now if you have your bible turn back with me to john chapter 8 where jesus declares i am
the light of the world whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light
of life so a couple of weeks ago i was back in sky and i was as i was preparing for this i was
thinking of one of the iconic buildings the new tourist destinations on the isle of sky nice
point lighthouse familiar to some folks in our congregation it's really iconic for its setting
people will travel across the world for the wonderful sunsets you get there of course that
wasn't why it was designed and built it's been in operation since 1909 its light shines for 16
nautical miles its purpose isn't so that folks can have pretty pictures though that's a side benefit
its purpose of course like every lighthouse is to shine in the darkness it's to reveal hidden danger
and it's to guide ships to safety and so i was thinking about what jesus said is the light of
the world i was thinking about that lighthouse and see there's so much connection there and we'll think
about that but of course the setting for john chapter 8 isn't jesus standing in front of a lighthouse we
have jesus in the temple courtyard with so many thousands of gathered worshipers for the feast of
tabernacles this autumn festival where the people remembered and gave thanks for the fact that god
provided the crops for them and it was also a time when they would go and they would live in these tents
or booths to remember that god had set them free from being slaves and taking them from the wilderness to
the promised land and so it was a time of great worship and part of how they worship was that they would
sit up for giant lamps in the corners of the temple courtyards and they would celebrate and they would
praise god under the lamplight this glow would fill the city of jerusalem and and here is jesus
and he's illuminated by these four great lamps and he declares to the people i am the light of the world
again as we said last week this is a huge claim from jesus i am the old testament name of god jesus saying
i am god i am light i'm light for the world some of us know science i don't know science but even at my
basic level i know light is vital for life if you want there to be growth you need light when we need
direction and guidance we need to have lights anyone who's been lost in the woods anyone who's been stuck in a
blackout situation you know light is good for direction and for safety
so our plan for this morning is to think about this great saying of jesus and to look at three aspects to think
about light and darkness one of those many contrasts you get in john's gospel to think about light and revelation
and to think about light and salvation and we're going to use jesus words and we're going to do two
things with those words we're going to connect them with the theme of light in the old testament
there's loads of light teaching in the old testament and we're going to connect them with other teaching
from john's gospel so that we'll have this this vision hope and pray of jesus the light of the world
that we might follow him together that we might be walking in the light so let's begin with light
light and darkness and darkness um i guess culturally whether we have a bible background or not light
and dark is a familiar contrast um we think often about good and evil in those terms uh we think of
western movies and white hats and black hats or or perhaps for those of a particular generation we think
of luke skywalker and darth vader the iconic man in black well the bible picks up that kind of light
and dark theme from the very beginning so we'll see on our screen some bible texts i think so genesis 1
it reminds us that when god created the world he created it in the beginning god created the heavens
and the earth now the earth was formless and empty darkness it was over the surface of the deep and then
god spoke the first words recorded in the bible from god let there be light and that light was good
and that life was a source of life and that light brought separation from darkness
second book of the bible book of exodus it finds at the beginning of that book israel living as slaves
in egypt and god has announced that he's going to let his people go he's going to save them and he's going
to show his power with these 10 plagues these acts of judgment on pharaoh and egypt and the ninth of those
plagues was a thick darkness for three days a darkness that could be felt felt by egypt but for israel
they lived in the light they were enjoying god's light there was separation between light and darkness
jesus said i am the light of the world in jesus coming and we are to appreciate jesus is this gift
of life and light from god he is the one who is truly good he is the one who is pushing back the darkness
and through faith in him his people then live in god's light
as i said john's gospel has a light and dark contrast theme from the beginning john chapter 1
we find in verse 4 and verse 5 and again the words i think are up there in him was life and that life
was the light of all mankind the light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it so
here is jesus god's word the one who gives life life giving light to a world in darkness a world in
rebellion there is this promise that the light will not be overcome by the darkness the darkness is not
able to comprehend to fully understand god's light when it comes but john announces jesus is god's true
light there is no darkness in jesus then jesus we see the full glory of god being displayed for us
that sounds like good news but many people didn't receive it that way many people today still don't
receive it that way john chapter 3 after that famous verse i have verse 16 for god so loved the world that
he gave his one and only son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life
we find there in verse 19 this is the verdict light has come into the world jesus has come into the world
but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil everyone who does evil hates the
light and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed
so one of the pictures in john's gospel is of the world as this human system in rebellion against god our
creator and so jesus comes as light but what do people instinctively choose they choose to hate the
light and they choose darkness because they want to be exposed you can be the idea of being exposed by light
and maybe you've seen this um in your workplace perhaps perhaps you or a colleague does the right
thing you you work and act with integrity but rather than than facing applause you find that people
become really uh harsh towards you or speak badly about you because their own failings have been exposed and
that's an uncomfortable thing jesus in his perfection and with the glory of god it reveals our imperfection
and and that's something instinctively we don't want to to deal with and so many find themselves
walking away turning away jesus perfect life is god's light for us
john says the world often chooses sin and darkness well back to john chapter 8 jesus announces when he says i'm
the light of the world that light has dawned but what happens in john's gospel shows that there is this
conflict between light and dark and it continues through the gospel we see it in these chapters we
hear it in the doubts and the questions and the criticism and the opposition of religious leaders and the crowds
we pull beyond the time of jesus to look at the whole sweep of church history and we find that this
conflict between light and dark continues and jesus followers who who live in the way of love what happens
so often there is persecution hatred opposition god's church marginalized
there are many countries where god's people are being persecuted today
many followers of jesus find themselves in prison today for nothing other than wanting to be faithful
to god's word to jesus as savior
but it's not just out there where we see this battle between light and dark we go to our own
hearts and don't we don't we discover that that battle between light and dark continues there too
don't we as christians find that we struggle with sin
and though we live in the light we find ourselves at times drawn to the dark side
paul the great apostle would say that in romans 7 as he found himself so often doing the things
he didn't want to do and unable to do the things that he wanted to do because of this sin battle that
still goes on in our hearts
perhaps if you're here today you're not a christian you recognize that battle because you find yourself
at times being drawn to jesus but then but wanting to resist his claims
not wanting to submit to him as lord and to live for him
jesus said i am the light of the world and john's gospel
it speaks about the the conflict between light and dark in those different kingdoms and
and it's a reminder that we must choose jesus says follow me whoever follows me
so we're being called to choose our kingdom
to live in the light or to to walk in the way of darkness are we going to run to jesus the light or run
from his light because we don't want to be exposed
jesus said i'm the light of the world
it speaks to us of light and darkness but it also
speaks of light secondly light and revelation
jesus has come to reveal
certain things to us well
verses 13 to 20
and as this controversy in a sense continues between jesus and the pharisees and some in the crowd
there's a sense that jesus has made the claim and people are resisting immediately verse 13
the pharisees challenged him
here you are appearing as your own witness
your testimony is not valid
they understand jesus has just made a huge claim about himself
but their instinct is to say
you can't just speak for yourself
you can't just make a claim like that
they put jesus in a sense in a trial situation
who are your witnesses to back up this huge claim you've just made
and so jesus in chapter 8 is going to take the opportunity to again reveal his identity
to again show his unique relationship with his father
to show his unique ability to reveal the glory of god
look at what he says in verse 14
even if i testify on my own behalf my testimony is valid for two reasons
jesus says my word is enough
one i know where i came from and two i know where i am going
jesus appeals to his unique origin
he has come from the father
he has come from the glory of heaven
and he talks about his unique destiny
he knows that he's returning to his father
he's returning to his father's presence
he's returning to glory
and so he is able to speak for himself
jesus knows that the crowd misunderstand
verse 15 you judge by human standards
they judge by worldly standards
they ask him later
where's your father
where's joseph
they're blind to god's light
they're blind to the reality that jesus is bringing
that he himself is the son of god
so verse 19 when they ask
where is your father in that sense
they want to to bring him out to trial
well jesus if you're if you're talking about your father and saying he'll speak for you
well we want to meet him
to question him
not understanding that the father is god himself
some of us
have a law background
some of us just like watching crime dramas perhaps
and we've probably recognized that in a criminal trial
and when an expert witness can be found to give testimony
often that proves to be the decisive point in a case
so a lawyer might travel the length of the country to find the right expert witness
to come and to give testimony in a particular case
well
jesus is on trial here
and the question being asked is
is jesus really
the light of the world
is he really showing us the life of god
and the glory of god
or
not
and so jesus says
i am the one who testifies for myself
my other witness is the father who sent me
so let's think about that for a moment
let's think about the father's testimony about jesus that we find in the bible
just in the gospels
where you go lots of places around the bible
but let's just stick to the gospels
and let's think about jesus baptism
so jesus is just about to begin his public ministry
and he comes to be baptized by john the baptist
and what happens
heaven is opened
spirit comes down in the form of a dove
and there's the voice from heaven the father speaks
and he says this is my son
i love him
i'm well pleased with him
here's the father's testimony
direct from heaven
and then we can go to the transfiguration
that point where jesus and three of his closest disciples
go up a mountain
and there for a moment
it's as if the curtains of heaven
are pulled back
and jesus shines with the full glory of god
and again
voice from heaven
this is my son
i love him
listen to him
that's the father's testimony about the son
he's the son
he loves him
he's well pleased with him
and we should listen to him
jesus speaks in chapter 8
again about his unique relationship with his father
which means jesus uniquely reveals
we're thinking about revelation
jesus uniquely reveals god to us
so some verses
chapter 8 verse 29
the father who sent me
is with me
he has not left me alone
for i always do
what pleases him
the actions of jesus
reveal god
chapter 8 verse 42
if god were your father
you would love me
for i have come here from god
i have not come on my own
god sent me
to love god
to know god
is to know
and to love
jesus his son
and jesus makes that really explicit
in chapter 10
in verse 30
when he says simply
i
and the father
are
one
i and the father
are one
so jesus is saying
i
am
able
and i uniquely
reveal god
to the world
to look at jesus
in the gospels
is to see
the glory of god
and to listen
to the words of jesus
is to listen
to the words of god
to watch the actions
of jesus
is to see
the will of god
when jesus
dies on the cross
he's showing
the father's will
to save
sinners
like us
it's no wonder
he says
i am the light
of the world
because he has that
revealing
quality
and that's why
jesus says
follow me
because
i alone
can show you
god
god's glory
god's plan
of salvation
with jesus
all human
speculation
stops
because now
we're dealing
with god's
revelation
and this is an idea
that we can find
throughout the old
testament
this idea of
following god
and following
god's glory
is light
so exodus 13
so shortly after
the ninth plague
comes the tenth plague
and then the people
are set free
and the reality
for god's rescued
people as they
find themselves
in the wilderness
is that they
are those who
follow god
they follow god's
light
the pillar of cloud
by day
pillar of fire
by night
this
this fire
this light
this revel
was always
ahead of them
and directing
them
psalm 119
verse 105
god's word
is a lamp
to our feet
and a light
to our path
god's light
is the light
that we are
to follow
as the people
of god
if we want
to be guided
in faith
and obedience
we need to
listen to god's
word
and who is
jesus
he is the
word
who became
flesh
and then
there's
wonderful
promise
in isaiah
chapter 60
and verse 19
hope to an
exiled people
hope for us
today
wonderful picture
isaiah 60
verse 19
the sun
will no more
be your light
by day
nor will the
brightness of
the moon
shine on you
for the lord
will be your
everlasting light
and your god
will be
your glory
it is jesus
i am light
the one who
reveals
a glory
from god
far greater
than the
sun
that shines
in the sky
jesus says
i am the
one to
follow
i am the
voice to
listen to
i am the
glory to
see
and to
believe
the reality
that we see
in the
crowds
the reality
that we need
to recognize
today is that
it's entirely
possible to
see the
light
but not
respond
properly
to that
light
let me
share a
story
from a
naval
officer
by the
name of
frank
coch
he was
serving
on a
naval
battleship
one of
those huge
battleships
on routine
maneuvers
in the
ocean
when the
weather
turned
and the
weather
was truly
awful
for three
days
they had
virtually
no
visibility
the waves
so big
they were
crashing
over the
boat
and then
one day
day four
a lookout
report
came
to say
captain
light
on
starboard
i have
no idea
which way
starboard
is
let's
imagine
it's that
light
on the
starboard
and the
reply
from the
captain
then as soon as he heard about this light he wanted to send a message and the message he wanted to ask was
is it stationary
stationary
or is it moving
is it moving astern
is it turning
and the reply from the lookout was
it's stationary
so now the captain knows
hold on a minute
now
this light is
is directly in our path
we're heading for a collision
so he knows action needs to be taken
so he sends a signal
over to this other light
and he says
in his signal
i advise you to change course
20 degrees
east
and he waits a few moments
and a response
flashed back
i advise you
to change course
20 degrees west
okay the captain
is not
best pleased
at this
the captain gets really mad
he starts
claiming
his title
i'm a captain
the reply flashed back
i'm a captain of a battleship
change your course
and the reply came back a few moments later
i'm a lighthouse
change your course
so important to respond
to the light
so important
today i wonder
if there are some of us here
we've seen the light
we we've heard the teaching of jesus
we've seen his glory
in the gospels
the glory of his truth
and of his love
but still we won't change course
still we are
living in the darkness
there's another call
to believe in him
to see our need
of him
to follow
and to believe
i think it's a reminder too
for us who are followers
of jesus
it is crucial for our day-to-day life
that we are following jesus
like we're living
in the light
we're trusting in him
as the son of god
as our savior
that we be listening to
obeying
applying god's word
to our hearts
together
as we gather
for worship
together
as families
and as individuals
that we be hearing
and responding
and living in the light
that we'd be
worshiping
so before we move on
from this
we need to remind ourselves
too of our future hope
as it connects with light
so remember
it's sam 60
where it said
there'll be no more sun
because the glory of god
will be the everlasting light
well you can go to
to revelation 21
second last chapter
in the bible
verse 23
picks up that same
image
it to say to us
in the new heavens
and the new earth
the glory of god
and the glory of the lamb
are the light
of god's kingdom
there is no need
for the sun
there's no need
for the moon
for this
this greater light
of glory
as followers of jesus
that's our great hope
that we will live
bathing
in the light
of that glory
but until that day
what are we called to
we're called to walk
in the light
we're called to follow jesus
until we see his glory
fully revealed
now moving from there
to the last thing
i want us to notice
to think about the connection
between light
and salvation
so we'll move to
verses 21
to 30
and to think
about a couple of warnings
that that also
by faith become promises
verse 21
jesus says
i'm going away
and you'll look for me
and you will die
in your sin
where i go
you cannot come
and in verse 24
very similar
i told you that you would die
in your sins
if you do not believe
that i am he
you will indeed
die in your sin
so there is a severe
warning there
to fail to
to believe
and to respond
is to die
in our sins
but there's also
a promise
that if we believe
in jesus
we will live
we will have forgiveness
we will live
in his life
we will know
salvation from god
and the bible
makes a really strong
connection between
light and salvation
we sung
it's psalm 27
verse 1
the lord's my savior
and my light
who will make me
afraid
isaiah 9
verse 2
familiar words
as we prepare
for christmas
often the people
walking in darkness
have seen
great light
again promised
to an exiled
people
to a far away
from god
people
that the light
of god's salvation
would shine on them
again as god's savior
would come
and that savior
isaiah 49
verse 6
he would be
a light
for the gentiles
that salvation
may reach
to the ends
of the earth
jesus didn't come
just to be the savior
for a few small people
in one particular country
he came
to bring
the promise
the invitation
the hope
of salvation
to all peoples
of the world
jesus says
i am the light
of the world
whoever follows me
will not walk
in the darkness
but have the light
of life
that's that's
salvation language
to to follow jesus
is to be saved
is to know
god's life
and god's joy
and god's love
to recognize he is
that promised savior
to recognize he is
the only hope
for the world
it's that belief
that that encourages us
despite whatever challenges
that we feel internally
or opposition
outside of ourselves
that encourage us
to continue
with mission
continues
to encourage us
to share our faith
to support global mission
because jesus is
the light of the world
and knowing him
brings us
to know the light
of life
how will this salvation
come
how will this salvation
come
look with me
at verse 28
so jesus said
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
but speak just
what the father
has taught me
salvation comes
in the lifting up
of jesus
the son of man
double meaning there
lifted up
jesus would be lifted up
wouldn't he physically
on the cross
to die
but jesus at the same time
would also be
exalted
and raised up
in glory
the cross
is the great
lifting up
of jesus
as the son of god
and as god's
promised savior
in that lifting up
it reveals
as jesus says
i am he
i am the one
god promised
from the very beginning
of the bible
genesis 3
all the way
through the old testament
the promised savior
she said
i am he
i have come to accomplish
that plan
the waiting
how will god save
people for himself
the waiting is over
jesus would
would come
as the light of the world
and as light
he would win that
victory of light
over darkness
on the cross
defeating his enemies
and hours
satan
death
sin
swallowed up
by jesus
it all connects
to his hour
john's gospel
talks a lot
about his hour
verse 20
said jesus
hour had not yet come
this hour that dominates
john's gospel
is the hour of jesus
suffering
and death
and resurrection
and return to glory
so the cross
is part of that
journey
part of that hour
that was planned
by god the father
for god the son
and that hour
reveals his glory
to us
the glory
of his
salvation
so to go back
to verse 21
and to go back
to verse 24
the promise of
jesus as savior
is that if we believe
we'll not die in sin
because there is
forgiveness in him
and we will go
where he goes
and where is jesus
going he's going
back to his father's
presence
and jesus would say
i'm going
to my father's
house to prepare
a place for my
people and if i go
i'll come back
and i'll take them
to be with me
we may live together
forever in joy
and in the light
of god's glory
jesus
came the light
of the world
and he would die
in the darkness
good friday
but the dawning
of the first light
of easter sunday
he was risen
in glory
and victory
and power
so that all
who believe in him
might live
in his light
also
so let's again
close
with an invitation
to reflect
to you
do i
do we want
to live
in the light
darkness
or in
the darkness
and we've begun
reading lord of the rings
with our eldest
and if you've seen the movies
or read the book
perhaps one of the
the standout characters
that you'll remember
is
golem
golem who finds
the ring of power
golem who chooses
the dark places
doesn't he
golem who chose
to make his home
under the mountains
golem who in time
comes to hate
the sunlight
you see this
in the crowds
in jesus day
jesus comes
as the light
of the world
and many
hated him
they chose
the dark places
they turned
their back
on jesus
they wouldn't
believe in him
exposed to the
light of his
glory
they wanted
nothing
to do with him
they wanted
rid of him
that they might
continue
to live
their own
lives
there is a sense
of tragedy
when we read
the gospels
as we see
some of the
wrong responses
to jesus
here is the
one who would
give true
life
and light
and joy
and beauty
and peace
but men
women turned
away from him
from the son
of god
from his
revelation
of truth
and glory
from the
salvation
that he
offers
let me say
to each one
of us
here today
let's not
follow them
on that
path
let's not
miss
the light
of jesus
let's be
those who
will admit
our sin
admit our
need
who will
believe in
jesus
and come
to him
in repentance
and faith
let's follow
jesus
the light
of the
world
the one
who came
and defeated
darkness
revealing the
light of god's
glory and will
the one who
brings salvation
let's live
in his light
today
let's pray
together
father god
we thank you
for sending
jesus
to be the
light of the
world
just as we
need the
light of the
sun
for life
so we
need
life
and light
that comes
from jesus
your son
we thank you
for his
willingness
to suffer
and die
even as we'll
shortly
as your
people share
the lord's
supper
as we'll
remember
the cost
of our
salvation
we thank
you that
father you
are willing
to send
your son
in your
love
we thank
you for
jesus
willingness
to come
and to
demonstrate
your love
and that
while we
were sinners
christ died
for us
lord help
us to
respond
to his
light
and to
his
truth
to come
to him
for salvation
and to
live
with faith
and obedience
in him
please help
us in that
we ask in
jesus name
amen
now let's
sing
together
we'll actually
sing a section
that we began
with our call
to worship
from psalm 36
and we're
going to sing
a section
of that together
we'll stand
to sing
and as we're
standing our
boys and girls
will come
back in
to join
us