The light of the world (3 things)

• 1^st – I am the light of the world… vs. 12 (4 things)
  • 1^st – Jesus spoke to the crowd in the Temple on another day…
    • The 7 ‘I Am statements of Jesus’…
      • There are seven ‘I AM’ statements given by Jesus in the book of John…
      • The ‘I AM’ – is one of the titles given by God to Moses (burning bush) – Exodus 3
      • These 7 statements reveal the character of God through Jesus Christ…
      • Jesus already showed us He is the ‘Bread of life’ – He is our Spiritual food…
      • Now He tells us that He is also – ‘the light of the world’…
    • Jesus is the literal the light of the world…
      • In Genesis 1:3 – on the first day of creation God said let there be light…
      • Yet the sun and moon were not created until day 4 – where did the light come from…
      • The answer is Jesus – He was the light that first shined down on the world…
      • In fact when we get to heaven there will be no sun or moon…
      • Revelation 21:23 – “[Heaven] has no need of sun or moon, for the glory of God illuminates [it], and the Lamb is its light.”
      • Jesus was quite literally the light in the beginning and will be the light in the end!
  • 2^nd – Jesus is the light that shines into the darkness of our hearts – John 1:5…

• Before Jesus we did not think about sin – we just did what we wanted…
  • We did not think about God – think about righteousness – we were bound to sin…
  • When we sinned  – we did not care – sin did not bother us…
  • And with every sin we sank deeper into ‘debt’ – a debt we had no way to repay…
  • Only living to please ourselves – destined to face the wrath of God!
• Before we knew Jesus we walked in spiritual darkness – lost in our sin…
  • Every new idea – we blindly followed after – not knowing where we were going…
  • No thought of consequence/no plan – obeying our sin without question…
  • We had no direction – no purpose – no hope – and we did not even see our problem…
• 3^rd – Jesus came so we could see… 

• The light of Jesus shows us the way to heaven…
  • II Corinthians 4:6 – “For God, who said, ‘Let there be light in the darkness,’ has made this light shine in our hearts…”
  • It is only through Jesus – His Word – we were able to see our sinfulness…
  • Once we understood we were sinners – we saw our need for Jesus as a savior…
  • We could see the door God opened up to heaven through the sacrifice of Jesus!
• The light of Jesus gives us victory over sin…
  • I John 1:7 – “If we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.”
  • It is as we walk with Jesus – walk in the light – that we can see clearly…
  • Victory over sin in our life – is a direct result of our relationship with Jesus…
  • The more time we spend with the Lord – the more we find we overcome our sin…
  • Jesus changes our desires so we do not want to do the things that are wrong…
  • Instead we will want to do those things that please the Lord!
• The light of Jesus shows us how to live our lives…
  • How do we know what God has called us to do – He lights the way for us…
  • We go to the Word – His light for our path – so we can see where to walk by faith!
  • Psalm 119:105 – “ Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”
  • Before we knew Jesus – the Bible did not make any sense to us – in the dark…
  • It is only because of the Holy Spirit in us – the Word is a light to us…
• 4^th – Now we are called to be a light to the world – Matthew 5:14…
  • In of ourselves – we are not that light – we do not shine like the sun…
    • We become that light by being transformed / changed…
    • Romans 12:2 – “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed…”
    • It is really easy to get caught up in cares/concerns of this world…
    • If we are not careful those cares will consume all our time – and snuff out our light…
    • Because if we conform to the world – we are not transformed for Jesus!
  • We are a light – only as long as we are full of Jesus…
    • If our eyes are focused on Jesus then we will be full of light – Luke 11:34…
    • If we loose that focus – get our eyes off Jesus and onto anything else – darkness…
    • Be careful what you allow your eyes to see – what you spend you time watching…
    • We choose daily what we fill our minds with – by choosing what we watch on TV…
    • What do we fill our heads and hearts with – this world / or with God’s Word…
    • As we are full of Jesus – we shine as a light of Jesus for all to see!
  • Without Jesus – we are just a big dead rock…
    • The moon is a just a large dead rock – it gives off no light…
    • If the world comes between the sun and the moon – it stays dark…
    • But when the moon looks at the sun – it is transformed…
    • It reflects the light of the sun for the whole world to see!
    • II Corinthians 3:18 – “We all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.”
    • When we look to Jesus – we are transformed – we reflect the Light of Jesus…
    • We become that light that shows the world the hope of Jesus!

• 2^nd – Rejecting the light… vs. 13-20
  • 1^st – The religious leaders accused Jesus of making claims about Himself… vs. 13-16
    • In the Law – a truth had to be established by 2 or more – Deuteronomy 17:6
      • Anyone could go around ‘claiming’ they were ‘The Light’ – but where is the proof…
      • Not that the leaders needed any more proof – Jesus had already proved Himself…
      • The lame man / feeding of the 5000 – the problem is they did not want to believe…
      • People will always looks for excuses why not to believe in Jesus…
      • I had a friend many years ago that believed in evolution – ‘because of the facts’…
      • He challenged me that if I could show him he was wrong – he would change his mind…
      • I took up the challenge – dismantled the theory – he admitted he could not defend it…
      • Forcing him to admit he still believed in Evolution – because he wanted to!
      • No matter what the ‘excuse’ – people do not believe – because they do not want to…
      • And if they do not want to believe – no amount of proof will be able to convince them!
    • Jesus answered – ‘I know where I came from and where I am going’…
      • Even if no one else testified for Jesus – His words were still true…
      • Because He was not like everyone else – He was eternal – He was God…
      • He had come from Heaven – and would return to Heaven when He was done!
      • Romans 3:4 – “Let God be true but every man a liar.”
      • No matter what people might say / no matter what excuses they may invent…
      • The bottom line is in the end – God is right and everyone else is wrong…
      • You can say – ‘I do not believe in God’ – but He will still judge you one day!
    • The Leaders judged only what they could see…
      • And when they looked at Jesus – they did not ‘see’ the Messiah / God…
      • Their problem was they were in darkness – they were blinded by their sin…
      • Everyone has their ‘ideas’ and ‘wisdom’ to offer about life …
      • Men have ideas about how to make money / raise a family…
      • Men have ideas on how to be happy / even how to get to heaven…
      • These ideas may even seem wise to us – they might make a lot of sense…
      • But if we follow the ideas of blind men – we will end up sharing their fate…
      • Luke 6:39 – “Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into the ditch.”
  • 2^nd – Where is Your Father… vs. 17-20
    • Jesus had no need to prove Himself – but He still gave them an answer…
      • Jesus gave them the second witness ‘THEIR’ Law required – His Father…
      • Speaking of the Word of the Father – the testimony of the Word of God about Jesus…
      • If we are truly looking to find the truth – God is always willing to answer…
      • Jeremiah 29:13 – “You will find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.”
    • Where is your Father – the leaders were looking for Joseph (step-father)…
      • They did not understand who the Father was – because they were not looking for God!
      • Jesus explained – ‘You do not know Me – so you do not know My Father’…
      • Because they did not have a relationship with Jesus – were could not see God!
      • The only way to see God – is by having a relationship with Jesus Christ…
      • Jesus is the key the opens up the door of heaven for all those who believe…
      • He is the only way to get to God – the one door / the one bridge that leads to heaven!
    • Jesus taught this in the Temple – but no one arrested Him – it was not His hour…
      

• 3^rd – Not of this world… vs. 21-29 (3 things)
  • Jesus taught on another day – ‘I am going away – and where I go you cannot come’… vs. 21-25
    • The people mockingly questioned – ‘will He kill Himself’…
      • The belief of the day was if you committed suicide – you would go to hell…
      • They mocked Jesus by suggesting He would ‘go to hell’ – where they WOULD not follow!
      • Can someone who commits suicide go to heaven – the Bible is silent on the issue…
      • To someone who has lost a loved one to suicide – I would say…
      • A momentary foolish decision – made in desperation – cannot undo God’s Grace
      • To those who are contemplating this choice – I would say…
      • There is a much better option – repent – humble yourself and fall on Grace…
      • Because the last thing you want is to enter eternity with is a question mark
    • Jesus clarified – you are from this earth / I Am from heaven…
      • Referring to their different citizenships – He points out He is going back home…
      • And since they did not have citizenship in heaven – they could not follow Him there!
      • We can only be citizens of one of two kingdoms…
      • We either belong to the Kingdom of God – or the kingdom of this world…
      • When Jen and I were in Israel in 2008 – we had to pass through the Netherlands…
      • Because my passport said I was from the ‘US’ – I was allowed go out…
      • But because Jen’s passport said she was from the ‘Philippines’ she was denied…
      • It had nothing to do with being a good or bad person – or our religion…
      • We were granted or denied solely based on our citizenship!
      • If we try to get into heaven with the wrong ‘passport’…
      • We can argue all we want we were a ‘good person’ / attended church…
      • But we are going to find the door is closed to us – we have the wrong citizenship!
    • You will die in your sins… vs. 24-25
      • Jesus told them – ‘you will die because you do not believe I AM…’
      • They asked Jesus – ‘who are you’ – they still did not understand Jesus is God…
      • Jesus answered – ‘the same one I have been claiming to be from the beginning!’
      • But because they would not believe Jesus is God – they had no hope of forgiveness!
      • There is a very real consequence to rejecting the Gospel message…
      • Someone has to pay the price for our sin – and if we reject the sacrifice of Jesus…
      • Then we will have to pay our own debt – we will die for our sins – the second death!
  • When I am lifted up – then you will know who I Am… vs. 26-29
    • There were lots of things Jesus could judge / condemn the people of…
      • But instead He choose to give them the message of hope from the Father…
      • He would be ‘lifted up’ – a term that was used to signify crucifixion…
      • Jesus was willing to die – because He always obeyed the Father…
    • When they saw Jesus crucified – then they would believe He was the I Am – God!
      • The simple solution – look up and see J esus on the cross..
      • Once we are born again – saved – we are no longer foreigners…
      • We no longer belong to this world – we have changed our citizenship!
      • And when one day we stand at the entrance into heaven – Jesus will welcome us in!