --> 00:11:37.199 and right at the very beginning, 00:11:37.879 --> 00:11:39.459 he starts talking about it, 00:11:39.539 --> 00:11:40.419 wanting us to know, 00:11:40.559 --> 00:11:41.319 what it's all about. 00:11:42.240 --> 00:11:42.819 John, 00:11:42.919 --> 00:11:43.500 chapter 1, 00:11:43.559 --> 00:11:44.179 verse 3. 00:11:45.279 --> 00:11:46.039 Through him, 00:11:46.159 --> 00:11:47.139 that's through Jesus, 00:11:47.319 --> 00:11:48.539 all things were made. 00:11:49.360 --> 00:11:49.939 Without him, 00:11:50.039 --> 00:11:50.860 nothing was made, 00:11:50.919 --> 00:11:51.919 that has been made. 00:11:52.620 --> 00:11:53.419 In Jesus, 00:11:53.699 --> 00:11:54.559 was life, 00:11:55.319 --> 00:11:56.220 and that life, 00:11:56.360 --> 00:11:57.679 was the light of people. 00:11:58.740 --> 00:12:00.120 The light shines, 00:12:00.120 --> 00:12:00.899 in the darkness, 00:12:01.899 --> 00:12:02.899 but the darkness, 00:12:03.279 --> 00:12:04.899 has not understood it. 00:12:05.939 --> 00:12:06.919 So it's telling us, 00:12:07.039 --> 00:12:07.519 very clearly, 00:12:07.699 --> 00:12:08.199 that Jesus, 00:12:08.399 --> 00:12:09.279 who is the light, 00:12:09.799 --> 00:12:11.539 has come into the world, 00:12:12.519 --> 00:12:13.500 and the world there, 00:12:13.600 --> 00:12:15.139 is described as darkness. 00:12:17.480 --> 00:12:19.079 But what is this darkness? 00:12:19.339 --> 00:12:20.339 Why is the world, 00:12:20.480 --> 00:12:21.799 described as darkness? 00:12:23.059 --> 00:12:23.519 Well, 00:12:23.559 --> 00:12:24.600 as we read through the book, 00:12:24.679 --> 00:12:26.039 we get all kinds of hints, 00:12:26.120 --> 00:12:27.299 and it's explained for us. 00:12:27.559 --> 00:12:28.620 Let me show you one, 00:12:28.620 --> 00:12:30.059 in chapter 3. 00:12:30.220 --> 00:12:31.220 Flick over the page, 00:12:31.339 --> 00:12:32.039 chapter 3, 00:12:32.120 --> 00:12:33.019 verse 19. 00:12:33.279 --> 00:12:40.299 This is the verdict. 00:12:42.539 --> 00:12:44.480 Light has come into the world, 00:12:44.539 --> 00:12:45.720 it's talking about Jesus, 00:12:46.539 --> 00:12:49.459 but people love darkness, 00:12:49.819 --> 00:12:51.379 instead of light, 00:12:51.899 --> 00:12:54.000 because their deeds were evil. 00:12:54.539 --> 00:12:56.139 Everyone who does evil, 00:12:56.360 --> 00:12:57.399 hates the light, 00:12:58.100 --> 00:12:59.139 doesn't like Jesus, 00:12:59.139 --> 00:12:59.279 darkness, 00:13:00.000 --> 00:13:02.039 and will not come into the light, 00:13:02.120 --> 00:13:02.740 for fear, 00:13:03.080 --> 00:13:05.279 that their deeds will be shown up. 00:13:06.860 --> 00:13:07.259 You see, 00:13:07.379 --> 00:13:07.819 darkness, 00:13:08.199 --> 00:13:09.279 in John's gospel, 00:13:09.340 --> 00:13:10.439 is not just physical, 00:13:10.580 --> 00:13:12.220 it's not just talking about night time. 00:13:12.639 --> 00:13:14.399 It's primarily a picture, 00:13:14.399 --> 00:13:16.019 of our spiritual rebellion, 00:13:16.019 --> 00:13:16.919 against God. 00:13:18.580 --> 00:13:19.039 Now, 00:13:19.120 --> 00:13:20.279 you don't have to be religious, 00:13:20.539 --> 00:13:21.879 to think about the word, 00:13:22.399 --> 00:13:22.879 dark. 00:13:22.879 --> 00:13:24.679 We often use the word, 00:13:24.879 --> 00:13:25.039 dark, 00:13:25.120 --> 00:13:25.799 to describe, 00:13:26.460 --> 00:13:27.659 the world we live in, 00:13:27.799 --> 00:13:29.559 that it's a very dark place, 00:13:29.639 --> 00:13:30.299 at times. 00:13:31.019 --> 00:13:32.740 Think of all the wars going on, 00:13:32.799 --> 00:13:33.460 the murders, 00:13:34.299 --> 00:13:34.919 the rape, 00:13:35.220 --> 00:13:36.580 the child trafficking, 00:13:37.259 --> 00:13:38.779 the ruthless regimes, 00:13:39.340 --> 00:13:40.639 the greedy dictators. 00:13:41.899 --> 00:13:43.399 It's very dark. 00:13:43.399 --> 00:13:46.699 But even our own lives, 00:13:46.759 --> 00:13:48.000 have dark times. 00:13:49.159 --> 00:13:50.199 We get annoyed. 00:13:51.179 --> 00:13:52.439 We tell lies. 00:13:53.799 --> 00:13:55.120 We start shouting, 00:13:55.220 --> 00:13:55.959 even parents, 00:13:56.100 --> 00:13:56.699 I'm a parent, 00:13:56.799 --> 00:13:57.679 we start shouting, 00:13:57.819 --> 00:13:58.439 and we shouldn't. 00:13:58.939 --> 00:13:59.860 We get greedy. 00:14:01.740 --> 00:14:03.860 We all have dark times. 00:14:04.919 --> 00:14:05.240 You see, 00:14:05.319 --> 00:14:05.819 the world, 00:14:05.939 --> 00:14:06.539 and its people, 00:14:06.659 --> 00:14:07.899 people like you and me, 00:14:08.539 --> 00:14:09.000 is saying, 00:14:09.120 --> 00:14:10.059 it's full of darkness. 00:14:10.960 --> 00:14:11.620 We all do, 00:14:11.779 --> 00:14:12.759 evil things. 00:14:12.759 --> 00:14:14.279 We all do wrong things. 00:14:15.360 --> 00:14:16.240 Whoever we are, 00:14:16.299 --> 00:14:17.460 it doesn't matter who we are, 00:14:18.460 --> 00:14:20.159 we want to live our own life. 00:14:20.240 --> 00:14:22.539 We don't want anybody telling us what to do. 00:14:23.759 --> 00:14:25.679 And that's what it's saying in verse 20. 00:14:26.220 --> 00:14:29.200 We don't want to kind of come out towards Jesus, 00:14:30.200 --> 00:14:32.740 because then he'll show us up for what we're really like. 00:14:32.819 --> 00:14:34.159 We like to stay in the dark, 00:14:34.279 --> 00:14:36.279 and live our own lives the way we want to. 00:14:37.039 --> 00:14:39.000 So whether our name is Johnny Grant, 00:14:39.100 --> 00:14:39.819 or Gaddafi, 00:14:39.820 --> 00:14:43.940 we all want to be in charge of our own lives. 00:14:44.040 --> 00:14:45.620 We all want to live our own way. 00:14:46.420 --> 00:14:48.320 And that's incredibly dangerous, 00:14:48.420 --> 00:14:49.400 to be in the dark. 00:14:50.260 --> 00:14:51.400 Look at chapter 3, 00:14:51.480 --> 00:14:52.500 verse 36. 00:14:55.100 --> 00:14:56.080 It says there, 00:14:56.200 --> 00:14:58.300 whoever believes in the Son, 00:14:58.420 --> 00:14:59.080 in Jesus, 00:14:59.360 --> 00:15:00.800 has eternal life. 00:15:01.140 --> 00:15:02.920 So that's to go the way of the light. 00:15:02.919 --> 00:15:06.740 But whoever rejects the Son, 00:15:06.899 --> 00:15:08.299 whoever rejects Jesus, 00:15:09.459 --> 00:15:11.259 will not see life. 00:15:12.519 --> 00:15:13.879 For God's wrath, 00:15:13.979 --> 00:15:14.679 his judgment, 00:15:15.620 --> 00:15:16.639 remains on him. 00:15:17.939 --> 00:15:19.459 So throughout the Gospel, 00:15:20.620 --> 00:15:21.259 John is saying, 00:15:21.360 --> 00:15:22.339 being in the darkness 00:15:22.339 --> 00:15:24.539 is a dangerous place to be. 00:15:26.039 --> 00:15:28.879 And while it reflects our own rebellion against God, 00:15:28.939 --> 00:15:30.839 it also pictures the consequences 00:15:30.839 --> 00:15:32.480 of that rebellion. 00:15:33.679 --> 00:15:35.919 Now when we read our verse in chapter 8, 00:15:36.000 --> 00:15:36.779 verse 12, 00:15:37.819 --> 00:15:40.439 it helps us to better understand now, 00:15:40.479 --> 00:15:42.360 what it means when Jesus talks about, 00:15:42.519 --> 00:15:43.919 walking in darkness. 00:15:47.459 --> 00:15:50.379 But let's see the great promise of this verse. 00:15:51.639 --> 00:15:52.519 Jesus says, 00:15:52.639 --> 00:15:53.659 I'm the light of the world, 00:15:54.019 --> 00:15:55.360 whoever follows me, 00:15:55.639 --> 00:15:57.860 will never walk in darkness. 00:15:57.860 --> 00:16:03.860 Jesus is promising to come to lead us out of the darkness, 00:16:04.340 --> 00:16:05.779 to show us a new way, 00:16:06.080 --> 00:16:07.240 to live a different way. 00:16:10.620 --> 00:16:12.919 Do you remember the account of creation? 00:16:14.200 --> 00:16:15.740 Let me read it to you, 00:16:16.019 --> 00:16:17.360 from Genesis chapter 1. 00:16:17.419 --> 00:16:18.759 There's no need to look it up. 00:16:18.820 --> 00:16:20.039 I'll just read it to you. 00:16:20.039 --> 00:16:22.819 Genesis chapter 1. 00:16:26.120 --> 00:16:26.740 It says, 00:16:26.740 --> 00:16:27.279 In the beginning, 00:16:27.419 --> 00:16:29.279 God created the heavens and the earth. 00:16:29.899 --> 00:16:32.460 Now the earth was formless and empty. 00:16:33.580 --> 00:16:37.100 Darkness was over the surface of the deep. 00:16:38.200 --> 00:16:39.279 And God said, 00:16:40.080 --> 00:16:42.139 Let there be light. 00:16:42.139 --> 00:16:43.919 And there was light. 00:16:44.259 --> 00:16:46.419 And God saw that the light was good. 00:16:46.879 --> 00:16:50.779 And he separated the light from the darkness. 00:16:53.120 --> 00:16:55.860 So Jesus has come to do exactly the same. 00:16:55.960 --> 00:16:56.879 Not just physically, 00:16:57.039 --> 00:16:57.860 like in creation, 00:16:58.460 --> 00:16:59.740 but spiritually, 00:17:00.460 --> 00:17:01.480 as in salvation. 00:17:01.639 --> 00:17:03.480 The light shines in the darkness. 00:17:04.379 --> 00:17:06.579 Jesus has come to be the light of life 00:17:06.579 --> 00:17:08.720 in the darkness of this world. 00:17:09.119 --> 00:17:11.200 And he's come to dispel the darkness, 00:17:11.200 --> 00:17:15.039 to separate the light from the darkness. 00:17:16.799 --> 00:17:18.480 And that ultimately happened 00:17:18.480 --> 00:17:20.360 when Jesus died on the cross. 00:17:21.519 --> 00:17:24.120 We know that when Jesus died on the cross, 00:17:24.400 --> 00:17:27.860 from 12 noon till 3 o'clock in the afternoon, 00:17:28.000 --> 00:17:30.600 it says it went completely dark. 00:17:31.180 --> 00:17:33.140 The whole land was covered in darkness. 00:17:34.420 --> 00:17:37.460 A sign that God's judgment was falling on Jesus 00:17:37.460 --> 00:17:39.860 instead of us. 00:17:39.859 --> 00:17:42.279 He died for our rebellion. 00:17:43.279 --> 00:17:44.359 And now through Jesus, 00:17:44.500 --> 00:17:46.579 the darkness has been dispeled. 00:17:47.079 --> 00:17:49.959 Death and despair are gone. 00:17:51.099 --> 00:17:54.099 Now there is light and life. 00:17:55.579 --> 00:17:57.740 And so it is time to celebrate 00:17:57.740 --> 00:18:00.000 this wonderful feast. 00:18:00.000 --> 00:18:03.680 So that's the second question. 00:18:04.480 --> 00:18:05.880 First, what is the light? 00:18:06.839 --> 00:18:07.920 The second question, 00:18:08.019 --> 00:18:09.400 why we need the light? 00:18:10.099 --> 00:18:11.660 And the third question is, 00:18:11.819 --> 00:18:12.420 well, okay, 00:18:12.819 --> 00:18:14.259 that sounds all great. 00:18:14.759 --> 00:18:17.619 But how can I have this light? 00:18:19.920 --> 00:18:21.440 Well, if we had had some light 00:18:21.440 --> 00:18:23.039 when we were running about in the field, 00:18:23.119 --> 00:18:24.099 we would have been fine. 00:18:24.099 --> 00:18:26.619 A little torch or something, 00:18:27.139 --> 00:18:29.439 and it would have saved so much trouble. 00:18:30.639 --> 00:18:32.839 Well, we've seen that Jesus is the light, 00:18:33.419 --> 00:18:34.919 and we're in the darkness. 00:18:35.599 --> 00:18:36.699 So what are we to do? 00:18:36.799 --> 00:18:37.599 Well, look at the verse, 00:18:37.959 --> 00:18:38.980 chapter 8, verse 12, 00:18:39.039 --> 00:18:39.939 it tells us. 00:18:41.000 --> 00:18:41.639 It says, 00:18:42.319 --> 00:18:44.500 whoever follows me 00:18:44.500 --> 00:18:47.759 will never walk in darkness. 00:18:47.759 --> 00:18:51.119 The invitation is to follow the light, 00:18:51.240 --> 00:18:53.180 to walk with the light. 00:18:54.599 --> 00:18:57.079 Whenever we picked ourselves out of the hedge, 00:18:57.819 --> 00:18:59.960 and all those thorns and everything else, 00:19:00.019 --> 00:19:01.039 we came to the conclusion 00:19:01.039 --> 00:19:02.920 that we just needed to get back home. 00:19:03.779 --> 00:19:05.680 And getting back home was easy, 00:19:06.500 --> 00:19:08.319 because we just followed the light 00:19:08.319 --> 00:19:09.319 in the distance. 00:19:09.660 --> 00:19:11.039 And the closer we got, 00:19:11.039 --> 00:19:12.700 the brighter it became. 00:19:14.160 --> 00:19:16.359 At last, we were back home again 00:19:16.359 --> 00:19:18.240 in the safety and the security 00:19:18.240 --> 00:19:19.399 of a house, 00:19:19.659 --> 00:19:23.099 falling into a nice, warm, soft, 00:19:23.899 --> 00:19:25.219 not a prickly bed. 00:19:26.679 --> 00:19:28.859 I don't think we ever went on a night walk again 00:19:28.859 --> 00:19:29.539 after that. 00:19:30.619 --> 00:19:32.279 But you see how we're called 00:19:32.279 --> 00:19:34.179 to follow the light of Christ? 00:19:34.639 --> 00:19:37.119 To follow His way, His path? 00:19:39.039 --> 00:19:40.359 But that following 00:19:40.359 --> 00:19:42.879 is a life of commitment 00:19:42.879 --> 00:19:45.479 and a life of trust. 00:19:46.359 --> 00:19:49.479 Have a look at John's Gospel, chapter 12. 00:19:49.579 --> 00:19:51.519 This is what Amy read for us. 00:19:52.199 --> 00:19:54.659 John's Gospel, chapter 12, verse 35. 00:19:55.159 --> 00:19:56.879 This explains what it means 00:19:56.879 --> 00:19:58.079 to follow the light. 00:20:02.740 --> 00:20:04.799 John 12, verse 35. 00:20:05.339 --> 00:20:06.379 Jesus told them, 00:20:07.539 --> 00:20:08.759 He's speaking about Himself, 00:20:09.319 --> 00:20:10.899 you are going to have the light 00:20:10.899 --> 00:20:13.039 just a little while longer. 00:20:13.039 --> 00:20:15.879 walk while you have the light 00:20:15.879 --> 00:20:18.500 before darkness overtakes you. 00:20:19.460 --> 00:20:21.819 The person who walks in the dark 00:20:21.819 --> 00:20:24.180 does not know where he is going. 00:20:25.440 --> 00:20:28.700 Put your trust in the light 00:20:28.700 --> 00:20:30.779 while you have it 00:20:30.779 --> 00:20:32.940 so that you may become 00:20:32.940 --> 00:20:35.579 children of light. 00:20:35.579 --> 00:20:38.000 So Jesus is saying, 00:20:38.859 --> 00:20:40.480 we are to entrust ourselves 00:20:40.480 --> 00:20:42.399 into the care of His light. 00:20:43.299 --> 00:20:45.000 That means we are to accept 00:20:45.000 --> 00:20:46.519 that Jesus took the darkness 00:20:46.519 --> 00:20:48.819 of our lives on Himself. 00:20:50.259 --> 00:20:51.699 But not only that, 00:20:52.279 --> 00:20:53.879 it says if we trust in Him, 00:20:53.960 --> 00:20:56.319 we become children of light. 00:20:56.319 --> 00:20:59.299 Jesus takes our darkness, 00:20:59.859 --> 00:21:00.500 our sin, 00:21:00.659 --> 00:21:01.319 our rebellion, 00:21:01.799 --> 00:21:02.740 and in its place 00:21:02.740 --> 00:21:04.139 He gives us His light, 00:21:04.500 --> 00:21:05.240 His purity, 00:21:05.599 --> 00:21:06.439 and His goodness. 00:21:06.679 --> 00:21:08.119 It's a complete exchange. 00:21:09.240 --> 00:21:10.579 So we're no longer treated 00:21:10.579 --> 00:21:11.799 as people in the darkness, 00:21:12.220 --> 00:21:13.019 as enemies, 00:21:13.899 --> 00:21:15.480 but we are now loved 00:21:15.480 --> 00:21:16.679 and treasured 00:21:16.679 --> 00:21:18.179 and accepted and welcomed 00:21:18.179 --> 00:21:19.879 as His own children. 00:21:19.880 --> 00:21:24.340 That means we're brothers and sisters 00:21:24.340 --> 00:21:25.920 with the Lord Jesus. 00:21:26.340 --> 00:21:28.600 We have the same Father God. 00:21:30.720 --> 00:21:32.980 It's a wonderful invitation 00:21:32.980 --> 00:21:35.060 to follow the light. 00:21:37.040 --> 00:21:39.940 But this also confronts us 00:21:39.940 --> 00:21:40.700 with a choice. 00:21:41.640 --> 00:21:43.040 There's no dusk here. 00:21:43.880 --> 00:21:45.580 There's no mention of dawn, 00:21:46.540 --> 00:21:48.380 kind of like an in-between 00:21:48.380 --> 00:21:49.620 darkness and light. 00:21:50.240 --> 00:21:52.260 He just talks in simple terms. 00:21:52.460 --> 00:21:54.560 Light or darkness. 00:21:55.800 --> 00:21:57.860 And so we need to ask ourselves, 00:21:58.520 --> 00:21:59.660 am I in the darkness 00:21:59.660 --> 00:22:03.000 or am I in the light? 00:22:05.680 --> 00:22:06.780 You know the feast 00:22:06.780 --> 00:22:07.700 that we talked about 00:22:07.700 --> 00:22:08.560 at the very beginning 00:22:08.560 --> 00:22:10.160 that Jesus went to 00:22:10.160 --> 00:22:11.840 was a week-long celebration. 00:22:12.960 --> 00:22:14.500 People came to party 00:22:14.500 --> 00:22:15.340 and enjoy themselves. 00:22:15.460 --> 00:22:16.940 They really knew how to party 00:22:16.940 --> 00:22:18.260 in those days. 00:22:18.259 --> 00:22:19.279 We're going to have a party 00:22:19.279 --> 00:22:20.019 in a little while. 00:22:20.400 --> 00:22:21.879 It'll only last for a couple of hours. 00:22:22.140 --> 00:22:23.720 This went on for a whole week, 00:22:23.859 --> 00:22:24.640 seven days. 00:22:25.160 --> 00:22:26.900 People would walk around the city 00:22:26.900 --> 00:22:28.299 with torches at night, 00:22:28.400 --> 00:22:29.579 big flaming torches, 00:22:29.920 --> 00:22:31.240 singing and dancing. 00:22:31.759 --> 00:22:32.619 There'd be huge, 00:22:32.720 --> 00:22:33.720 big orchestras 00:22:33.720 --> 00:22:35.079 and there'd be beating drums 00:22:35.079 --> 00:22:36.319 and playing harps 00:22:36.319 --> 00:22:36.900 and lyres 00:22:36.900 --> 00:22:38.500 and clashing cymbals, 00:22:38.900 --> 00:22:40.539 celebrating the salvation 00:22:40.539 --> 00:22:41.519 that God had done 00:22:41.519 --> 00:22:42.900 in the past. 00:22:44.900 --> 00:22:46.299 Well, Jesus comes 00:22:46.299 --> 00:22:47.680 then to center stage 00:22:47.680 --> 00:22:48.200 and he says, 00:22:48.660 --> 00:22:50.059 I am the light of the world. 00:22:50.500 --> 00:22:52.220 And he's inviting us all 00:22:52.220 --> 00:22:54.039 to enjoy his salvation, 00:22:54.299 --> 00:22:56.579 to join in the greatest celebration. 00:22:57.079 --> 00:22:58.099 He's inviting us 00:22:58.099 --> 00:22:59.539 to an eternal feast. 00:23:00.660 --> 00:23:02.019 The feast of heaven 00:23:02.019 --> 00:23:03.279 where there will be 00:23:03.279 --> 00:23:04.339 no more darkness, 00:23:05.339 --> 00:23:07.139 where there's no more death, 00:23:07.720 --> 00:23:08.779 no more despair. 00:23:08.779 --> 00:23:11.940 It's completely dispelled. 00:23:12.379 --> 00:23:13.220 It's gone. 00:23:15.339 --> 00:23:16.759 And so he's inviting us 00:23:16.759 --> 00:23:18.500 to trust Jesus, the light, 00:23:19.319 --> 00:23:20.639 and to walk with him, 00:23:21.079 --> 00:23:21.799 to celebrate 00:23:21.799 --> 00:23:24.599 in that eternal feast. 00:23:26.000 --> 00:23:27.399 Let me read to you 00:23:27.399 --> 00:23:28.759 in closing 00:23:28.759 --> 00:23:30.240 something that John said 00:23:30.240 --> 00:23:30.920 in another book. 00:23:31.000 --> 00:23:32.000 It comes at the very end 00:23:32.000 --> 00:23:33.160 of the Bible in Revelation 00:23:33.160 --> 00:23:34.559 and he pictures 00:23:34.559 --> 00:23:36.119 what that's going to be like. 00:23:37.039 --> 00:23:38.279 And this is what he says 00:23:38.279 --> 00:23:40.720 No longer will there be 00:23:40.720 --> 00:23:41.740 any curse. 00:23:44.879 --> 00:23:47.700 There will be no more night. 00:23:49.139 --> 00:23:50.379 We will not need 00:23:50.379 --> 00:23:51.599 the light of a lamp 00:23:51.599 --> 00:23:52.680 or the light of a sun 00:23:52.680 --> 00:23:54.680 for the Lord God 00:23:54.680 --> 00:23:55.859 will give them light 00:23:55.859 --> 00:23:58.160 and they will reign 00:23:58.160 --> 00:23:59.420 forever 00:23:59.420 --> 00:24:01.139 and forever. 00:24:01.139 --> 00:24:04.079 If we follow the light 00:24:04.079 --> 00:24:05.220 of Jesus Christ, 00:24:05.220 --> 00:24:07.900 we will celebrate 00:24:07.900 --> 00:24:09.200 with him forever 00:24:09.200 --> 00:24:11.259 in the greatest feast 00:24:11.259 --> 00:24:13.299 eternal life 00:24:13.299 --> 00:24:14.940 with God. 00:24:15.779 --> 00:24:17.539 Let's pray together. 00:24:17.539 --> 00:24:25.819 our Father God, 00:24:25.879 --> 00:24:27.039 we thank you so much 00:24:27.039 --> 00:24:28.980 that you are so clearly 00:24:28.980 --> 00:24:31.619 the light to this world, 00:24:31.879 --> 00:24:33.019 shining a path 00:24:33.019 --> 00:24:34.759 for us to follow, 00:24:35.799 --> 00:24:37.240 showing us that Jesus 00:24:37.240 --> 00:24:39.200 is the way. 00:24:39.740 --> 00:24:41.339 Help us to trust him 00:24:41.339 --> 00:24:42.559 with our lives. 00:24:43.559 --> 00:24:45.039 Help him to enjoy 00:24:45.039 --> 00:24:45.839 the salvation 00:24:45.839 --> 00:24:46.599 that he has come 00:24:46.599 --> 00:24:46.960 to give, 00:24:47.019 --> 00:24:48.399 to celebrate with him 00:24:48.399 --> 00:24:50.619 and to look forward 00:24:50.619 --> 00:24:52.279 to that eternal feast, 00:24:53.240 --> 00:24:54.659 heaven itself. 00:24:55.899 --> 00:24:56.980 So we thank you 00:24:56.980 --> 00:24:57.519 for Jesus. 00:24:58.740 --> 00:24:59.180 Amen.