Jesus said: “I am the light of the world…” and automatically,
the Pharisees jump down His throat.
What is the deal? Why are these men so upset?
Well… they’re upset because Jesus has been consistently poking
holes in their fairly obvious hypocrisy. They wanted to look righteous but not
be righteous – and Jesus called them on it. He has challenged their hypocrisy
in their fasting and praying and tithing. He has pointed out the emptiness of
their fancy rules and regulations. He has exposed all their pretense and haughtiness.
Jesus exposed them as light should expose darkness…
Why would Jesus do that? Because He was light and they were
darkness - and they couldn’t stand it.
John 3:19-20 says "This
is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead
of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light,
and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed”
Today when it’s dark out
we simply flip a switch and instantly the darkness is gone. But in the 1st
Century it wasn’t so simple. In Jesus’ day when it got dark, it was DARK. So
when Jesus calls himself the light it’s a big deal.
What makes this statement
even more significant is that Jesus said it at the Feast Of Tabernacles. During
this feast the Israelites would light a huge candelabra as a reminder of God
guiding their ancestors through the wildness. Jesus is showing them that he is
their light, their guiding force through this world.
Jesus here is declaring that
the light has come into the world. God is here. Don’t miss the claim that Jesus
is making. He’s pulling from their history to show that just as God was the
light to their ancestors, he’s their light today. He’s here to light the way,
to lead us from the darkness we are stuck in.
II. Look at the Context in John 8:2-6
Here the Pharisess brought to Jesus a woman caught in adultery.
And it’s clear that this is a trap. They didn’t like how Jesus was exposing
their hypocrisy. So they wanted to tarnish so that they can get to their
business without Jesus calling them to repent.
Their theology was: If you don’t like the
intensity of the light - change it… remove it…destroy it… do whatever’s
necessary - BUT GET THAT LIGHT CHANGED!
III. But you don’t mess with someone like Jesus.
When they tried to dim His light… He just
turned up the wattage. Look at what He did from John 8:6-8 "The
teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery.
They made her stand before the group and said to Jesus, ’Teacher, this woman
was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such
women. Now what do you say?’
They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a
basis for accusing him. But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground
with his finger. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said
to them, ’If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a
stone at her.’ Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.
At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the
older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing
there."
Some think what Jesus was writing in the dirt
was the sins of each man present. I suspect Jesus was writing down not only
their sins... but the things of which they were ashamed. Matters they thought
they’d hidden well out of the sight of interfering eyes.
* I can visualize Bopda watching
from the edge of the crowd, and seeing his name written in the dirt… and then
beside his name Jesus was writing the names of the women he sexually harassed
at gun point.
* Then I can see a man, in the front of the mob watching as his name
was written down… and then saw as Jesus wrote down beside his name, the name of
the people in the bushes whom he has been working with to kidnap others for
ransom. Others their names were written in front of women they have been
lusting with but they were standing in the temple of God to stone others.
Then Jesus stood & said: let him who is without sin cast the
1st stone. The mob that day should have known what Daniel knew when he
declared:
"(God) reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what lies
in darkness, and light dwells with him." Daniel 2:22
IV. Jesus now declares to them who He is after exposing them ;John
8:12
"I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never
walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."
There’s a lot of people who won’t come to church - who won’t
come to God - because they’re afraid of what God will expose in their lives.
What they don’t realize is that God will expose all of their sins–sooner or
later. And if it happens later… it will be a time of judgment. But, if
it happens sooner - then there is hope, because then it will be just between
you and Him.
ILLUS: It’s like a person that goes to Doctor. and discovers he has
cancer. The Doctor says if we act now, we can remove all of the cancer and you
will live a full life… but if you wait, there’s a chance that it will destroy
you.
It is not God’s intention to expose our darkness to everyone
around us and thus force us to hide from His presence in our shame &
disgrace. Rather, it’s His intention to convince us that darkness isn’t the
best place to live.
ILLUS: Children know this. I’ve learned (as every parent does) that
kids hate being alone in the dark. They know that darkness is a scary place to
be. There’s only 2 things that will help them overcome their fear of the dark.
One is light… the other is to have someone bigger than they are in the room
with them… to protect them.
Jesus said: "I am the light of the world. Whoever
follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."
Jesus said: I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
Scripture tells us: Cast all your cares on Him… for He cares
for you”
Light does expose the imperfections of life… but it also creates
trust, confidence and a hope for tomorrow. When the accusing crowd left Jesus
and the adulterous woman Jesus didn’t condemn her.
He was the light but He didn’t expose all the ugly corners of
her soul. NO, instead He offered her hope and said: “Go and sin no more.” Leave
that old lifestyle, change who you’ve been & let the light in.
The greatest tragedy of your life would be to live in darkness
when you could live in the light. Don’t
be like someone who is living blind because he didn’t know that science has
evolved enough to solve his eye problem. Many people just think their own is
too much that the light of god cannot make a change in them or they are ashame
of the light. I invite you to stand on your feet if you don’t remember when you
received Jesus Christ the light of the world into your life.
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