We’re traveling through the gospel of John chapter 8 verses 12 through 20. Let’s unpack John 8:12 in detail.
Because Jesus is the light of the world, he illuminates truth. He gives sight to believe in truth and sustains whoever believes in him. Apart from Jesus we all walk in darkness.
Preserved through this Present Darkness
He preserves us through this present darkness guiding us to our heavenly home to worship him forever. And because of that, we should celebrate the truth that Jesus causes us to see and sustains our sight to follow him.
We’ll explore 3 things:
1. | Who Jesus is | Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. |
2. | What he says about whoever follows him and those who don’t | Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, |
3. | What we have by following him. | but will have the light of life.” |
Train design has come a long way hasn’t it?
In 2016 a design company named Ichibansen designed a 2 car crimson colored sightseeing train for weekend travelers called Setsugekka. It replaced walls with windows, letting in loads of light. The kanji for Setsugekka seems to point to the beauty of different sights like snow, the moon and flowers.
Delivering good views for any season, passengers pour into relaxing spaces furnished with a french restaurant and a bar for rest and celebration. Custom cuisine touted as “a moving feast” celebrating local ingredients draws travelers from near and far.
Travelers need reserved seats to rest in these cars complete with spacious seats for the 3 hour trip.
Independent Vs. Trusted Travel
But, other travelers seek more freedom. The Haiku stairs, known as “the stairway to heaven” in Oahu offer breathtaking views to anyone reaching the top of this nearly 4,000 foot staircase.
However, it’s been closed to the public since 1987 due to many accidents. The stairway to heaven may appeal to independent travelers seeking a sense of achievement. But it’s all in your hands.
If you had to travel in the dark would you rather enjoy the views trusting in the engineer and conductor to navigate you to your destination or would you take matters into your own hands choosing to walk independently to your destination?
Either way, we know that when the sun comes up around the world, it helps us see and move safely. It shines down on our surroundings, keeping us from trekking off a cliff or walking into a tree.
In the same way, Jesus the light of the world illuminates the ultimate reality of our spiritual, moral and life purpose. He helps us see the meaning of life and the reason we exist. He teaches us about dangers we can’t see, like lusting for money or fearing peoples’ opinions of us. We can see who we were made to be in Christ and what we should be doing.
The Danger of Walking in Darkness
Apart from God, we live in darkness. Unable to separate good from bad, we are lost. Directionless. Traveling towards outer darkness and final separation from God. Many of us are still searching to know who we are. Why are we here? What is the meaning of our lives? Is this really what I am supposed to be doing? Is this where I am supposed to be?
Some look to psychology. Psychology teaches us that to better understand ourselves, we should pursue our purpose. But we actually lack the ability to see our own purpose. The real challenge is figuring out where you want to go.
Apart from the everlasting, all knowing God, can we really trust our purpose and direction in life to finite and temporary things? There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death. Proverbs 14:12 We can’t understand ourselves and know what we should be doing without Jesus.
The Depths of Our Darkness
As a lamp to our feet and a light to our path, let’s return to John 8:12 where Jesus responds to the Pharisees who were moving to arrest him around the time of the feast of booths.
Feast of Booths Backstory
Let’s travel back in history to a time when Jewish people from all over Israel went to the temple in Jerusalem to celebrate the feast of tabernacles, also called the feast of booths. This 7th (and final) fall feast was a sacred gathering celebrating what God had done and continued to do for the nation of Israel.
Like the celebration on the Setsugekka train, it was intended to be a time of peaceful rest. A journey devoted to prayer and the teaching of the priests.
God actually commanded the Jewish people to rejoice specifically at this feast in response to God’s goodness and provision.
And you shall take for yourselves on the first day the fruit of beautiful trees, branches of palm trees, the boughs of leafy trees, and willows of the brook; and you shall rejoice before the Lord your God for seven days.
Leviticus 23:40
A Time for Peace and Rest
So, the feast of booths was a time of peace and rest that the Jewish people celebrated before the Lord in tents or booths for 7 days at his command. They remembered how God delivered and provided for their Jewish ancestors living as foreigners in the land of Egypt.
Moving them out of Egypt, out of slavery, out of the Egyptians hands. God guided them towards his destination by his strong hand doing miracles that provided for all of their needs,bearing with their complaints.
For example in Exodus we read:
And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them along the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night. The pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night did not depart from before the people.
Exodus 13:21-22
God was constantly present with them as they traveled to their new home, the promised land.
So, at the feast of booths the Israelites in Jesus time observed an offering made by fire to the Lord every day for 7 days remembering how God moved them through the darkness, one step closer to worship.
By celebrating God’s provision, shelter, safety and trustworthiness, they were following how God had moved in the past.
But God wanted to move people towards more than just a new land but their ultimate destination and home of worshiping him.
Like the gangway of a train, Jesus was about to connect God’s work in the nation of Israel found in the Old Testament of the Bible to Jesus’ fulfillment and expansion of this story in the New Testament.
Jesus is The Light of the World
Jesus shared who he is in 2 sentences while teaching in the temple treasury. Right after that the religious leaders of the day called Pharisees surrounded him with a bunch of questions and false accusations, while some of them wanted to arrest Jesus.
So, what were the 2 sentences Jesus spoke that got them so riled up?
Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
John 8:12
Just as God the Father introduced himself to the Israelites as “I am who I am,” Jesus said “I am the light of the world.” He was saying I am the one that led you out of Egypt. What would you think if someone you knew told you they were ‘the light of the world’, they were God? Shocking to say the least.
The Light of the World
Notice he didn’t say I am a light, like one of many sources of light, but I am the light. There is one, ultimate light and there is darkness. There are deceptions about what light is, but there are no other options. Light and darkness. That’s it. The default state of our souls is darkness. Jesus said I am the light.
I am Your Messiah
By saying I am Jesus told the Jews that he was their anointed prophet, priest and king– their Messiah.
Anointed means a mark of honor, special qualification or privilege. Jesus was the only one appointed by God for this role as the light of the world. The Pharisees believed they had the moral standing and authority to put Jesus on trial.
However, as the light of the world, Jesus was the one with the authority. And it was Jesus who was putting them and the entire world on trial.
This I am revelation of Jesus the Messiah was like a train passing by Wakakusa Yamayaki burning in all its brilliance at night, but much bigger and worlds brighter.
His claim of being the Messiah lit up the world not only for the Jews, but for non-Jews like many of us.
To whoever would follow him.
Do you hear him calling out to you in his Word? Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. Believe and follow Him. We have a great class called first steps that can help you learn more.
Let’s now look at:
2. What he says about whoever follows him and those who don’t
Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
John 8:12
The Promised Light of the World
Jesus said: Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness
Whoever follows Jesus isn’t left in their spiritual blindness. This promise was foretold long ago by a prophet named Isaiah.
Jesus Christ, the light of the world, activates this promise that although we live in a land of deep darkness, the promise of a great light has come and the light of the world Jesus Christ commands celebration, just like at the feast of booths.
There was no need to fear. No need to be afraid. Do you ever fear what’s ahead? What’s around the bend?
Walking by Faith
If we’re honest, walking by faith is a bit scary at times. Walking by faith is opposed to walking by sight because when we walk by sight we are the ones steering our lives.
And when that happens, we can easily question whether or not God is picking the best route for us. Especially when life feels dark and the tracks get bumpy.
Gazing out the window into darkness, everything looks eerily unfamiliar and we wonder if we should get out and walk. Will the train really get us to our destination? Should we lean on our own understanding or trust God?
God reassures us of our destination: a place lit up by Jesus, where tears are no more.
Remember, we can’t walk in our own strength or wisdom. God reminds us to look to the high ground where on the tree Christ was crucified in weakness and raised in glory!
Trust Him Not Your Circumstances
Trust and celebrate in him, not in your circumstances, what you can see. His perfect love drives out fear and we will not walk in darkness!
When future fears keep us worried about what the future may or may not hold. Jesus reminds us of the hope of our eternal salvation and because of that we will reach home. We will not walk in darkness!
We will make it to the new heavens and earth, to the city where there is “no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb. By its light will the nations walk, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it, and its gates will never be shut by day—and there will be no night there.”(Rev. 21:23-25).
When the fear of the future (fill in your blank here) rises up pinning us in place. He gives us the faith to stand. His word is a lamp for our feet and a light for our path. If we follow him, we will not walk in darkness!
We reflect his light as we follow him. But can we follow and celebrate during every season of life? Can we follow and celebrate together? As a city on a hill, seen by God? Yes! In Christ he causes us to celebrate together!
What about those who do not follow and celebrate him? Despite their knowledge, their morality and religious devotion, the Pharisees’ couldn’t celebrate Jesus. This inability to rejoice in him revealed a deep darkness…spiritual blindness.
What the Pharisees didn’t say, but could have
The Pharisees didn’t say, “You know Jesus there’s a sense of peace and rest in what you just said about yourself that seems to just fit this feast. We should rejoice in this like the psalmist did in Psalm 36:7-9
How precious is your steadfast love, O God! The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings. They feast on the abundance of your house, and you give them drink from the river of your delights. For with you is the fountain of life; in your light do we see light.
Psalm 36:7-9
They didn’t say Jesus: We remember you teaching us that you are the bread of life and because of that we’d never hunger or thirst again, if we believe.
They didn’t say Jesus: we remember that if we believed you, we would receive the Spirit of God. Like when you gave us this picture of rivers of living water flowing from our hearts.
They didn’t say Jesus: we celebrate that “with you is the fountain of life!”.
Nor did they say: Jesus: “in your light, we see light.” They didn’t say these things because they didn’t trust and rejoice in Jesus. Whatever’s in someone’s heart will come out of their mouths.
No, no, no…oh no! Why were they opposing Jesus from John chapter 5 through John chapter 12? Why couldn’t they just listen and learn? They couldn’t because one thing was missing. They didn’t believe.
What they said, but shouldn’t have
Instead, they basically asked Jesus: Who are you? They seemed to say to Jesus: You’re lying. The Pharisees judged Jesus.
Before we come down too hard on the Pharisees, we should ask ourselves ‘are we following and celebrating Jesus as the light’? Or are we trusting in our own wisdom, morality, good works, like the Pharisees?
It’s all too easy to look down on people forgetting that we too are blinded by sin. We too grope about in darkness, without the Messiah, Jesus Christ.
And we stumble after trusting him, yet not as a way of life. We have a new way. He is that way. He promises if we follow him, we will not walk in darkness.
Let’s look at point 3, what we have by following him.
3. What we have by following him.
To follow Jesus means you will have the light of life. It reads, Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.
A Safe Destination
There’s security in the truth that Jesus preserves us as the light of the world giving us the light of life. There’s security in the eternity he has for Christians.
We will reach a safe destination. Security in knowing that like the engineer, God the Father is moving us closer to our heavenly home. We’re on his track and it’s always running the right direction.
Security in Knowing
Jesus knew his heavenly home and that he would return there again. I know where I come from and where I am going. John 8:14 Jesus knew that he had come from God and was going back to God.
Shiokari Pass
This is a comforting passage, but how exactly does Jesus provide this security?
There’s a story from the late 1960’s called ‘塩狩峠 Shiokari Pass written by Miura Ayako. The main character Nagano Nobuo wrestles with who he is and life’s big questions. After many years of searching for meaning in his life, Nagano finally comes to believe in and follow Jesus Christ. He’s influenced by his mother who is brought back into his life after being banished for following Jesus.
While working for a Sapporo railway company, Nagono meets the love of his life Fujiko, who is gravely ill.
After an eternity of longing and praying for Fujiko’s health to improve, it finally does, and they are eager to finally be married.
But on his way to the long awaited engagement the train car Nagano is in comes loose on a steep mountain pass. It starts to pick up speed as it rolls backwards. He grabs the handbrake but knows that the train won’t slow down in time to avoid falling off the steep curve ahead. Nagano knows the only way to stop the train, and so throws himself on the tracks to save the rest of the passengers.
The Gospel
How was Nagano able to lay down his life and long awaited marriage for strangers? Because he was following Christ. Because by the light of the cross, Nagano saw the reality of eternal life and the eternal marriage awaiting him. On the cross, Jesus gave up his light, his life, and was plunged into darkness to deliver us into the light.
In him was life, and the life was the light of men.
John 1:4
Pounded to that cross to purchase our ticket of forgiveness. Jesus threw his body in front of the train of God’s just wrath. He paid for each sinful mis-step and mistake we’ve made. He opened a doorway of deliverance when he died for our sins and rose again in victory over death and hell.
Would you give your life for those who rejected and judged you? Jesus did. His life shows us how majestic he is. He is the only one worth following.
He knew where he was going. Yet, he considered everything it would cost him to give us the gift of belief through his life. It’s freely given to those who follow him. To follow Jesus means you have the light of life.
Believing that He preserves us by his life.
Believe that he is guiding us through this present darkness.
Believing that we have a heavenly home that Christ the conductor is guiding us to and preparing for us.
Celebrate the Light of the World
Since Jesus is the light of the world, we can confidently celebrate him because he alone opens our eyes to the grace he’s given us to follow him.
Follow Jesus, the light of the world!
Wayne