Sudden Impact 2 – Series "I AM"
Thesis: John uses Jesus’ "I Am" proclamations to prove that Jesus was the Christ and these proclamations are pivotal for the Jews and Christians to understand. Jesus made a sudden impact statement to the Jewish nation when he said “I Am the Light of the World.”
Text: John 8:12-30
12When 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.”
13The Pharisees challenged him, “Here you are, appearing as your own witness; your testimony is not valid.”
14Jesus 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. 15You judge by human standards; I pass judgment on no one. 16But if I do judge, my decisions are right, because I am not alone. I stand with the Father, who sent me. 17In your own Law it is written that the testimony of two men is valid. 18I am one who testifies for myself; my other witness is the Father, who sent me.”
19Then 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.” 20He spoke these words while teaching in the temple area near the place where the offerings were put. Yet no one seized him, because his time had not yet come.
21Once 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.”
22This made the Jews ask, “Will he kill himself? Is that why he says, ‘Where I go, you cannot come’?”
23But he continued, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. 24I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am the one I claim to be, you will indeed die in your sins.”
25“Who are you?” they asked.
“Just what I have been claiming all along,” Jesus replied. 26“I have much to say in judgment of you. But he who sent me is reliable, and what I have heard from him I tell the world.”
27They did not understand that he was telling them about his Father. 28So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am the one I claim to be and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me. 29The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him.” 30Even as he spoke, many put their faith in him.
Introduction:
In sermon one, we laid the foundation for the meaning of God’s name, "I Am". Let’s review.
"I Am" God’s name found in Exodus 3:14 was an answer to Moses when Moses asked for credentials to prove to Israel that God had indeed authorized him to lead them out of bondage and into freedom.
The disclosure of the name given from the burning bush which was not consumed, represents that this entity was eternal and constant. This scenario revealed to Moses and Israel that this was the same God of their forefathers. "I Am" there designates a characteristic (The Main One) that "I Am" represents absolute timeless existence. He always was but with the twist He is here now, present tense and He will be with us also into the future.
Joel Preston
My name is “I AM” I was regretting the past and fearing the future. Suddenly my Lord was speaking: “My name is “I AM.” He paused. I waited, He continued, “When you live in the past with its mistakes and regrets, it is hard. I am not there. My name is not ‘I WAS.’ When you live in the future with its problems and fears, it is hard. I am not there. My name is not ‘I WILL BE.’ When you live in this moment it is not hard; I am there! My name is ‘I AM!’
The apostle John, in the New Testament revealed that Christ’s "I Am" statements reveal Him to be the same God of the Old Testament. Yes, He is the "Bread of Life". He is the only source for spiritual life sustaining food which enables us to live forever.
John then reveals Christ’s second "I Am!" proclamation in John 8:12.
Jesus said this sudden impact statement: “I Am the Light of the World” (8:12).
Visual Illustration – Light the candles in the front of the altar!
In writing about Jesus, the apostle John says, "In Him was life, & that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it" (John 1:4).
He goes on to say, "The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world. He was in the world, & though the world was made through Him, the world did not recognize Him. He came to that which was His own, but His own did not receive Him. Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God" (John 1:9-12).
Since we are talking about light lets listen to Questions and answers about light from Paul Drecker:
ILLUSTRATION: Change (selected light)
Q: How many lawyers does it take to change a light bulb?
A: How many can you afford?
Q: How many psychiatrists does it take to change a light bulb?
A: Only one, but the bulb has got to really WANT to change.
Q: How many real men does it take to change a light bulb?
A: None; real men are not afraid of the dark.
Q: How many Floridians does it take to change a light bulb?
A: Don’t know for sure; they are still counting.
Q: How many Charismatics does it take to change a light bulb?
A: Ten; one to change the bulb and nine to pray against the spirit of darkness.
Q: How many TV evangelists does it take to change a light bulb?
A: One; but for the light to continue, send in your donation today.
Q: How many members of a church does it take to change a light bulb?
A: Ten; one to actually change the light bulb and nine to say how much they liked the old one.
Have you ever noticed that light brings change? It is the very nature of light to bring change to any given situation.
Darren Ethier
This story is about a cave which lived under the ground, as caves have the habit of doing. It had spent its life in darkness. It heard a voice calling to it: "Come up into the light; come and see the sunshine." The cave retorted: "I don’t know what you mean; there isn’t anything but darkness." Finally the cave ventured forth and was surprised to see light everywhere. Looking up to the sun cave said: "Come with me and see the darkness." The sun asked: "What is the darkness?" The cave replied: "Come and see." And so one day the sun accepted the invitation. As it entered the cave it said: "Now show me your darkness." But there was no darkness! (Autoillustrator.com, TRUTH)
TRANSITION: As we continue in our study of John we see that… Jesus has to bring change in thinking. He does this by letting everyone know that he is the true light of the world and only His light will be there in the end. He informs the crowd that His light is eternal and will last forever. It is not like some men who build lights to point at themselves and think they will stand the test of time.
Illustration: Hold Up the Light
The famous Eddystone lighthouse off the coast of Cornwall, England, was first built in a fanciful way, by the learned and eccentric Winstanley. On its sides he put various boastful inscriptions. He was very proud of his structure, and from his lofty balcony used boldly to defy the storm, crying, "Blow, O winds! Rise, O ocean! Break forth, ye elements, and try my work!" But one fearful night the sea swallowed up the tower and its builder.
The lighthouse was built a second time of wood and stone by Rudyard. The form was good, but the wood gave hold for the elements and the builder and his structure perished in the flames. Next the great Smeaton was called. He raised a cone from the solid rock upon which it was built, and riveted it to the rock; as the oak is fastened to the earth by its roots. From the rock of the foundation he took the rock of the superstructure. He carved upon it no boastful inscription like those of Winstanley, but on its lower course he put, "Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it;" and its keystone, above the lantern, the simple tribute, "Laus Deo!" and the structure still stands, holding its beacon light to storm-tossed mariners.
Fellow-workers for the salvation of men, Christ, the Light, must be held up before men or they will perish. Let us, then, place Him on no superstructure of our own device. Let us rear no tower of wood, or wood and stone. But taking the word of God for our foundation, let us build our structure upon its massive, solid truth, and on every course put Smeaton’s humble inscription, and then we may be sure that the lighthouse will stand -- Selected.
T.S. – Let us now explore John 8:12 and discover more about the 2nd sudden impact moment where Jesus makes another “”I Am!” statement.
I. The Exegesis of John Chapter 8: 12-59 with the emphasis on Christ’s proclamation, "I am the light of the world" and responses.
a. John 8: 12-59 Basic Outline
i. Jesus’ statement and reaction of His enemies. They attack the witness borne to Him. (12-20)
ii. Discussion goes to the fate of dying in sins. (21-24)
iii. The relationship between Father and Son. (25-30)
iv. The fact that the enemies of Jesus are slaves to sin. (31-47)
v. Section concludes with an emphasis on the glory given by the Father to the Son. (48-59)
b. Historical Setting:
i. Rabbi Biba Singorus said, "Light is the name of the Messiah" as it is written, "Light dwells with him," Dan. 2:22. Jews considered the Messiah to be the light.
1. The Old Testament had many references to God being the light.
a. II Samuel 22:29 " You are my lamp, O Lord the Lord turns my darkness into light.”
b. Psalm 27:1 "The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear....
c. Psalm 119:105 “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”
d. Isa. 60:19 "The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee; but the Lord shall be unto thee and everlasting light, and thy God thy glory."
i. Others:
1. Isa. 8:20: To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, they have no light of dawn.
2. Isa. 49:6: 6he says: “It is too small a thing for you to be my servant to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back those of Israel I have kept. I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring my salvation to the ends of the earth.”
3. Isaiah 58:8: Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.
4. Isaiah 60:20: Your sun will never set again, and your moon will wane no more; the LORD will be your everlasting light, and your days of sorrow will end.
ii. The Jews were looking for the Messiah and knew what Jesus meant when he said he was the light. Their Festivals looked for the Messiah and talked of repentance.
1. This statement is made at the end of the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot) where there are ceremonies with lights.
2. The Sukkot Festival comes in fall, four days after Yom Kippur.
3. The feasts were very important to the Jews. They delighted in their observance and rejoiced in their symbolism.
a. The High Holy days, commenced in the fall with Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year and climaxed ten days later with Yom Kippur.
b. Rosh Hashanah- New Years Day This marks the beginning of the ten days of repentance. This High Holy day according to the Jews is where God determined who would live or die in the New year.
c. During this festival the Jews would sound the shofa a trumpet blast which is to arouse the Jews from their moral reverie, to call them to spiritual regeneration, and to alert them to repentance.
d. The shofar is also sounded to remind the Jews of God’s promise to bring the Messiah. The Messiah would bring liberty and freedom to all people.
4. Yom Kippur- Day of Atonement This is the culmination of the entire High Holy day drama-the final opportunity for Jews to repent.
5. During the 24 hours of this day the Jews fulfill their obligation to "afflict" their souls by fasting, soul-searching, and praying. They beseech God for forgiveness and reflect on their lives.
6. The Central theme of the High Holy Days is repentance. The Jews believed in 4 conditions which must be met to have repentance:
a. 1. Regret for the past,
b. 2. Desisting from sinful behavior,
c. 3. Confession before God,
d. 4. Resolving not to sin in the future.
7. Feast of Tabernacles.
a. The ceremony with light where the bright and brilliant candelabra were lit, occurred only at the beginning of the Feast of Tabernacles. There is much argumentation as to how much illumination took place at night by the candelabra. It is fact, that by the end of the Feast the candelabra were blown out.
b. In the absence of the lights on the ninth day the day after the feast is over, Jesus makes His claim, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."
c. To help us understand this statement, even more, let’s look at the rituals of symbolism and the symbolic meaning behind the Feasts of Tabernacles.
i. The Jews celebrated the Feast of Tabernacles as the anniversary of the beginnings of the wandering in the wilderness. Ex. 23:16; Lev. 23:53; Duet. 16: 13-15
ii. It also was associated with the Feast of Ingathering. Ex. 23:16; Deut. 16: 13, 14, 17
1. Leviticus 23: 33-44 (Read) 33The LORD said to Moses, 34“Say to the Israelites: ‘On the fifteenth day of the seventh month the LORD’S Feast of Tabernacles begins, and it lasts for seven days. 35The first day is a sacred assembly; do no regular work. 36For seven days present offerings made to the LORD by fire, and on the eighth day hold a sacred assembly and present an offering made to the LORD by fire. It is the closing assembly; do no regular work. 37(“‘These are the LORD’S appointed feasts, which you are to proclaim as sacred assemblies for bringing offerings made to the LORD by fire—the burnt offerings and grain offerings, sacrifices and drink offerings required for each day. 38These offerings are in addition to those for the LORD’S Sabbaths and in addition to your gifts and whatever you have vowed and all the freewill offerings you give to the LORD.) 39“‘So beginning with the fifteenth day of the seventh month, after you have gathered the crops of the land, celebrate the festival to the LORD for seven days; the first day is a day of rest, and the eighth day also is a day of rest. 40On the first day you are to take choice fruit from the trees, and palm fronds, leafy branches and poplars, and rejoice before the LORD your God for seven days. 41Celebrate this as a festival to the LORD for seven days each year. This is to be a lasting ordinance for the generations to come; celebrate it in the seventh month. 42Live in booths for seven days: All native-born Israelites are to live in booths 43so your descendants will know that I had the Israelites live in booths when I brought them out of Egypt. I am the LORD your God.’”44So Moses announced to the Israelites the appointed feasts of the LORD.
iii. Festival was to be done to remember deliverance out of Egypt.
iv. Hebrew name Sukkot is considered "the festival for rejoicing". It was a very popular festival.
v. Jews looked at Sukkot as a time to give thanks for their redemption from Egypt and for God’s providence during the many years of wandering through the desert.
vi. The Jews would dwell at this time for 7 days in an exposed insecure hut showing our faith is to be under God’s protective wings.
vii. Sukkot bids the Jews to serve Him with gladness.
viii. On the day of Sukkot, a semi-holiday in its own right, is called Hoshana Raboah or "Great Hosanna". In the course of the morning prayer service everyone in the congregation takes the lulav and etrog and joins in a seven circuit procession around the synagogue while reciting prayers of hosanna calling for God’s salvation.
d. With the stage set Jesus offers them God’s salvation once again and the Jewish leaders challenge His claim to deity.
c. The meaning of Christ’s claim.
i. He is the light - could have been the answer to their ceremony asking for God’s salvation. He reveals His deity "I am" first person is here to once again deliver from bondage and lead them to freedom.
ii. He is the same God who spoke to Moses and will guide them.
1. In the last three chapters of John, we have successive wilderness imaging coming forth.
2. Some feel that Jesus’ light statement may refer to the pillar of fire which lead the Israelites through the wilderness.
3. Just as the fire guided and lead them Jesus was the same "I Am" that would lead His people to the Promised Land.
d. Illustration: ’We were on shipboard," relates a captain’s wife, "lying in a Southern harbor. We were obliged, first to make our way ashore. The waves were rolling heavily. I became frightened at the thought of attempting it, when one came to me, saying, ’Do not be afraid: I will take care of you.’ "He bore a peculiarly shaped dark-lantern, only single ray of light being emitted from a small circular opening. ’Now,’ said he, ’take my hand; hold fast, do not fear. Do not look about you, or on either side of you, only on the little spot lighted by my lantern, and place your footsteps firmly right there.’ "I heard the rushing of the waters, and was still conscious of fear; but by looking steadily only where the light fell, and planting my footsteps just there, not turning either to the right or the left, clasping firmly the strong hand, the danger was overcome, and the shore reached in safety." "The next day my kind guide said, ’Would you like to see the way by which you came last night? Then he showed me where our vessel had been lying, and the very narrow plank by which we had reached the shore. He knew that had I turned either to the right or left I should, in all probability, have lost my balance and gone over into those dark waters; but by holding fast and treading just where the light fell all danger would be averted." The believer often comes to some dark passage, or encounters some severe trial, which so overshadows the way that he fears to go forward less he fall. But when he clasps the hand of his heavenly Father, he is led gently over the rough and dangerous places and landed safely in some secure spot. The storms may rage and angry waves threaten to engulf, but if we keep our eye on Jesus we shall outride the storms, and have an abundant entrance into the heaven of eternal rest. -- Words of Life.
i. John 8: 13-30 the Pharisees’ relation to Jesus’ claim to be light is at base the response men always make when they are unwilling to be convinced. "I do not see it that way", this debatable style comes into play.
1. Their view was Jesus’ claim to light is insufficient in that there is not witness or evidence to prove it.
a. Note: light establishes its claim. It does this not by arguments or debates but by shining.
b. Light must always be accepted for what it’s supposed to do, shine and guide the way through darkness.
c. There was evidence to prove Jesus’ claim. They just rejected the evidence, Him and the Father.
d. Many "I Am" references to His deity are revealed in this section.
i. Verse 25 Jews upset with Christ’s claims to deity. Their question and Christ’s response are most enlightening.
ii. Verse 25a "Who are you?" Question
iii. Verse 25b "Just what I have been claiming all along."
1. Other renderings of Jesus’ response.
a. I am from the beginning what I tell you.
b. I am what I tell you from the beginning. (RSV Phillips).
2. Thus once again, "I Am" designates He was in the past and He the "I Am" first person reveals He is here before them presently.
a. "I Am" is standing before ? His response. Yet they do not see Him because their Father the Devil is deceiving them.
ii. The children of Abraham and the children of the Devil (John 8: 31-59)
1. 31To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” 33They answered him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free? 34Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. 35Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. 36So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. 37I know you are Abraham’s descendants. Yet you are ready to kill me, because you have no room for my word. 38I am telling you what I have seen in the Father’s presence, and you do what you have heard from your father.” 39“Abraham is our father,” they answered. “If you were Abraham’s children,” said Jesus, “then you would do the things Abraham did. 40As it is, you are determined to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. Abraham did not do such things. 41You are doing the things your own father does.” “We are not illegitimate children,” they protested. “The only Father we have is God himself.” 42Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and now am here. I have not come on my own; but he sent me. 43Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. 44You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. 45Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me! 46Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don’t you believe me? 47He who belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.” 48The Jews answered him, “Aren’t we right in saying that you are a Samaritan and demon-possessed?” 49“I am not possessed by a demon,” said Jesus, “but I honor my Father and you dishonor me. 50I am not seeking glory for myself; but there is one who seeks it, and he is the judge. 51I tell you the truth, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death.” 52At this the Jews exclaimed, “Now we know that you are demon-possessed! Abraham died and so did the prophets, yet you say that if anyone keeps your word, he will never taste death. 53Are you greater than our father Abraham? He died, and so did the prophets. Who do you think you are?” 54Jesus replied, “If I glorify myself, my glory means nothing. My Father, whom you claim as your God, is the one who glorifies me. 55Though you do not know him, I know him. If I said I did not, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and keep his word. 56Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad.” 57“You are not yet fifty years old,” the Jews said to him, “and you have seen Abraham!” 58“I tell you the truth,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!” 59At this, they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple grounds.
2. This passage begins by Jesus telling the Jews who opposed Him that they are slaves. He announces to them that they do not have freedom of sons, because they are not true members of Israel even though they claim their father is Abraham.
a. Jesus reveals that Abraham had a vision of the Messianic Age and rejoiced in the knowledge of what was going to climax.
b. Jesus also asserts that Abraham’s mind is known to Him in virtue of His own divine nature and pre-existence. Before Abraham was, He asserts, "I Am" (120 Tyndale)
c. Exposition: We can apply this Chapter by observing how legalistic and religious the Jews were in obeying the Law and claiming to be so holy and representing their God. Yet when they are face to face with "I Am" who they believed in and worshipped, they did not recognize Him. The prophecies Christ had fulfilled in total over 300 distinct prophecies should have opened their eyes yet it did not.
T.S. - Jesus not only said he was the great I am and the Light of the world he adds a promise to those who would follow his guiding light.
II. Jesus also added this after his sudden impact statement “I am the Light of the World. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
a. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."
i. Jesus’ sudden impact statement #2 is really an invitation to the crowd to look to Him and to get to know Him. He then informs them of the benefit of following Him which is the discovery of “The Light of Life!”
1. My own encounter with the light of life. I saw it in the ones who had accepted Jesus as their personal Savior.
a. I saw it in Bear!
ii. In Alaska in winter time they can have 24 hours of darkness. I recall Bear calling me from Alaska telling me that it had been dark for days. They were in the middle of winter and there could be no sun for a period of time.
1. I remember him telling me that this lack of light usually put people into a depression.
iii. When I did some research on this I discovered this:
1. Achenbach illustrates on page 18, “Moods darken when the sun goes into exile during winter in the northern Russian village of Lovozero… A shortage of light can unleash the winter blues, diagnosed as seasonal affective disorder (SAD).
a. Many medicate this disease with drugs and alcohol.
b. Suicides increase
c. Domestic violence increases
2. When you don’t have light in your day you become SAD and depressed.
iv. But Jesus tells us here that if we follow his light we ourselves will discover the light of life and even shine from this divine encounter ourselves. What is the light of life?
1. It’s the ability to see were you are going in your life.
2. It’s the knowledge to know what you are suppose to do with your life.
3. It’s the insight into understanding what God’s will is for your life.
4. It’s the glow that you receive from encountering God in a personal and intimate way.
b. We also must recall what Jesus said about us in Matthew 5:14-16:
i. 14“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
1. Jesus promised his followers that they would discover the light of life by following Him and that once they have that light they need to let it shine so others can come to the Father.-
2. C.S. Lewis stated we are, “Dazzling, radiant, immortal creatures, pulsating all through with such energy and joy and wisdom and love as we cannot imagine, bright stainless mirrors that reflect back to God perfectly (though of course, on a smaller scale) His own boundless power and delight and goodness.”
a. We Christians are designed to glow in the dark! Why? So people will take notice of us and ask us why? Do you glow?
i. Then we tell them “I glow because I have a personal relationship with the Light of the World!” Jesus!
ii. Truth is: We are to reflect the light of God just like Moses did:
1. Video Clip from the Ten Commandments when Moses comes down off the mountain and he has a glow about Him. He had seen the light and the light had been passed on to him. Others could see it in Moses’ face.
Conclusion:
I wonder today how many Christians would recognize God today if He came back?
Has Christianity become a ritual of religiousness where the followers don’t know God.
Has Christianity as a whole, become mere head knowledge and not heart knowledge?
Has the Christian lost the light of the Lord in their lives because they don’t spend time alone with the Lord?
ALTAR CALL:
If the light appeared to you today, would you be able to recognize Him?
-- Or would you reject Him?
-- Or if you have never accepted Christ into your life, would you like to, so you could see the light? And then be set a glow by the divine light!
