November 24, 2010
WE NEED LIGHT
John 8:12-30
Ben Alexander
Central Truth
Jesus is light, providing direction and clarity to that which is true.
Key Verse | John 8:12
"I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life." (John 8:12)
John 8:12-30
I Am the Light of the World
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.” 13 So the Pharisees said to him, “You are bearing witness about yourself; your testimony is not true.” 14 Jesus answered, “Even if I do bear witness about myself, my testimony is true, for I know where I came from and where I am going, but you do not know where I come from or where I am going. 15 You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one. 16 Yet even if I do judge, my judgment is true, for it is not I alone who judge, but I and the Father 1 8:16 Some manuscripts he who sent me. 17 In your Law it is written that the testimony of two people is true. 18 I am the one who bears witness about myself, and the Father who sent me bears witness about me.” 19 They said to him therefore, “Where is your Father?” Jesus answered, “You know neither me nor my Father. If you knew me, you would know my Father also.” 20 These words he spoke in the treasury, as he taught in the temple; but no one arrested him, because his hour had not yet come.
21 So he said to them again, “I am going away, and you will seek me, and you will die in your sin. Where I am going, you cannot come.” 22 So the Jews said, “Will he kill himself, since he says, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come’?” 23 He said to them, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. 24 I told you that you would die in your sins, for unless you believe that I am he you will die in your sins.” 25 So they said to him, “Who are you?” Jesus said to them, “Just what I have been telling you from the beginning. 26 I have much to say about you and much to judge, but he who sent me is true, and I declare to the world what I have heard from him.” 27 They did not understand that he had been speaking to them about the Father. 28 So Jesus said to them, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he, and that I do nothing on my own authority, but speak just as the Father taught me. 29 And he who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to him.” 30 As he was saying these things, many believed in him.
Dive Deeper | John 8:12-30
It has always amazed me how much time Jesus and the Pharisees spent together. If you believe that you spell the word love T-I-M-E, then Jesus must have really loved the Pharisees. Nevertheless, the Pharisees didn’t reciprocate His love. To the Pharisees, Jesus was someone who wouldn’t fit in their box, refused to play by their rules, and failed to live up to their expectations. They wanted Him dead, and He desired that they live.
In fact, Jesus allows the Pharisees to get their wish by humbly accepting the cross so even they might live through faith in His death, burial, and resurrection. A Pharisee named Paul grasped the love of Jesus Christ, writing in his letter to the Romans, “God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).
I don’t know if I have a “favorite” verse, but this is probably the one that I am most thankful for. I am thankful that Christ did what was absurd—He died for those who are evil! No one does that! But God did. Jesus entered into the darkness. He didn’t expect the darkness to become light on its own.
Daylight would have provided clarity and direction that was sorely missing as we drove down that dark mountain pass. Likewise, following Jesus provides clarity and direction as we seek to navigate through the darkness of this world. Every moment in my life that has been characterized by hopelessness, depression, fear, insecurity, or any other form of darkness has occurred because I became infatuated with blindness rather than longing for sight. So do the obvious . . . walk in the light!
Discussion Questions
1. What keeps you from walking in the Light? Confess it!
2. Where would you be without the Light? Praise God!
3. Who do you know that is walking in darkness? Shine your light!
FAMILY DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. What happens when you turn off all the lights and try to walk through your living room?
2. What does a light do for you?
3. What does Jesus say about Himself in verse 12?
4. What does it mean to allow Jesus to be the light that leads your life?