“I am the Light of the world” is the second of seven “I AM” declarations of Jesus, recorded only in John’s gospel. In declaring Himself to be the Light of the world, Jesus was saying that He is the only source of spiritual light. No other source of spiritual truth is available to mankind.
GETTING TO KNOW JESUS
Message by Joshua Mutter – March 8, 2020
I AM THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD
SCRIPTURE READING: John 8:12-20 NLT
Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.”
The Pharisees replied, “You are making those claims about yourself! Such testimony is not valid.”
Jesus told them, “These claims are valid even though I make them about myself. For I know where I came from and where I am going, but you don’t know this about me. You judge me by human standards, but I do not judge anyone. And if I did, my judgment would be correct in every respect because I am not alone. The Father who sent me is with me. Your own law says that if two people agree about something, their witness is accepted as fact. I am one witness, and my Father who sent me is the other.”
“Where is your father?” they asked.
Jesus answered, “Since you don’t know who I am, you don’t know who my Father is. If you knew me, you would also know my Father.” Jesus made these statements while he was teaching in the section of the Temple known as the Treasury. But he was not arrested, because his time had not yet come.
John 7:37-38 NLT … Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds, “Anyone who is thirsty may come to me! Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’”
GOD’S LIGHT
Psalm 27:1 NLT The Lord is my light and my salvation – so why should I be afraid? The Lord is my fortress, protecting me from danger, so why should I tremble?
Isaiah 49:6 NLT [God] says, “You will do more than restore the people… to me. I will make you a light to the Gentiles, and you will bring my salvation to the ends of the earth.”
Isaiah 60:19 NLT “No longer will you need the sun to shine by day, nor the moon to give its light by night, for the Lord your God will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory.”
John 1:1-5 NLT In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He existed in the beginning with God. God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him. The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.
REFLECTION
- AM I MOVING AWAY FROM JESUS?
- AM I MOVING TOWARD JESUS?
John 8:12 NLT Jesus spoke … “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.”
John 8:19 NLT “Where is your father?” they asked. Jesus answered, “Since you don’t know who I am, you don’t know who my Father is. If you knew me, you would also know my Father.”
APPLICATION
- WE NEED TO EMBRACE THAT JESUS IS GOD’S LIGHT FOR US
- WE NEED TO EMBRACE THAT WE ARE GOD’S LIGHT FOR THE WORLD
Matthew 5:13-16 NLT You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.
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