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Sermon | “I Am The Light of the World”

Sermon – I Am The Light Of The World

TITLE: I am the Light of the World

SUBJECT: Jesus

PROPOSITION: In this lesson we will look at the statement from Jesus, “I am the light of the world.” Within that statement we find the character of light, the action of light, and the extension of light.

OBJECTIVES: Each hearer should be able to understand the thoughts involved in this statement and also recognize their responsibility to that light to either allow it to dispel the darkness in ones life to it or to reflect it.

AIM: To further educate concerning the statements of Jesus and His claims upon divinity.

INTRODUCTION:

1. Read: John 8:12

2. About the Text:

1) In the background of this text, we have the feast of tabernacles (7:37).

2) At the end of this feast, an array of candelabras would be lit in the court of the temple.

3) The rabbis who participated in the feast would then dance around these candelabras.

4) Both the candelabras and the dancing created quite a spectacle for those attending the feast.

5) Jesus likely used this occasion to teach on this particular subject.

6) While the Jewish candelabras only lit the court of the tabernacle, Jesus claimed to have light for the entire world.

3. Series on study of the “I am” statements.

1) John records several statements which Jesus makes that begin with “I am.”

2) These statements give us insight into who Jesus was and what His relationship with both God and man is as well.

3) We learn more about how we need to live our lives from looking at Jesus life.

4) We learn more about who God is by looking at these statements.

4. Exclusivity of the claims.

1) Again, these claims that Jesus makes are exclusive in nature.

2) It is not merely one or two statements that were made, but several.

3) Each of these statements is exclusive.

a. When Jesus says, “I am the bread of life” that excludes all other “bread.”

b. When Jesus says, “I am the light of the world” that excludes all other “lights.”

c. Etc.

4) If anyone wants to be saved today, they must be saved through Jesus. Acts 4:12 “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”

5. Ref. to S, T, P, O, and A.

DISCUSSION: Within the statement, “I am the light of the world,” we find . . .

I.   The character of light.

1. Light is bright and obvious.

1) Light is bright.

a. When you see light, you don’t need any additional confirmation.

b. I never had to teach my children what light was.

2) Light is obvious.

a. You know it is light.

b. It is obvious what it is.

c. No one has to tell you, that is not light nor is that. You just know.

3) Jesus, as the light of the world is bright and obvious.

a. The Hebrew writer says that Jesus was the “brightness of God’s glory.” Hebrews 1:3.

b. 2 Corinthians 4:6 “For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”

4) When an honest person sits down and looks at the life and teaching of Jesus, one cannot help to come to the same conclusion to which the Roman centurion came in Matthew 27:54, “Now the centurion, and they that were with him watching Jesus, when they saw the earthquake, and the things that were done, feared exceedingly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.”

5) Jesus is bright and obvious.

2. The source is known.

1) When there is light in the room, it is not hard to find the source.

2) Even a blind man knows what the sun is.

3) The works which Jesus did made His source obvious.

a. Confession of Nicodemus–“The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.” (John 3:2).

b. Confession of the healed blind man. “The man answered and said unto them, Why herein is a marvellous thing, that ye know not from whence he is, and yet he hath opened mine eyes. Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth. Since the world began was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind. If this man were not of God, he could do nothing.”

c. Jesus words: John 10:36-38, “Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God? If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not. But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him.”

4) The source of this light should be obvious to us as well.

3. It is virtually unlimitable.

1) Light shines a great distance in the dark. Candle at twenty miles. Stars in the sky.

2) Even when you try to block light with something it can go through our around.

3) The only thing that can really block light is something hard, thick, and solid, like lead.

4) The light of Jesus is unlimitable if we let it have free course in our life.

a. Hebrews 7:25 says, “Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.” If we truly make the decision to come to Jesus nothing can impede us.

b. Notice that those who have committed themselves wholly to Jesus can do all things through Christ. Philippians4:17.

c. Nothing can separate us from the love of Christ. Romans 8:35-39 “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

5) What can stop the light from entering our heart? Our own heart!

a. Remember, to block light you must have something that is thick, solid and impenetrable.

b. We can make our hearts like this so that God’s light will not penetrate our lives.

c. Jesus said concerning the Pharisees, “For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.” (Matthew 13:15).

d. Hebrews 3:15, 16 The Hebrew writer exhorts us, “…To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.”

e. It is only through the hardness of our own hearts that we will incur God’s wrath and judgment. “But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;” (Romans 2:5).

II.  The action of light.

1. It dispels darkness.

1) There is no such thing as the presence of darkness. Darkness is the absence of light.

2) When we turn on the light, darkness disappears.

3) John 1:5 states, “And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.”

4) John 3:19, 20 “And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.”

5) Light reproves the darkness.

6) Jesus teaching approves that which is right and reproves what is wrong.

2. It illuminates objects–both good and bad.

1) You turn on the light to both see what is there.

a. Have you ever stubbed your toe on something in the middle of the night?

b. Have you ever wondered whether there was a pathway for you in which to walk in the dark?

2) Psalm 109:5 “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.” It is there so we can see both things that get in the way and the clear path itself.

3) Matthew 5:15, 16 “Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.” To see the objects in the house, you need light.

4) Ephesians 5:13 “But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.”

5) Jesus himself illuminated both the good and bad in his life.

3. It enables sight.

1) Without light, we are blind.

2) With light, we can see.

3) Ephesians 5:14 “Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.”

4) Jesus said, “For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind.” (John 9:39).

5) 2 Peter 1:9 “But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.”

6) Do you want to have spiritual sight? Jesus gives it today! To the blind he gives sight!

III. The extension of light–Jesus is the light OF THE WORLD!

1. It is available to the whole world.

1) John 1:7-9 “The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.”

2) John 9:5 “As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”

3) Acts 13:47 “For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth.”

4) John 12:46 “I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.”

5) Jesus extends his light to the whole world.

2. We must be light reflectors.

1) 1 Thessalonians 5:5 “Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.”

2) Philippians 2:15 “That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;”

3) Matthew 5:16 “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”

4) John 12:36 “While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light.”

5) Jesus wants us to follow his example.

3. All will be held accountable to this light.

1) In order to judge something you need light.

2) Ephesians5:8 “For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light”

3) John 3:19, 20 “And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.”

4) Truly we will be judged by the words of Christ: “He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.” (John 12:48).

CONCLUSION:Jesus says, “I am the light of the world.”

1. What will you do with the light of Christ today?

1) Will you recognize the character of this light?

2) Will you undergo the action of this light in your life?

3) Will you extend the light of Christ further into the world today?

2. Invitation

1) If you are a Christian but have fallen away

a. You cannot walk with Christ except you walk in the light (1 John 1:7).

b. Come back to the light today.

2) If you are not a Christian this morning . . .

a. You are in darkness.

b. Don’t harden your heart to make your life impenetrable to the light of life.

a) Hear the word; Romans 10:17 “Faith comes by hearing . . .”

b) Believe with all your heart; Hebrews 11:6 “For without faith it is impossible . . . .”

c) Repent of your sins (Acts 17:30).

d) Confess Jesus as the Son of God (Matthew16:16).

e) Be baptized for the remission of your sins (Mark 16:15,16).

See also this article.