Timeless Truths: I AM Series #3 - I AM the Light of the World
Each I AM describes who Jesus is AND who we are to be.
When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
The Pharisees challenged him, “Here you are, appearing as your own witness; your testimony is not valid.”
Jesus answered, “Even if I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is valid, for I know where I came from and where I am going. But you have no idea where I come from or where I am going. You judge by human standards; I pass judgment on no one. But if I do judge, my decisions are true, because I am not alone. I stand with the Father, who sent me. In your own Law it is written that the testimony of two witnesses is true. I am one who testifies for myself; my other witness is the Father, who sent me.”
Then they asked him, “Where is your father?”
“You do not know me or my Father,” Jesus replied. “If you knew me, you would know my Father also.” He spoke these words while teaching in the temple courts near the place where the offerings were put. Yet no one seized him, because his hour had not yet come.
Once more Jesus said to them, “I am going away, and you will look for me, and you will die in your sin. Where I go, you cannot come.”
This made the Jews ask, “Will he kill himself? Is that why he says, ‘Where I go, you cannot come’?”
But he continued, “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; if you do not believe that I am he, you will indeed die in your sins.”
“Who are you?” they asked.
“Just what I have been telling you from the beginning,” Jesus replied. “I have much to say in judgment of you. But he who sent me is trustworthy, and what I have heard from him I tell the world.”
They did not understand that he was telling them about his Father.
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. The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him.”
Even as he spoke, many believed in him.
John 8:12-30 (NIV)
This story takes place in the Temple’s Courtyard of Women where people deposited offering money. There is a giant candelabrum there because of the Feast of Tabernacles.
Light provides
- Guidance. Direction
- Illumination. To read and write
- Protection, From strangers
- Freedom, From fear of bumping into objects
- Security. Knowing what is all around us
We don’t doubt that lights will work on a daily basis. So, a good way of thinking of this concept today is from the perspective of a life journey of which we are all familiar.
LIGHTS ON AN AIRPLANE
Reading lights. Allow us to see clearly what we are reading. It doesn’t illuminate others.
Exit lights. Provide guidance in case of an emergency.
Seat belt sign. Provide both protection and freedom. Protection from turbulence. Freedom to move about when not illuminated. These lights are often ignored.
Lavatory light. Often goes on as soon as the door closes. Provide visual security of knowing what’s in side the lavatory.
- Jesus as light of the world offers all that light offers.
- People often try to block out as much light as possible—often to their/our detriment.
Verse 15.
We can judge wrong. When we do, we often pick the wrong lights.
Verse 25.
The Pharisees question, “Who are you?” is one we need to answer.
The Pharisees question, “Who are you?” is one we need to answer.
We must judge correctly and answer that question by accepting Jesus’ “I AM” statements.
Special thanks to Dr. Scott Peterson, Vice President For University Relations at Mt. Vernon Nazarene University for the central teachings in this series.
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