The Light From the Father
John 8:12-30, Remsen Bible Fellowship, 09/01/2019
Read: John 8:12-30 (pg 840 in the pew Bibles)
Introduction
In our text this morning, we see two interactions, two discussions. They both center the claim Jesus makes in verse 12, I am the light of the world. As we examine these two interactions, we will see whether Jesus is a legitimate witness to himself, and we'll find out whether or not we should take his claims seriously.
First, let’s look at the context. Those of you who were with us back in May when we studied chapter 7 might remember that the setting was the Feast of Tabernacles or Feast of Booths. This was one of the three yearly feasts which Jewish males were required to attend, and was a favorite of the people. It occurred in late September/early October, so the harvest was in and the people were eager to spend a week in celebration.
During this particular feast, the people are remembering their time wandering in the wilderness, and they spent the week camping out in booths or tabernacles. Each day of the feast there was a water ceremony to celebrate the provision of water in the desert. Water would be drawn from the pool of Siloam and then taken to the altar and poured out with the drink offering of wine. In John 7:37-39, we read, On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’” Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.
Jesus takes this ceremony meant to look backward to when God had provided water and simultaneously to look forward to the time of the Messiah when God’s Spirit would be poured out (see Isaiah 55:1), and turns the attention to himself: he is in essence saying I am the Messiah, I am the one who provides true, eternal, living water. The Spirit comes to those who trust in Me.
During this same feast, in the temple, in the court of the women (which is the same place as the treasury, v20) there were 4 giant lamps, 75 feet high, that would be lit all during the feast. At night these lamps would illuminate not only the temple courts, but it is said that every courtyard in Jerusalem received some measure of their light. This light was to represent the presence of God which led the people through the wilderness, appearing as a pillar of cloud by day, and a pillar of fire by night. God’s presence was literally the light that led the people of Israel in the darkness.
As when come to chapter 12, the feast would have just ended and those lamps would have just been put out. Jesus is again going to take the circumstances around him and use them to point to himself as the one they really need, as the lamp that will never go out, the true light of the world.
Jesus’ Claim (v12)
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.”
What does Jesus mean? Light is a common metaphor for God’s character and his presence in the Scriptures, and it plays an important role in John’s writing as well.
Let’s briefly consider three different ways this imagery is used in the Old Testament.
God’s light illumines. We see this in the Exodus account we referenced earlier, where God leads his people with a pillar of fire, providing light and guidance for the journey. We also hear this in the familiar words of Psalm 119:105, Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. The word of God here is pictured as a lamp, and you might remember that John opens up his gospel referring to Jesus, how? As the Word.
We see in the Old Testament that light is used to depict the holiness and the righteousness of God. Habakkuk 3:3-4, God came from Teman, and the Holy One from Mount Paran. Selah. His splendor covered the heavens, and the earth was full of his praise. His brightness was like the light; rays flashed from his hand; and there he veiled his power. And in Malachi 4:2, But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. How does this prophecy get picked up in the New Testament? Zechariah, father of John the Baptist, says this: because of the tender mercy of our God...the sunrise shall visit us from on high. (Luke 1:78). The holy and righteous one of Israel whose great power was veiled in light would take on flesh and visit us from on high. And he and did so in the person of Jesus.
We see that light depicts the safety God brings. Perhaps you know Psalm 27:1, The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? The illuminating nature of God’s presence drives the dark of doubt away, as the hymn says. If God is my salvation, if God is my stronghold, if I stand in his light, what can man do to me? The light of God’s presence symbolizes the very real safety he gives those who trust in him.
But do you notice what Jesus’ statement here in v12 assumes? It assumes in the first place that we are all in darkness. Even though Jesus is the light of the world, apparently it is not the whole world who enjoys this illuminating guidance through life, this righteousness which brings the glory of God to earth, or this bright salvation. It’s only those who follow him who enjoy these benefits. Most continue on without him. This picks up an idea we read earlier in John. In 3:19 we see that, this is the judgement: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.
Jesus statement about light and following him as the way out of darkness presumes that walking in the dark is the typical state of human beings. How do you feel about that claim? Do you understand yourself in need of light from God? Or do you feel like you’re doing pretty good on your own? Jesus is not impressed by your definition of “pretty good.” He calls it darkness. He offers light and life to all who will humble themselves before him.
Why did I add life to light in that last sentence? Because Jesus does at the end of v12. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life. Those who follow Jesus aren’t simply following the light. They will have, they will posses, the light of life. If Jesus is the light of life, and I think he clearly is here, then what Jesus is saying is that those who follow him possess him. What does that mean? It means he is not God in the abstract, he is not a Savior in the detached sense of being a person who offers salvation. He is your light, your life, your savior, your God. The salvation Jesus offers is radially life altering. And it is unlike other religions because instead of simply being able to appease God by making the right sacrifice or say the right prayers or do the right works, you are instead accepting his offer of free life and a genuine relationship with the Almighty God of the universe.
This is a shocking claim that Jesus makes.
The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. To those who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God...And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father...No one has ever seen God, the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known. (John 1:9-12a, 14, 18)
Jesus came from the Father, to make the Father known. The Father is light (1 John 1:5), and Jesus is the exact imprint of the Father’s nature (Hebrews 1:3), and thus Jesus is the Father’s light on display. Jesus is the light of the world.
The Validity of Jesus’ Witness (v13-19)
But the Pharisees aren’t having it. They say, not so fast, wise guy. You can’t bear witness or testimony about yourself! The Pharisees could be referencing a couple of things here. The first would be the Old Testament laws requiring multiple witnesses in court, which we looked at last week with the woman caught in adultery (Deuteronomy 17:6; 19:15-21). The other would be Jesus’ own words in John 5:31, If I...bear witness about myself, my testimony is not true. This seems like the more likely option to me. They believe that they have trapped Jesus with his own words.
But think about what Jesus said. Does not bearing witness to himself mean that Jesus can’t make any statements about who he is? No, that would be ridiculous. What Jesus is driving at in chapter 5 is the fact that any person could make claims to be the Messiah or to be from God. And if Jesus simply had his own unsubstantiated human claims, those would be absolutely worthless. But the point he makes in that passage, and which the Pharisees really ought to see here, is that there are many other witnesses. John the Baptist testified to Jesus, God the Father Himself testifies to Jesus, and the Old Testament scriptures which the Pharisees think they know so well-guess what, they testify to Jesus. So are the Pharisees dealing in substance or semantics? It’s obviously not substance.
Can we trust Jesus’ testimony? Let’s consider three reasons to believe Jesus’ witness is true.
Jesus knew his origin and his destination (v14). The Father and the Son witness together. The Pharisees are apparently oblivious to both of these. Where is Jesus from? Verse 23 tells us that he is from above. Remember what we read from John 1:18, he was at the Father’s side. John 1:1-2 tells us In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. Jesus’ origin is divine and the Pharisees refuse to see it. For him to simply tell them the truth is obviously legitimate. Likewise, he knows where he is going. That is, he will return to the Father’s side. So we can believe Jesus because he knows what he is talking about.
His union with the Father guaranteed his truthfulness; this is borne out by the fact that the Father and the Son witness together(v17-18). Jesus knows what he is talking about, which makes him a legitimate witness, and that witness is joined by the witness of his heavenly Father. Think of places such as the baptism of Jesus (Matthew 3:17) or the transfiguration (Luke 9:34-35) where God speaks in an audible voice saying, this is my Son. Or consider the resurrection of Jesus. Paul, in Romans 1:4, points to the resurrection as a declaration made by God, of Jesus being God’s Son.
Jesus’ judgement is of a different nature than the Pharisees judgement (v15-16). Jesus calls them out for judging according to the flesh. What does he mean by that? He means they judge the way you and I judge. We look at people and we listen to arguments and ideas with our own notions of the world basically fixed in place, and we don’t want to hear or see anything that will challenge those preconceived notions. Jesus doesn’t judge anyone in that way. He has a judgement that is united to the Father. 1 Samuel 16:7 says, For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart. Jesus judges with the judgement of God-a judgement that sees through facades and masks, and gazes at reality.
Again, the Pharisees aren’t happy. “Where is your Father?” they ask. There is probably more than a little scorn in their voice. It’s likely no secret that Mary and Joseph were not married when Mary became pregnant with Jesus. And so while Jesus continues to make obvious reference to God as his Father, they ignore the substance and just settle for high school level jeers. You don’t even know who your dad is. Little do they know that he will turn that table on them, but that’s next week’s sermon.
Jesus simply answers that if they had truly known him, they would know the Father also. Jesus and the Father, while distinct persons, are so one in essence that to know one is to know the other. Which is why any religion which obscures, hides, or downplays Jesus in any way cannot lead you to God. You can’t get to God except through his appointed agent: the Son. The light of the world.
“The theme of light [in v12] is not unrelated to the question of truthfulness and witness in the following verses, for light cannot but attest to its own presence; otherwise put, it bears witness to itself, and its source is entirely supportive of that witness.”
Providential Transition (v20)
Verse 20 informs us where this is taking place; it also tells us that we ought to be expecting fireworks. But no one arrested him. This is important because back in 7:32 John informs us that officers had already been sent to arrest Jesus but wound up so spellbound by his authoritative teaching that they had failed to follow through. So we would expect there to be continued attempts, especially with teaching like this. But it was not yet his hour. John makes clear for us over and over again in this gospel, that Jesus was in control of his own destiny. When Jesus finally is delivered into the hands of sinners to be crucified, it is not some great unavoidable tragedy. It is a willing sacrifice. And he controlled the timing.
Believing Jesus’ Claim (v21-30)
We have a slight transition here into another conversation. So he said to them again very closely mirrors the opening of v12, again Jesus spoke to them. There seems to be some time gap between verses 20 and 21, but the content has a definite measure of continuity. In verse 21 we have a very similar statement to John 7:33-34. “In large measure, Jesus in v21 repeats the claim of 7:33-34, but is more threatening.” How is he more threatening? He adds that bit about dying in your sin. Note that sin in this verse is singular. What is the sin he refers to? The sin of unbelief. That will become more clear as we continue.
The Jews ask, again there is likely something of a sneering tone here, “Will he kill himself?” They aren’t grappling with the nature of Jesus’ claims at all. They’re are simply content to poke fun and make light of what he’s saying. But Jesus is deadly serious. In verse 23 we see him contrast their native lands, if you will. His hearers are from below. They are of this world. What he means by that is not that they have physical bodies, but rather that they are dominated by the practices and patterns of the world, which are characterized by sin and rebellion against God. He is from above, he is not of this world. Which is to say, he is characterized by a glad submission to the plan of the Father, he always does the things that are pleasing to God (see v29).
And because they are those bound by and happily practicing sin, especially the sin of unbelief, they will die while living in their various sins of all kinds. And dying in your sins is the worst possible fate, because it results in being separated from the light of God forever. Any joy, safety, peace, and righteousness that would be enjoyed in his presence is lost forever for those who die while still in their sins.
What is the only way to escape this fate? Verse 24, unless you believe that I am he. Now we might ask, what the heck does that mean? I am he? I am he who? That’s precisely the question asked in verse 25, “Who are you?” Jesus’ words in v25-26 point to the hardness of heart in his hearers. He has much to say and much to judge, and yet that isn’t happening yet at that point. He came not to condemn, but to save (3:17).
They should have known what he meant by I am he. Perhaps the first place your mind goes when you hear that is to the burning bush in Exodus 3:14. That’s a good place for your mind to go here. There God declares himself to be self-existent, YHWH, the I am. But a closer linguistic parallel can actually be found in a couple of passages from Isaiah, and I just want to read three of those for you:
Isaiah 41:4, I, the Lord, the first, and with the last; I am he.
Isaiah 43:10, that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he.
Isaiah 48:12, Listen to me, O Jacob, and Israel, whom I called! I am he; I am the first, and I am the last.
When Jesus tells them that they must believe that I am he, he is telling them that they must embrace him as God. They seem to miss that point here, but “Once the expression becomes clear, Jesus’ opponents take up stones to kill him.” We’ll see that in a couple of weeks. Jesus is claiming to be the God whom they must worship, the one whom they must believe in to receive life.
Conclusion
What does Jesus mean in verse 28, When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he? What is being lifted up, and how does it prove that he is God? Jesus uses the same phrase back in John 3:14 to describe his crucifixion. Which then makes this even more puzzling. How does being crucified prove that he is God?
Jesus is not the Messiah, not the one sent from God, that the people expected. You might have noticed back in verse 21 that Jesus said they would look for him when he left. But the people who had Jesus killed were glad when he left the scene. How were they looking for him. I think it’s most likely that Jesus is saying you will keep looking for a Messiah, but because you refused me when I was here, you will keep on looking and will die without the one you need to save you.
But for the one who trusts in him, believes in him, they will be doing so as those who trust in a crucified Lord. Paradoxically, it is the cross that reveals the glory of the Christ. Verse 30 tells us that many believed on him, but this looks to be like the type of shallow faith we see back at the end of chapter 2. In verse 59 this looks like the same crowd that’s ready to stone him, and just a few short months later they shout “crucify him!”
But. It is also only a short time after that when Peter stand up at Pentecost and preaches a sermon after which 3,000 people trust in Jesus to save them. And what is the message he preaches? Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified. (Acts 2:36). Peter preaches Christ crucified, the Son of Man lifted up, and 3,000 believe that Jesus is God. That Jesus is the Savior. That Jesus is the Messiah. And they trust in Him.
I wonder where your hope is this morning. Do you trust in your own wisdom, your own skill, or your own hard work to get through life? Do you think you really understand the world better than other people? Or do you see that apart from Christ, the only thing you can have are various shades of darkness? He offers himself to all who will follow him.
I want to close by reading one of my favorite passages of Scripture, it’s from Revelation 21:22-23, and it’s describing the New Jerusalem at the end of time- the future home for all who follow Jesus now. And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb.