Amen. Wonderful singing this morning. Well, turn with me in your Bibles to John chapter 8. John chapter 8. We pick up our text this morning in John chapter 8, verse 12. Last week, we looked at the passage right before this from chapter 7, verse 53 through chapter 8, verse 11. And we saw that while that’s a great story that illustrates great truth about our Savior, as we saw and we studied, it clearly does not belong where we find it here in John chapter eight.

This was no doubt a story that was passed down orally through different generations and eventually found its way into the copies of God’s word as we saw. And eventually, as we came to English translations of the original text, that story made it into many of the early English Bibles. But over time, as more and more historical and archaeological discoveries were made, They uncovered older and more reliable copies of the Greek text of the scriptures that it was originally written in. And it revealed, as we saw last week, that this story was not in the original order that we find it here this morning.

And so as we come to our text today, all that we covered last week, we need to remember the context we were in back in John chapter seven. Because it’s the very same context we find here in chapter 8 verse 12. To understand what Jesus had in mind as he’s speaking to the people here. We need to remember where we were in chapter seven, and that was on the last day of the Feast of Tabernacles. We talked a lot about this Feast of Tabernacles was a great feast of the Jews there in Jerusalem, something they were instructed to do every single year. We saw in chapter seven, verse 37. where it says, now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out saying, if anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. We see here in chapter eight that the context is the same. In fact, chapter eight verse 20 tells us the specific location that Jesus is speaking.

As it says, these words he spoke in the treasury as he was teaching in the temple. And yet no one seized him because his hour had not yet come. Now the treasury was found in the court of women, which was one of the outer courts that many of the people could come to. So it was larger and that was there that he was speaking these words. And we’ve seen the different traditions and rituals that they would partake in here at the Feast of Booths. We’ve already discussed one of these ceremonies that took place at this feast.

On each morning of this week-long feast, The priests of Israel would begin this procession to the pool of Siloam where they would draw water out in these golden pitchers and they would come back to the temple and pour out the water on the altar as a sacrifice.

And as they did this, the people would accompany them and sing and chant and sing scripture and a couple of the verses that they would sing were Isaiah chapter 12, verse three. that says, therefore you will joyously draw water from the springs of salvation. They would also sing Psalm 114, which tells us in verses 7 and 8, tremble, O earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of God, the God of Jacob, who turned the rock into a pool and the hard rock into springs of water. And so this ceremony was meant to remember God’s provision of water for these people as they wandered in the wilderness so many generations before. But it also pointed forward to the spiritual water that men would draw from God in the future as God would visit them in the presence of the Messiah.

And as we saw on this last day of the feast, This ritual was even more celebrated, and it was even more magnified, and it was at that point, as John tells us, that Jesus stands up and cries out, if anyone is thirsty, let him come to me. As they are celebrating God’s provision of water, Jesus stands up and says, if anyone is thirsty, Let him come to me. And he who believes in me, as the scripture said, from his innermost being will flow rivers of living water. That was why Jesus said what he said when he did. As they’re remembering God’s provision, he shows them that he is God’s provision. He is the water of life that they needed to quench their thirst for eternity. He was their salvation.

But there was another important ritual that happened during the Feast of Booths. The water pouring ritual that I just mentioned, this ceremony is what happened during the day. But there was another ceremony that happened at night. At night, there was a lamp lighting ceremony in the very court of women that we see Jesus was speaking in near the treasury. In verse 20, in that outer court, there were four huge candelabras, and they were lit at night at this Feast of Booths ceremony.

And different scholars and historians tell us that the light from this ceremony would light up the entire night sky. That’s how big these lights were. That’s how large these flames from these lights grew. In fact, the light was so bright that one Jewish historian says, there was not a courtyard in Jerusalem that did not reflect their light. This ceremony lit up the whole city.

And they would do this every night of the feast. And again, the last day was the great day of the feast, where everything was taken to another level. And once these lights were lit, The people celebrated and they had torches and they danced through the streets of the city, remembering God’s provision. And they would hold torches in their hand and sing songs and praises. And this went on every night of the feast.

And again, this reminded them of the days in the wilderness. Because yes, God provided them water from the rock, but God also provided them his presence and direction. in the form of a pillar of fire by night. As we read in Exodus chapter 13, this is what the people remembered at this lamp lighting ceremony. Exodus chapter 13 verse 21 says, and Yahweh was going before them in a pillar of cloud by day to guide them on the way and in a pillar of fire by night. to give them light, that they might go by day and by night. And he did not take away the pillar of cloud by day or the pillar of fire by night from before the people.” This was God’s provision for them. It was his presence reminding them that he was with them and he was guiding them along the way.

And it was against this backdrop, that ceremony that they are celebrating on the great day of the feast, that Jesus, once again, stands up and cries out another announcement of who he is, that he is the true light of the world. That was what we see in our text this morning in John chapter eight, verse 12. And what we see in this one verse are three elements of Jesus’ announcement to them. We see, first of all, that he is the light. Secondly, we see the illumination that he gives. And lastly, We see the life that is given by his light. So allow me to read our passage for us this morning.

John chapter eight, verse 12. This is the word of the Lord. Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, I am the light of the world. He who follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life. Again, we see the first element of this announcement is that he is the light. Jesus says to them, I am the light of the world.

This is the second of seven I am statements that Jesus makes in this gospel. I am, of course, is the very name of Yahweh, God, as he gave it to Moses in Exodus. Whom shall I say has sent me? Tell them I am has sent you. And Jesus here says, I am the light of the world.

And the seven I am statements that Jesus makes reveal different aspects of who Jesus is as God in the flesh. We saw back in chapter six, the first I am statement, as he said, I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never hunger. And he believes in me will never thirst. And here Jesus adds to that. that he’s the light of the world.

And John had already used the metaphor of light in his gospel already, before Jesus announces this. As he prepares us for this in his prologue, in John chapter one, verse four he says, in him was life and the life was the light of men. And then in chapter one, verse eight and nine, speaking of John the Baptist, he says, he was not the light. But he came to bear witness of the light, that is Jesus. There was the true light, which coming into the world enlightens everybody. And then we saw in chapter three that this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world. And men loved the darkness rather than the light, for their deeds were evil.

There was a lot of Old Testament background to this metaphor of being the light. Their Old Testament ears would have heard and understood and remembered things if Jesus says that I am the light of the world. We often think of this verse, as we read, I am the light of the world, as something like the sun that shines and lights and warms everything in the world. And while there are places in which this light metaphor means something like that, we need to remember the context Jesus is speaking in. to know specifically what he’s trying to tell these people here at this feast, at this lamp lighting ceremony, where everyone’s mind is on Yahweh, the God of the people of Israel, leading them in the wilderness in a pillar of fire by night, remembering that. That is where Jesus compares himself to the light. He is the light. that leads in a world of darkness.

Again, I read Exodus 13 as Moses explains that Yahweh was going before them in a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. And in Exodus 14, he explains how that happened. Exodus 14, starting in verse 19, he says, the angel of God who had been going before the camp of Israel moved and went behind them and the pillar of cloud moved. and it stood behind them. So it came between the camp of Egypt and the camp of Israel, and there was a cloud along with the darkness, yet it gave light at night. Thus, the one did not come near the other all night.”

Not only was he their provision, he was their protection. He protected them from the armies of Egypt. So what is Jesus telling them? As he says, I am the light in the midst of this light ceremony. Well, think about this, why was that cloud important to Israel? Why was that important to them as they left the nation of Egypt being slaves for 400 years and went out in the wilderness? This cloud was important because it symbolized God’s presence with them. God was with them. And this would be obvious from the fact that this pillar of cloud shone brightly all night as a pillar of fire.

Other passages tell us that God would speak from the cloud. Sometimes Moses, when he would speak to God, he would speak to the cloud. Listen to this incredible passage of how God moved with the nation of Israel as the cloud and Moses would speak and let the people know in Numbers chapter 10. Starting in verse 34, it says this, now the cloud of Yahweh was over them by day when they set out from the camp. And then it happened when the ark set out, Moses said, rise up, O Yahweh, and let your enemies be scattered, and let those who hate you flee before you. And when it came to rest, he said, return, O Yahweh, to the myriad thousands of Israel. So God is said to have raised himself up when the cloud moved. and to have descended when the cloud descended. God was their protection. God’s presence was what gave them comfort.

And it’s in this context and against this background that Jesus says, I am the light of the world. I am that light that is the presence of God. I am God with you. Here was God once again with his people. It had been hundreds of years since Israel had heard from God. And as they remember the times when God was there with them, and they knew it because of the great light that shone from this cloud. And Jesus speaks and says, I’m with you again. I am the light of the world. I am God’s presence.

This is what these people with an Old Testament understanding would have heard. They would have thought of passages like we read to open the service in Psalm 27, verse 1, Yahweh is my light and my salvation. These people knew God is the light of the world. God is my salvation. or the other passage that I read in the service from Isaiah 42. Verse six, I am Yahweh. I have called you in righteousness.

I will also take hold of you by the hand and guard you, and I will give you as a covenant to the people and a light to the nations. Not only did they know God was the light of the world, but that he was going to give his light to the nations through the form of his servant, the Messiah. And in Isaiah 49, God speaks and says, it is too small a thing that you should be my servant to rise up the tribes of Jacob and to cause the preserved ones of Israel to return. I will also give you as a light to the nations so that my salvation will reach the ends of the earth.

They knew when God gave his light to the nations, God was working. His Redeemer had come, His Messiah had come into the world. And Isaiah 60 that tells us of the future kingdom of this Messiah, what eternity will be like because of this Messiah. Isaiah 60 verse 19, no longer will you have sun for the light by day, nor for brightness will the moon give you light, but you will have Yahweh for an everlasting light, and God for your glory.

God is the light of the world. And when he was with them, his light shone brightly. And now Jesus says, I am the light of the world. God’s light is back with his people. He is shining there for him, calling them to himself, calling the nation of Israel back to God.

This is what it means when Jesus claims to be the light of the world. He is claiming to be the Messiah and the deliverer of Israel. He is claiming to be the light for the nations through which God would save his people. He is claiming to be God himself. As Dr. John MacArthur described Jesus’ metaphor, he says it this way, Jesus Christ alone brings the light of salvation to a sin-cursed world.

To the darkness of falsehood, he’s the light of truth. To the darkness of ignorance, he is the light of wisdom. To the darkness of sin, he’s the light of holiness. To the darkness of sorrow, he’s the light of joy. And to the darkness of death, he is the light of life.

This is what Jesus was claiming when he says, in this ceremony, I am the light of the world. He is the I am. He is God and he is the light that shines into the darkness. As we see next in number two, number one that he is the light, number two is the illumination that he gives as the light of the world.

Jesus goes on to say, he who follows me will never walk in darkness. You notice often when Jesus makes an I am statement, he follows up with an absolute, a never statement. I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never hunger. I am the light of the world. He who follows me will never walk in darkness.

We live in a very dark world. We live in a world covered by the shadow of sin. and lost people around us search and grope for truth in any way that they can and they cannot find it. Because of their spiritual blindness. This is what every single false religion is. Is searching for the truth without the light.

The Bible describes sinners very clearly. In Proverbs, chapter 2, verse 13, it describes sinners as those who forsake the paths of rightness to walk in the ways of darkness. And in chapter 4 of Proverbs, verse 19, the way of the wicked is like thick darkness. They do not know over what they stumble.

In Romans 1, we know that chapter well. Romans 1, verse 21, even though they knew God, They did not glorify him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. And Jesus comes into this dark world, and he’s the light, the light that shines into the darkness. And the darkness does not overtake it.

As John 1.9 says, he’s the true light, which coming into the world enlightens us, enlightens everyone.

Even when he was a baby, Simeon in the temple, as he prophesied about this child in Luke 2.32, Simeon called him a light for revelation to the Gentiles. That’s Isaiah. He is the light. given for salvation. Later, we read here in John chapter 8, verse 12, I am the light of the world. This is what he means.

But notice Jesus does not say that now everyone will never walk in darkness. Okay, the light of the world’s here, the dark time’s over, everybody gets to walk in the light now. That’s not what he says. Only those who follow him will never walk in darkness. Only those who follow him. There are some who think that you can believe in Jesus for salvation, but never actually follow him. that you can believe and get my salvation taken care of.

I can pray that prayer. I can get my fire insurance card so that I don’t have to go to hell. I’ll take care of that, but then I’m going to live my life and God will forgive me anyways because I already took care of that, but I can do what I want to do now. It doesn’t matter how you live after you prayed that prayer of salvation. As long as that prayer happened, you’re all set.

But that is not what Jesus says here. He says, those who follow me, that you must follow him to be delivered from the darkness. Not he who professes faith, not he who prays a prayer, he who follows me. He who follows the light is spared from the darkness. As he says later in chapter 10, my sheep hear my voice and I know them and they follow me. His sheep follow him. That’s what it means to be a sheep. The sheep follow the shepherd. It is those who follow him that are spared from the darkness. It is those who follow him through repentance and faith.

Paul says the very purpose that he was called to preach to the Gentiles in Acts chapter 26, as he’s explaining his ministry and why he was called by Jesus. He says, Jesus called him in Acts 26 verse 18, to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light, from the authority of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith. This is what it is to be saved, to turn from darkness to light, to follow Him and never walk in darkness. We are rescued, Colossians says, from the authority of darkness and transformed into the kingdom of His Son. There’s a difference. Salvation makes a difference in your life.

And Peter says in 1 Peter 2.9, God has called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. This is the illumination that the light of the world gives.

We will never walk in darkness. That’s an emphatic statement in the Greek there. We will no not ever walk in darkness. Never. We are delivered out of the darkness. We have the light now. We are given the light to see what those in the darkness cannot see. Just like those at this feast who are illuminated by these lights and bring the lights throughout the city. That’s what we do when we’re given the light of the world. We take the light of the world to the darkness around us. And yes, some hate the light. Some people hate the light. And they prefer the darkness. They don’t want to hear the light that we have to bring.

But Jesus tells us in Matthew 5. As he says he is the light of the world, he says in Matthew 5 verse 14, you are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden, nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand.

And it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven. You have been lit by the light of the world. If you are a believer, now you are the light of the world. And a light is not given so that it can be darkened. Let your light shine, whether they like it or not. Whether they love the darkness more than the light you give them, let them shine anyways. Shine your light into the dark world. because he is the light of the world and he illuminates us and we now bring his light to those around us.

That is the illumination that the light of the world gives us. It makes a difference in our life. We follow him and in his steps are found the light of the world. That is why we no longer walk in darkness and that is why we take his light with us wherever we go. That is the illumination. And lastly, we see, thirdly, that we’re given the life, the light of life. Jesus says that we will have the light of life. I am the light of the world.

He who follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life. Not only will you not walk in darkness, but because you’ve been given life, You have the light of life. This is a promise. This is a promise of Jesus. Jesus promised that the one who follows him not only will not walk in darkness, but now you have the light.

You have the light that produces spiritual life, that shines on the world. Life and light go hand in hand in scripture. In Psalm 36 verse 9, for with you, for with God, is the fountain of life, in your light we see light. Because of the life that God gives, we see his light. And as I read earlier, John 1, 4, in him was life, and the life was the light of men. When you’re given the light, it comes with eternal life.

But this is also why it seems as though unbelievers are blind to the truth of the gospel and who Jesus is. When it seems so obvious, but they just can’t see it. If only they could see it, they would know and believe. But they can’t see it. They can’t see it because they don’t have the light. It’s like trying to show something to a blind man. He can’t see it. They can’t see the truth of the gospel and of Christ until they’re given the light. Because they don’t have the light, they don’t have life.

Jesus says later in John 12, as He continues this light reference, He says, I have come as a light into the world. In John 12, 46. So that everyone who believes in me will not remain in darkness. Without Christ, you’re in darkness. Faith in Christ is following Christ. And following Christ is possible for those who have faith in Him. Those who follow His light. Those who have the light of life.

So do you have faith in Christ? Do you have this light? Can you see him? Or are you still in the darkness? Are you following him? Does your life show that you’re walking in his light? Or does your life look like you’re stumbling around in the darkness and you don’t know where to go? And you keep falling into this and that because you have no light in your life. or are you following Him?

See, God does not accept half-hearted belief or following of Christ. Christ calls us to follow Him. There’s no such thing as someone who’s received Christ as Savior but doesn’t want to follow Him as Lord. You have both or you have neither. As Jesus told us in Luke 9, if anyone wishes to come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.

Whoever wishes to save his life will lose it. But whoever loses his life for my sake, he is the one who will save it. What Jesus is saying here is, if you think you can claim to follow me, but want to preserve that life you had, that life that you loved, of living for yourself and living for your own desires and pleasures and whatever you want, if you wish to save that life, you’ll lose it. If you wish to save that life, if that’s what you live for, then you’re not following Him. But whoever loses his life, whoever leaves that life of living for yourself and your pleasure and your self-gratification, Whoever loses that life, he is the one who will save it.

Are you following him? Is he your Lord? Is he your master? Is he the one who says what you do and don’t do in life? Do you deny yourself? Do you deny that self-gratifying life and take up your cross? sacrifice so that you can follow him. If you are, if that’s you, if you are following him like that, you have Christ’s promise that you will never walk in darkness, but you will have the light of life. That’s what it is to follow Jesus. And if you don’t have the light of life, if you don’t know Him, if you don’t know Him as your Savior and your Lord, if you have not submitted to Christ, if you’ve not given your life to Him and saying, I want to follow you. I want to live for you. I don’t want to live for this world anymore. I don’t want to live for myself anymore. I want to follow you.

If you haven’t done that, Don’t leave here today without talking to somebody here about how you can know Him and how you can follow Him. But if you do know Him, if you are following Him, keep following Him. Keep walking in that light because it’s only in following His steps that the light of life is found. Everywhere else is darkness. Keep following Him and bring His light to the darkness around you.

Stand with me in closing a word of prayer this morning. Our God and Father in heaven, we thank you for your word. Your word that makes it so clear for us that Jesus is the light of the world. He is God’s presence with us. He is our provision. He is our protection. It is by him that we know that you are here. And as he gives us his light, I pray, Lord, that we would continue to follow in his steps, that we would follow him and live as though he is most important in our life. We would live to obey him because of what he has done for us.

Lord, we thank you for the gospel. We thank you for the life and death of Jesus Christ, who came into this dark world as the that men hated, and yet he still continued to live in perfect obedience, even to the point of a death on a cross. And he did that to glorify you and to save a people for himself. Lord, we thank you for saving us, for making us yours, and for giving us the light to walk in. Help us to go from here this morning and bring your light to the dark world around us. We thank you, Lord, for who you are and for who you’ve called us to be. We pray this in Jesus’ precious name. Amen.