Jesus: Light of the World Pastor Kile Baker - February 4th, 2024 What did Jesus say about himself? “I am the light of the world.” “The world is in darkness” What kind of darkness does He mean? What kind of light does He provide? John 1:1-14 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. All things were created through him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. That light shines in the darkness, and yet the darkness did not overcome it. Light: Truth, clarity, life, Father, Son, Spirit, Darkness: Lies, confusion, death, satan, flesh There was a man sent from God whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify about the light, so that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but he came to testify about the light. The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was created through him, and yet the world did not recognize him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, he gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in his name, who were born, not of natural descent, or of the will of the flesh, or of the will of man, but of God. The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. We observed his glory, the glory as the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John testified concerning him and exclaimed, “This was the one of whom I said, ‘The one coming after me ranks ahead of me, because he existed before me.’”) Indeed, we have all received grace upon grace from his fullness, for the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God. The one and only Son, who is himself God and is at the Father’s side—he has revealed him. Life and light are part of God’s good creation Darkness and death have invaded God’s creation Light reveals us, and allows us to receive God Without God’s light, you’ll die With all of God’s light, you’ll die Someday, all the lights will come on — but not yet! John 8:13-20 Jesus spoke to them again: “I am the light of the world. Anyone who follows me will never walk in the darkness but will have the light of life.” Two Promises We will have life, now and forever. We will not continually sin So the Pharisees said to him, “You are testifying about yourself. Your testimony is not valid.” “Even if I testify about myself,” Jesus replied, “my testimony is true, because I know where I came from and where I’m going. But you don’t know where I come from or where I’m going. You judge by human standards. I judge no one. And if I do judge, my judgment is true, because it is not I alone who judge, but I and the Father who sent me. Even in your law it is written that the testimony of two witnesses is true. I am the one who testifies about myself, and the Father who sent me testifies about me.” Then they asked him, “Where is your Father?” “You know neither me nor my Father,” Jesus answered. “If you knew me, you would also know my Father.” He spoke these words by the treasury, while teaching in the temple. But no one seized him, because his hour had not yet come. Matthew 5:14-16 You are the light of the world. A city situated on a hill cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket, but rather on a lampstand, and it gives light for all who are in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven. Ephesians 5:6-14 Let no one deceive you with empty arguments, for God’s wrath is coming on the disobedient because of these things. Therefore, do not become their partners. For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light— for the fruit of the light consists of all goodness, righteousness, and truth— testing what is pleasing to the Lord. Don’t participate in the fruitless works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to mention what is done by them in secret. Everything exposed by the light is made visible, for what makes everything visible is light. Therefore it is said: Get up, sleeper, and rise up from the dead, and Christ will shine on you. Next Steps: Take note of what you do in the dark. Pray to God in private, and perform good works in public. Be the light to those who live in the dark. Small Group questions: How does the concept of light and darkness relate to our daily actions and behaviors? Why do you think scripture uses darkness to describe death, sin, and confusion, and light as a metaphor for life, holiness and truth? Why is this analogy helpful? Do you think it’s more painful for us to bring out our sin from the darkness into the light, or for God to do it? Do you think both of these can and should happen? According to John 8:13-20, how is Jesus described as the light that leads us out of darkness? What does this mean for our lives? How can we actively pursue a life of holiness in the light, rather than remaining stagnant in spiritual slumber?