I am The Light of the World

John 8:12-20

Introduction

Here we land, in our study of John’s gospel, at one of the many “I am” statements of Jesus, a most amazing claim, by any standards.

The folks who heard Jesus took Him very seriously.  They eventually killed Him for claiming to be God. Notice Jesus does not dismiss their interrogation;  He addresses it at length in v.13-30, defending His qualifications to bear such a title.

To appreciate the meaning of “I am the light of the world” we need to examine His claim from three perspectives:

1. What did Jesus’ claim mean to the original audience?

a. He intended it as a fulfillment

He claimed to fulfill the true meaning of the feast, at which lamps were lit, just as He did earlier claiming to fulfill the meaning of the water poured out at the festival (chapter 7).

The Old Testament also uses the light metaphor frequently.  It variously represented:

the presence of God (Ez.1),

the word of God lighting our path (Ps.119:105),

and the servant of the Lord as salvation for the Gentiles (Is.49:6;60).

Jesus self-consciously says, “I am all that.  The light metaphors of the OT converge in me.”  This title clearly asserts deity.

b. His claim is a rebuke.

They do not know the living God, despite their claims.

Let me propose that a claim to know God likely functions this way:

2. What does Jesus’ claim mean for any that don’t believe it?

a. Those in the church.

b. What about folks not associated with the church?

3.What does Jesus’ claim mean for those who believe it?

a. Celebration

b. Reflection

c. Illumination