John 8:12-30 - I AM the Light (Rev. Erik Veerman)
John 8:12-30 - I AM the Light
Our sermon text this morning is John 8:12-30. But before we get there, let me make a few comments.
You may have noticed that we are skipping the last verse of chapter 7 through verse 11 of chapter 8. Your Bibles likely have a bracketed note that those are not in the earliest manuscripts.
That is true, but rather than just quickly move on, let me provide a little more explanation.
And I'll do that with 3 reasons why we're skipping them. And then 3 reasons not to be concerned about the New Testament's reliability.
1. The main reason we are skipping them is because those verses did not appear in manuscripts until the 5th century. In fact, in one branch of manuscripts found, they didn't appear until the 8th and 9th centuries. None of the earliest manuscripts of John's Gospel have them.
2. The story interrupts the flow of chapter 7 and 8. We've already seen that chapter 7 has been about evaluating Jesus' teaching and self-identity as the Son of God. We'll see that theme continue in our verses this morning. The verses in question are a little out of place. Furthermore, our verses today continue the context of the Feast of Booths, so they line up very well with chapter 7, but this interim passage does not.
3. And I think the most compelling. There are about 14 words or phrases that are not found anywhere else in John's Gospel or his letters. So, there are some significant stylistic differences in the disputed passage. It's likely not written by the apostle John.
Now, I do believe that the account of the woman caught in adultery actually happened. I think it's likely a story that John or other disciples recounted. It's just that it is very unlikely to be a part of God's inspired Word.
But let me say, if this is causing you to be concerned about the rest of the New Testament, let me put you at ease.
1. First, there are only 2 major sections of verses in the New Testament that are disputed. This one and a few paragraphs at the end of Mark's Gospel for similar reasons.
2. Second, it is amazing how consistent the rest of the New Testament manuscripts are. At Easter, I spent several minutes discussing the 5,800 manuscripts and just how consistent they are. 99.9 percent of the differences are minor - word order and spelling and none affect a core doctrine of faith. Also, a couple of years ago during our apologetics Sunday school class, we had a whole class talking through the veracity of the manuscripts. Our website has the recordings of those if you are interested.
3. Third, there is a big misconception that the New Testament was orally passed down. That is simply not true. In 2 Timothy 4:13, Paul requests his books and "above all" his parchments. They are very valuable to him. Many believe the parchments were copies of his letters. New Testament letters were copied at the time they were written. Similarly, the four Gospels were also copied almost immediately for the express purposes of distributing them.
And let me say one more thing. Many of the New Testament manuscripts are in book form rather than a scroll. That book form is called a codex. And interestingly, some codexes were clearly transcribed for the public reading of Scripture. They were bigger with bigger writing. Other codexes were in a smaller personal form, like for a family or individual. Early Christians loved their books and preserved them well.
So, be encouraged.
Ok, let's now get into chapter 8 verses 12-30. You can find that on page 1062? of the pew Bible. Our reading includes the second of seven "I am" statements in the book of John. The first was in chapter 6. Jesus said, "I am the bread of life." And here he says, "I am the light of the world." As I read, listen for the phrase "I am." You'll hear it several times.
Reading of John 8:12-30 and prayer.
Last week, we considered how some aspects of the Feast of Tabernacles emphasized water. Remember that? Part of the ceremonies included recalling how God miraculously gave them water in the wilderness. We saw how Jesus keyed off of the theme of water when he called out for the people to come to him and drink.
Well, water was only one aspect of the Feast. Light was another. This annual festival happened somewhere between late-September and mid-October. Just like we experience, the daylight hours were getting shorter and shorter. And at the end of every day of the feast, the priests would light four massive oil filled candelabra. These were elaborate bowls which had about 27 gallons of oil and had dozens of cloth wicks drawing from the oil. The four candelabra were elevated on very tall pedestals and spread out in the largest courtyard of the temple. The pedestals towered above the temple walls.
After sunset, young Levites would climb ladders and light every single wick in each of the bowl. For the boys here, can you imagine how fun that would be? I'm sure it was the highlight of the year for them. Well, all the flames produced a massive amount of light. Remember, the temple area was elevated. And furthermore, the city of Jerusalem sloped up the western hill from the temple. So, from much of the city you could see these tall pedestals. The light was cast all throughout the city. Let me read a short description from the Jewish Mishna about this. It says "The light from the candelabra was so bright that there was not a courtyard in Jerusalem that was not illuminated from the light." Even thought it was night, it was bright.
Now, look at verse 20. We learn that Jesus was speaking in part of the temple area called the treasury. Well, the treasury was right there. The treasury was where alms were donated, and it was in the same large courtyard with these elevated bowls of fire.
So, Jesus was right there, teaching. We're not told what time of day it was when he spoke these words, but think about the context and listen again. Verse 12, "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.'"
It was clear and it was understandable. And the people could visualize it based on what they were experiencing that week.
And really, I think everything in this passage in some way ties back to those opening words in verse 12. "I AM the light of the world"
So, let's get into what Jesus says here. We'll do that in three points.
1. I AM the Light of Life
2. I AM the True Witness and Judge
3. I AM the Savior
(repeat)
1. I AM the Light of Life
As we get into #1, let me make one more connection to the feast of Tabernacles. As you may recall, this festival was a remembrance of what God had done for the Israelites in the wilderness. That is why God directed them to make temporary booths and live in them for the week. God had provided for them as they journeyed. Similarly, the water ceremony recalled God's provision of water from the rock that Moses was commanded to strike. Well, the light ceremony was a reminder of God leading them in the wilderness through a pillar of cloud during the day and a pillar of fire at night. The lights at the festival symbolized God and how he miraculously led them.
So when Jesus said, "I am the Light of the World," he was claiming that he was the very God whose presence was with them in the wilderness and who led them. That's why he said, "whoever follows me will not walk in darkness." You see, it was all connected to the light of Yahweh, the Covenant God. He guided the people and protected the people. He was the light of life for them. Jesus was saying, I am he.
Isaiah 60 would also have come to mind to them. It's where Yahweh declares that he is the light. Much of that chapter is about the light, and in verse 19, the prophet Isaiah wrote, "the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory."
So, not only was Jesus saying he was the light, but in doing so, he was claiming to be the God himself.
Another shocking thing about Jesus' statement was that not only is he a light for the Jews, but he is the light for the entire world.
As you can imagine, Jesus' claim in verse 12 deeply disturbed the Pharisees. But as Jesus dialoged with them, it got even more disturbing. Jesus continued making unmistakable claims that he is God.
In fact, right after saying he is the light of life, he also said, "I am from above." And he goes on to claim that he will return there, you know, to heaven.
Now, the Pharisees at first didn’t understand. It didn't make sense to them. They could not grasp what Jesus meant. But if he wasn't clear enough, Jesus then made absolutely clear what he meant. And it is captured in Jesus' "I AM statements."
Before we read, I asked you to listen for the phrase "I am." Did you hear it all throughout? Jesus said, I am the light of the world. I am the light of life. I am the one. I am from above. I am not of this world. Well, there are two "I AM" statements that I want to especially point out. Look at verse 24. Jesus said, "I told you that you would die in your sins, for unless you believe that I am he you will die in your sins." I am He. That same phrase is also there in verse 28. "I am he."
In the Greek, however, there is no pronoun. It's just "I am." It's "Ego Eimi." We've come across this now in John, I think, 3 times. We're going to come across it again in a couple of weeks. It is a direct reference to the Hebrew "Yahweh." Jesus could not have been clearer with them. I am the light of the world because I am Yahweh. I am God. I am the creator God, the redeemer God, the God of Israel and indeed the God of the world.
You know, as we have made our way through the Gospel of John, we have been given an increasingly clear description of Jesus in his divine nature.
He is the light of the world and the light of life, because he is the eternal God of heaven and earth. He came from heaven to be a light of life, and he will return to heaven calling the world to follow him out of darkness and sin.
He is THE light.
2. I AM the True Witness and Judge
Point 2. I AM the True Witness and Judge. As the I AM of God, the eternal light, Jesus is true in his witness and true in his judgment.
As you think about the analogy of light, one of the things light does is it exposes. It exposes what is false. It reveals what is right and true. When a bright light is shining, the darkness cannot overcome it. The light of God reveals truth in the darkness.
These Pharisees who were dialoging with Jesus hated him. They wanted to kill him. Why? Because Jesus was exposing them.
One of the things they did was to try to corner him by undermining his credibility. We saw a similar thing a couple of chapters ago. In the law, two witnesses were required for any testimony. That's what they were referring to in verse 17. But Jesus was only one and added to that, he was a self-witness.
In response, Jesus pointed out that they were judging according to the flesh. They were blind to the light. They could not see or judge correctly. Jesus, on the other hand, does not judge like them. Jesus said, "I judge no one." Do you see that phrase in verse 15? I believe the best understanding is to see his statement as saying he does not judge according to the flesh, unlike them. No, his judgments are true. Why? Because he and God the Father judge rightly. The Father is the second witness that confirms Jesus' testimony.
In fact, all throughout these verses, Jesus makes very clear theological statements about his relationship with and unity with God the Father.
Let me just very briefly highlight them:
· First, Jesus as God the Son shares the same true judgment with the Father (verse 16).
· Second, the Father bears witness that Jesus is his Son (verse 18).
· Third, Jesus shares the truth and authority of the Father as God the Son (verses 26 and 28).
· And fourth, they are one together. The Father is with Jesus (verse 29).
The summary is that Jesus is the true light because he shares the truth and authority of God. He is united with the Father. They are indeed one.
Not only are their judgments right and true, but they are truth. That is part of the point of the I AM statements all throughout. I AM the light. Jesus does not say, "I display the light." No, "I AM the light." Jesus embodies truth and righteous judgment because he is the I AM of God, united with the Father.
Really, the contrast in these verses is between the truth of Jesus as God and the rejection of that truth by the Pharisees.
Even though they were asking for more witnesses, they were not really looking for a reason to believe. No, they just want to undermine the truth and light of Jesus. Really, they want to arrest him and have him killed.
I think this is our fourth sermon in a row that has included something about judgment. You know, how do we judge Jesus and ourselves rightly? So, I don’t want to belabor the point. Clearly, John's target audience struggled with judging Jesus correctly. For us, we have all the Gospel accounts, and we have the witness of the apostles in their letters. We have the testimony of the early church and their unity on Jesus' identity as divine and human.
The question, I think for us, is, will we bear witness about Jesus' testimony and identity? Will we defend the truth of who Jesus is and his unity with the Father?
We are to be true witnesses to the true witness and judge, Jesus Christ. He IS the truth and he IS the light of the world. So, may we reveal his light.
3. I AM the Savior
Which bring us to #3. I AM the Savior.
Jesus makes very clear that the consequences of not following and believing in him are dire. In fact, Jesus tells the Pharisees multiple times that they will not be going to where he is going. Why? Because they know neither him nor the Father. They are from below and not above, verse 23. They are of this world, caught in the lies of darkness and the self-deception of sin.
They do not believe in the light. They are not walking in the light. No, they are bound by their sin and unbelief.
Let me illustrate where they're at with a very familiar experience in the south. This time of year is the season for roaches. We sometimes try to be polite and call them palmetto bugs, but we all know what they really are. The worst ones are the flying ones, right. Well, what happens at night when you suddenly turn on your deck lights? All the roaches scatter away. They cannot stand the light. They hate it. They hide in the shadows until the light turns off.
The Pharisees who were there hated the light.
And Jesus was clear about the consequence of rejecting the light. Verse 21. "He said to them again, “I am going away, and you will seek me, and you will die in your sin."
They were blind to their darkened hearts.
[Slower]
Ephesians 2 describes their state, "And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world…" and one verse later… "and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind."
As Romans 3 reveals, all have sinned and have fallen short of the glory of God.
You see, our sin separates us from God. And the consequence of sin is death. Even more, the consequence of our sin is the eternal punishment of hell. To be sure, Jesus does not refer to hell in these verses, but make no mistake, he speaks of hell often and clearly. Many times, referring to it as the lake of fire where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Well, the Pharisees were not listening, and so in John 8:24, Jesus again reiterated what he said… but this time he gave them hope. Look at verse 24. "I told you that you would die in your sins, for unless you believe [believe what?] that I am he [ego eimi] you will die in your sins."
You see, God's grace and mercy were freely offered to them. So, were they to believe, they would not die in their sins.
When Jesus said, "I am the light of life," he was revealing that he not only shines his light on the darkness out there, but he shines his light on our hearts so that we can see him and turn believe.
Let me go back to Ephesians 2. It continues, "But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—[for] by grace you have been saved— [and listen to this] and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus"
When Jesus told the Pharisees that they could not go with him because of their unbelief, implied is that those who do believe and come to the light will be brought with Jesus to where he is going. And where will he take us? As Ephesians says, those who are saved will be raised up with him and seated with him in the heavenly places.
You know, these verses are full of contrasts. That is one of the hallmarks of John. Light and darkness. Life and death. Above and below. So, let me summarize our passage this way:
Those who follow the light, will have the light of life, and will join the light of the world forever. But those who reject the light, will walk in darkness and will die in their sins apart from the light forever.
Conclusion
As we come to a close, let's look at one more thing in these verses, and it is a foreshadowing of what is to come. In fact, it foreshadows the Pharisees' role in Jesus' death. It's there in verse 28. Jesus said to them, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he."
They will partake in Jesus' crucifixion on the cross. He will be lifted up. That's another one of John's favorite phrases. He will be lifted up on the cross. He will be lifted up from the grave and then lifted up as he returns to heaven displaying his full glory as God the Son. And when that happens, then they will know, as it says, that he is truly the I AM of God. Yahweh.
And beloved, that has happened. Jesus has been lifted up. He has returned to where he came from.
And now his light, the light of the Gospel, is shining all over the world. It is exposing sin and evil and revealing truth. It is turning darkened hearts to hearts of light. It is shining to the ends of the earth. Jesus is the light of the world. And his light will continue to shine for eternity.
We read from Revelation 21 earlier in the service. The new Jerusalem that is to come has no need for the light of the sun or moon. The light in the new Jerusalem will not be like the lights at the Feast of Tabernacles.
As illuminating as those candelabra were to the people in Jerusalem, it will be nothing like the light in the new Jerusalem to come. And what is that light? It is the light of the glory of God, as Revelation says, and "its lamp IS the Lamb. By [his] light will the nations walk….. and its gates will never be shut by day—and there will be no night there." No night. No sin, no darkness, no evil. For the light of the world, the I AM of God, Jesus Christ himself, will be its light.
May we all believe and follow Christ, the light of life.