The Witness of the Light

Jewish literature was generous with the title “light of the world,” applying to Israel, Jerusalem, the patriarchs, the Messiah, God, famous rabbis and the law; but it always referred to something of significance. One of the most spectacular celebrations of the Feast of Tabernacles involved tourches that lit up the city, a reminder that the children of Israel had been guided at night by a pillar of fire in their wilderness pilgrimage. This feast along with Hjanukkah was known for splendid lighting. Christ Jesus offering His light to the whole world, to all the nations, may have been a reference to (Isaiah 42:6) "I am the LORD, I have called you in righteousness, I will also hold you by the hand and watch over you, And I will appoint you as a covenant to the people, As a light to the nations,”

Walking in darkness is a natural metaphor for stumbling, falling from the right way or being destroyed. Africa's Victoria Falls produces a cloud of mist that is often heavy enough to impair visibility. While I was walking the path that skirts the gorge into which the Zambezi River tumbles, I noticed a sign on the rim but could not make it out. Not wanting to miss whatever it might be noting, I slithered and slid through the mud out to the very brink only to read the message: "Danger! Crumbling Edge." - Glenn Cunningham in Reader's Digest.

But now a greater living Light has come, not simply to guide a particular people who walked in darkness, but for the whole world. This went beyond all orthodox messianic expectations of the day. All those who followed Him, including the first disciples who had “come to see” and now walked with Him, would know the very character and glory of God. They would no longer be in darkness for they would have the gift of life. “In Him was life, and the life was the light of men” (John 1:4). So who is it that is person calling Himself the Light of the world?

John 8:12-20
12 Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, "I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life." 13 So the Pharisees said to Him, "You are testifying about Yourself; Your testimony is not true." 14 Jesus answered and said to them, "Even if I testify about Myself, My testimony is true, for I know where I came from and where I am going; but you do not know where I come from or where I am going. 15 "You judge according to the flesh; I am not judging anyone. 16 "But even if I do judge, My judgment is true; for I am not alone in it, but I and the Father who sent Me. 17 "Even in your law it has been written that the testimony of two men is true. 18 "I am He who testifies about Myself, and the Father who sent Me testifies about Me." 19 So they were saying to Him, "Where is Your Father?" Jesus answered, "You know neither Me nor My Father; if you knew Me, you would know My Father also." 20 These words He spoke in the treasury, as He taught in the temple; and no one seized Him, because His hour had not yet come.

1. “I Am” (vs. 12)

Here in verse 12 you find the second of seven “I Am” passages in John's Gospel. Just as water, bread, and light is necessary for life. Everlasting water, the bread of life and the Light of the world are necessary for Spiritual Life. Christ Jesus is the everlasting water, the bread of life, and the light of the world to those who follow Him.

Since light is one of John's major themes, several assumptions come from this verse. One is that the world needs light, John has already addressed this in chapter 1:4-5; In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. Darkness is still rampant today, more than ever the Light of Christ Jesus is needed. 

Second, there are conditions for seeing and knowing the Light – Everyone has a chance to walk in the Light. To see and know the Light requires you to follow Christ Jesus.

Thirdly, walking in the light can be permanent. The light of life can change you so that you never have to walk in darkness again.

“he who follows” - Here you do not have a statement about everyone participating in the light, but an exclusion of all who do not follow the true light. Those who do not know Christ Jesus (the Light) will not find life, but instead loose it. 

While there are many “lights” in the world – Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, Mormonism, Secularism and many more -isms. There is only one true light and that is Christ Jesus. Are you ready to put you life in Christ Jesus' nail scarred hands today? Are you ready to bask in the love and glory of the one true Light? 

 John 12:36
"I have come as Light into the world, so that everyone who believes in Me will not remain in darkness.”

2. I Am Testifies (vs. 13-15)

The Pharisee’s were in the darkness in more than one since of the word. They were in the dark spiritually; they were following the false light of law and prestige. And the were in the dark when it came to the Messiah, He was standing right in front of them and yet they did not recognise Him.

“What! You can't testify on your own behalf!” - The Pharisees knew the law inside and out and they were going to try and hold the creator of the law to it. But Christ Jesus can not be held by the constraints of man. He is God and as such He is:

1. Omniscient
2. Impartial
3. The Perfect Son of God.

Christ Jesus’ bold witness about Himself—who He is and why He has come—is crucial! And this is where the Pharisees attack Him. They said His “witness” was a lie, and His claim to be Light was a grandiose illusion! However, there remained an integrity in Christ Jesus’ claim about His being. He knew the Source of His nature and mission.

As usual the Pharisees misunderstood and misconstrued everything Christ Jesus told them. When He spoke of His home they thought of Nazareth not heaven. When He spoke of His Father, they thought of His earthly Father, not His heavenly Father. When He spoke of going to a place they did not know, they though He was going to a far country or that He was planning to kill Himself (vs. 22). What good is it to talk with those who don't know anything about what you are saying, and worse have no desire to know? But that is what Christ Jesus did with the Pharisees.

They judged by earthly standards, that which was not of earth. How can man judge God? Over 2000 years later people are still trying to judge Christ Jesus. Are you?

3. The Father and I Am (vs. 16-18)

Christ Jesus had the Father's direct counsel until His death on the cross. As He was with the Father before the forming of the heavens and earth, so the Father was with Him in this world and Christ Jesus' ministry. 

Christ Jesus also had the Father's concurring power to authorize and confirm what He did. While He was on earth as God/man Christ Jesus did not act separate of God the Father, but rather He acted in His name and His Father's. The Son is one Person, and the Father is another; they do not, however, constitute two Beings, the Father is the same Being as the Son, that is, the only true God. Christ Jesus here speaks of Himself and the Father as a witness to the world of men, whom He deals with on our level as God/man.

In the 18^th century John Newton described the Light in these poetic terms: “Round each habitation hovering, see the cloud and fire appear.

For the glory and a covering, showing that the Lord is near;

Thus deriving from their banner, light by night, and shade by day. Safe they feed upon manna which He gives them when they pray.”

Christ Jesus and the Father are one. To worship one withouth worshipping the other is to worship a false light. (1 Peter 3:19) For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit,

4. To Know the Father is to Know I Am (vs. 19-20) 

The question the Pharisees finally asked, “Where is Your Father?” cannot be answered. Some questions only reveal the distance between two differing parties. It is really impossible for Christ Jesus to communicate with them, they are not at the place of hearing or understanding. Notice the absence of the capital letter in their question. 

 The Pharisees want Christ Jesus' Father to make a physical appearance. They are still thinking earthly, while Christ Jesus is talking about His heavenly Father. They rejected Christ Jesus' message, and by doing this rejected God the Father. Are you still rejecting the message of Christ Jesus this morning?

Conclusion: Christ Jesus, the I Am was fearlessly speaking these truths in an open place between the court of the women and the inner court. He is Light of the world and will not be hid. No one could take Him until His hour came.

There is another hour coming, which no man knows. The hour is the return of Christ Jesus for His bride - those who know Him as Lord and Saviour. Are you ready for that hour?