Class Lesson March 13, 2016

THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE

Late one Saturday night, my five-year-old son accompanied me on a quick trip to our church. It was pitch black outside as well as inside the building. The light switches were across the foyer from the entry. As we shuffled along in the dark, moving toward the switches, someone touched my hand. I screamed! My son squeezed my hand harder and said, “Don’t worry, Daddy, it’s me.”

What a relief!

When you are surrounded by darkness, it’s good to know someone is with you. It’s even better to have someone turn on the lights.




As we’ll see in John 8, Jesus is always with us, no matter how dark life may seem. And He does more than turn on the light. Jesus Himself is the Light of the world.

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

John 8:12-19 (NIV)

12When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

13The Pharisees challenged him, “Here you are, appearing as your own witness; your testimony is not valid.”

14Jesus answered, “Even if I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is valid, for I know where I came from and where I am going. But you have no idea where I come from or where I am going.

15You judge by human standards; I pass judgment on no one.

16But if I do judge, my decisions are true, because I am not alone. I stand with the Father, who sent me.

17In your own Law it is written that the testimony of two witnesses is true.

18I am one who testifies for myself; my other witness is the Father, who sent me.”

19Then they asked him, “Where is your father?” “You do not know me or my Father,” Jesus replied. “If you knew me, you would know my Father also.”



Light of the world (v. 12)—Jesus illumines the path we are called to follow.


Darkness (v. 12)—The antithesis to light. Here, “darkness” is used as the metaphorical equivalent in religious language to evil, immorality, and other spiritual forces aligned against God.


Testimony (vv. 13-14)—A courtroom term referring to statements about which a person would swear in a court of law; in this case, it meant speaking truth about what one has witnessed about God.

John 8:12

Jesus had been teaching in the temple complex during the Festival of Tabernacles (see John 7:2,14). The morning after the last day of the festival, Jesus went again to the temple and began to teach. As He taught, the religious leaders brought to Him a woman who had been caught in adultery (see 8:2-11). They did so “at dawn” (v. 2). As the sun came up, the people would have been coming out of darkened houses to experience the fresh light of a new day. This helped set the stage for Jesus’ incredible pronouncement: “I am the light of the world.”


Notice Jesus did not claim to provide light to the world. He declared Himself to be “the light of the world.”


The concept and symbolism of light is very important in the Bible. Light is used as a symbol or reference for salvation in both Old and New Testaments (see Ps. 27:1 and 1 John 1:7, for examples). When Jesus proclaimed that He was the Light of the world, He thus announced Himself as the only Source for salvation. Jesus is the only true Savior.


The Bible also uses light to symbolize God’s direction. God had led His people by a pillar of fire at night during their wilderness wanderings (see Ex. 13:21-22). Appropriately, this event had just been commemorated through the Festival of Tabernacles during the time Jesus made this temple visit.


Think about the nature of Jesus’ claim in an agrarian society. During a time before electricity, when light was more difficult to create and more precious to maintain, Jesus declared Himself to be light. Jesus identified Himself as a primary Source for a fundamental need among humanity.

Jesus also followed His assertion with a promise: “Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (v. 12). Jesus promised we would never be in darkness.

It’s easy for people to become enamored with what appear to be other sources of light—worldly wisdom, media information, popular philosophies, and so on. All of these sparkle and shine to get our attention, but ultimately they lead down dark trails of frustration and desperation. Trust Jesus as the Light: your Savior and Guide. 

John 8:13-15

The Pharisees reacted negatively to Jesus’ assertion that He was the Light of the world. Their objection was based on the law: “Here you are, appearing as your own witness; your testimony is not valid” (v. 13). This, however, was not the first time Jesus had heard this accusation, and He previously cited four witnesses in His defense—John the Baptist, His works, His Father, and Scripture (see John 5:31-39).


Jesus didn’t disagree that valid testimony requires corroboration (see Deut. 17:6; 19:15). Therefore, He produced other witnesses to back up His declaration. The problem was the Pharisees’ determination to ignore any information that contradicted their foregone conclusion that Jesus was a fraud. They weren’t about to be confused by the facts.

Many religious people today have made up their minds about what constitutes spiritual “truth”—even when it contradicts the clear teaching of Scripture. Unbelievers make the same mistake by trusting in their reason, man-made philosophies, or humanistic education rather than in God’s Word. No matter how unreasonable their positions may be, both groups hold fast to what they believe rather than submit to Jesus and biblical truth.


Jesus knew the truth, and He knew His testimony was valid. “My testimony is valid, for I know where I came from and where I am going” (v. 14). He appealed to His origin and His destination as proof of His Deity. He had come from His Father and would soon return.


The Pharisees’ problem was their humanistic worldview. Jesus said, “You judge by human standards” (v. 15). They started with themselves and incorporated God into their lives wherever they could. Jesus calls us to start with God as our Father and adjust our lives accordingly. He must be at the center of our lives, with everything else ordered around Him.

  

John 8:16-19

Jesus came to extend salvation, not condemnation, to all people (see 3:17). He came as light to overcome darkness, not just as a judge to condemn darkne6ss. He came as an exclusive Savior, and all people will be judged based on their choices about Him.

Continuing His testimony, Jesus used an argument based on the law—the Pharisees’ ultimate source of authority: “In your own Law it is written that the testimony of two witnesses is true” (v. 17). This was based on Old Testament passages which required at least two credible witnesses to determine guilt in a legal proceeding (see Deut. 17:6-7; 19:15). Jesus declared His claims to be true because they were based on the testimony of two witnesses—Himself and His Father. These two witnesses are the pinnacle of anyone who might be called in any judicial proceeding.

Jesus concluded this exchange with His most pointed rebuke: “You do not know me or my Father” (v. 19). Imagine how stunning those words must have sounded to the arrogant Pharisees who paraded themselves as public models of religious devotion. They claimed to know God; in fact, they claimed to know more about God than anyone else. Yet Jesus pronounced them to be illegitimate usurpers with no genuine relationship with the Father.

We must not make this same mistake. Jesus is the Light of the world, and God the Father is His corroborating witness. Therefore, live your life under His authority in submission to His instructions.

LIVE IT OUT

Since Jesus is the Light of the world, how will that truth influence your actions and attitudes this week? Consider taking one of the following steps in response:

• Identify. Seek out an area of your life in which you are following sources of light other than Christ. Take action to move away from those sources and follow Christ.

• Submit. Begin each day this week by verbally submitting yourself to God. Proclaim your desire to walk only in the direction revealed by the light of Christ, and continually pray for guidance throughout the day. 

• Study. Read a book on Christian worldview such as Mere Christianity by C. S. Lewis. If possible, study this book with someone else and discuss what it teaches about following the light and direction of Jesus.

There will be times when you find yourself in darkness—our world is filled with it, after all. But you never have to be alone in that darkness. When you follow Jesus, you will always be able to find the Light. 

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Our Lesson Today:

 

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THE GUIDING LIGHT

Do you remember this intro? “And now, The Guiding Light.” It is an old one. According to Guinness Book of World Records The Guiding Light was the longest running drama of all time. It came on the air in January 25, 1937 five days after President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s second inauguration as 15 minute serials. It then lasted some 18,000 episodes and 72 years, finally ending on September 18th, 2009.

The series was created by Irna Phillips who based it on her personal spiritual experiences of having given birth to a still-born baby and finding comfort in listening to on-air sermons. These sermons provided the nucleus upon which the show was based. The Guiding Light refers to a lamp in the study of a minister who would turn it on to be a sign for the residents to find help when needed.

With such an extensive history the show reflected, in a sense, the changing times of this country. Over the years the preacher was removed, the Christian message dissipated and the inspirational themes evolved into typical soap exploitation and glorification of sin. Even the “the” was removed and the light went from being exclusive and singular to being just a Guiding Light among many.

 

This is what has happened to our world today - we have removed the exclusive and singular Guiding Light.

 

Today, Jesus returns the "The" and declares that He is the guiding light to the world! 

Today we will see in John 8 that Jesus is always with us, no matter how dark life may seem. And He does more than turn on the light. Jesus is the Light of the world. And once again this truth points to God.


THE POINT: Jesus is the Light who reveals the way we should go. 

I. Jesus Is the Light of the World - John 8:12

12When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”


Light of the world - Jesus illumines the path we are called to follow.

Darkness - is used as the metaphorical equivalent in religious language to evil, immorality, and other spiritual forces aligned against God.


This is the second of seven “I AM” declarations of Jesus, recorded only in John’s gospel. Jesus is claiming that He is the exclusive source of spiritual light. No other source of spiritual truth is available to mankind.



What was going on that might have led Jesus to use light as His second I am statement?

• Jesus had been teaching in the temple complex during the Festival of Tabernacles (see John 7:2, 14). This festival commemorated how God had led His people by a pillar of fire at night during their wilderness wanderings (Ex. 13:21-22).The morning after the last day of the festival, Jesus went again to the temple and began to teach. As He taught, the religious leaders brought to Him a woman who had been caught in adultery (see 8:2-11). They did so “at dawn” (v. 2). As the sun came up, the people would have been coming out of darkened houses to experience the fresh light of a new day. This helped set the stage for Jesus’ incredible pronouncement: “I am the light of the world.”
• Another feature of the Feast of Tabernacles was a dramatic ceremony of lights. Four great lamps were perched high in the temple courts tall enough to rise above the temple walls. The lamps were filled with many gallons of oil. Priests would light the cloth wicks in the lamps. The tremendous light generated from these huge golden lamps and emanating from the temple complex out to the city was said to light up all the courtyards of Jerusalem. Celebrants would dance beneath the lamps carrying flaming torches and singing songs. Levites standing on the fifteen steps leading down from the Court of Israel to the Court of the Women played harps, lyres, cymbals, trumpets, and other musical instruments. Jesus once again showed up in the temple to teach during the Festival of Tabernacles. During His talk, He gave another momentous “I am” saying. Jesus declared, “I am the light of the world.” Jesus made His great declaration of being the Light of the world in the context of this Festival of Tabernacles with its dramatic light ceremony. Jesus seems to have been claiming dramatically that He could light up not only all of Jerusalem, like the great Tabernacle’s candelabras in the court of the temple, but the whole world.
• Notice Jesus did not claim to provide light to the world. He declared Himself to be “the light of the world.”

Why is light a fitting metaphor for Jesus?

• The concept and symbolism of light is very important in the Bible. Light is used as a symbol or reference for salvation in both Old and New Testaments (see Ps. 27:1 and 1 John 1:7, for examples). When Jesus proclaimed that He was the Light of the world, He thus announced Himself as the only Source for salvation. Jesus is the only true Savior. Jesus makes known the truth of God that leads to life.
• The Bible also uses light to symbolize God’s direction. God had led His people by a pillar of fire at night during their wilderness wanderings (see Ex. 13:21-22). Think about the nature of Jesus’ claim in an agrarian society. During a time before electricity, when light was more difficult to create and more precious to maintain, Jesus declared Himself to be light.
• There are two types of light in the world. We can perceive one, or both, or neither! When we are born into this world, we perceive physical light, and by it we learn of our Creator’s handiwork in the things we see. However, although that light is good, there is another Light, a Light so important that the Son of God had to come in order to both declare and impart it to men. John 8:12 records, “When Jesus spoke again to the people, He said, ‘I am the Light of the World. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but have the light of life.’” The allegory used by the Lord in this verse speaks of the light of His Truth, the light of His Word, the light of eternal Life. Those who perceive the true Light will never walk in spiritual darkness.
• “God is light,” says 1 John 1:5. Light is a common metaphor in the Bible. Proverbs 4:18 symbolizes righteousness as the “morning sun.” Philippians 2:15 likens God’s children who are “blameless and pure” to shining stars in the sky. Jesus used light as a picture of good works: “Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds” (Matthew 5:16). Psalm 76:4 says of God, “You are radiant with light.”

Jesus is the inexhaustible and inextinguishable light who illuminates humankind in spiritual matters and reveals the way of salvation.




Where do you see evidence of darkness in today’s world?

• Entertainment world, relationships, politics, drug culture, abortion, rise of homosexual influence

In what way is Jesus a "light"?

• He brings Truth to these elements of darkness in our world
• He shows the contrast between the darkness in our world and God’s plan
• He shows God’s solution for these examples of darkness

How is Jesus the light in your world?

• By reading what God says in Scripture
• By lighting the pathway of our lives
• By giving direction in decisions
• He brings Truth to bear in different situations we face

How are people in a state of darkness before they believe in Jesus?

• They are living without Jesus … without God’s influence in their lives
• They are not aware of their own problems or how to escape their problems, struggling with no understanding of the way out.
• They are not even sure what the problem is

What is impossible for the person who follows Jesus to do?

• Those who follow Jesus cannot also live in darkness.
• Jesus identified Himself as a primary Source for a fundamental need among humanity. Jesus also followed His assertion with a promise: “Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (v. 12). Jesus promised we would never be in darkness.
• We take a candle into a room to dispel the darkness. Likewise, the Light of Jesus Christ has to be taken into the darkness of sin that engulfs the hearts and lives of those who are not following Him. That’s the condition behind having this Light—that we follow Him. If we do not follow Him, we will not have this light, this truth, this eternal life.

• The fact that God is light sets up a natural contrast with darkness. If light is a metaphor for righteousness and goodness, then darkness signifies evil and sin. First John 1:6 says that “if we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth.” Verse 5 says, “God is light; in Him there is no darkness at all.” Note that we are not told that God is a light but that He is light. Light is part of His essence, as is love (1 John 4:8).The message is that God is completely, unreservedly, absolutely holy, with no admixture of sin, no taint of iniquity, and no hint of injustice.
• If we do not have the light, we do not know God. Those who know God, who walk with Him, are of the light and walk in the light. They are made partakers of God’s divine nature, “having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires” (2 Peter 1:4).

What is a benefit that comes to the one who follows Jesus?

• It’s easy for people to become enamored with what appear to be other sources of light—worldly wisdom, media information, popular philosophies, and so on. All of these sparkle and shine to get our attention, but ultimately they lead down dark trails of frustration and desperation. Trust Jesus as the Light: your Savior and Guide.
• Physical light is necessary for physical life. The earth would certainly change very rapidly if there were no longer any sunlight. A forest full of trees with very thick canopies of foliage high above has very little plant life on the ground except for moss or lichen, which needs little sunlight. Plants will never move away from the light—they are said to be positively phototropic, drawn to the light. In the same way, spiritual light is necessary for spiritual life, and this can be a good test of our standing in Christ. The believer will always tend toward spiritual things; he will always tend toward fellowship, prayer, the Word of God, and so on. The unbeliever always does the opposite (John 1:5; 3:19–20) because light exposes his evil, and he hates the light. Indeed, no man can come into the true spiritual light of Jesus Christ, unless he is enabled (John 6:37).

Jesus’ two promises if you follow Him:


1. His followers will never walk in darkness, which is a reference to the assurance of salvation we enjoy. As true followers of the Light, we will never follow the ways of sin, never live in a state of continually sinning (1 John 1:5–7). Rather, we repent of our sin in order to stay close to the Light of the world. Those who follow Jesus receive life.



2. We will reflect the Light of Life. Just as He came as the Light of the world, He commands us to be “lights,” too. In Matthew 5:14–16 we see believers depicted as the light of the world. Just as the moon has no light of its own, reflecting the light of the sun, so are believers to reflect the Light of Christ so that all can see it in us. The Light is evident to others by the good deeds we do in faith and through the power of the Holy Spirit. God is light, and it is His plan that believers shine forth His light, becoming more like Christ every day. “You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness” (1 Thessalonians 5:5). God is the Creator of physical light as well as the Giver of spiritual light by which we can see the truth. Light exposes that which is hidden in darkness; it shows things as they really are.



What does it look like never to walk in darkness (spiritual darkness)?

• Assurance of freedom from sin (the penalty and the power of sin)
• We are able to see the way through spiritual problems
• We are able to bring God’s wisdom and Truth to bear on all aspects of life

WHAT’S YOUR TESTIMONY

If you were called as a witness to testify about who Jesus is based on your personal experiences with Him, how would you respond?




What prevents you from sharing your experiences with Jesus more freely?

• The emphasis here is maintaining a credible and obvious witness in the world, a witness that shows us to be faithful, God-honoring, trustworthy, sincere, earnest, and honest in all that we do. Also, we should always be ready to give an account of the hope that we have (1 Peter 3:15), for the gospel Light we have is not to be covered, but made obvious for all to see and benefit from, that they, too, may leave the darkness and come into the Light. The emphasis here is maintaining a credible and obvious witness in the world, a witness that shows us to be faithful, God-honoring, trustworthy, sincere, earnest, and honest in all that we do. Also, we should always be ready to give an account of the hope that we have (1 Peter 3:15), for the gospel Light we have is not to be covered, but made obvious for all to see and benefit from, that they, too, may leave the darkness and come into the Light.
• Christians cannot sit idly by and watch others continue in the darkness of sin, knowing that those in darkness are destined for eternal separation from God. The Light of the World desires to banish the darkness and bestow His wisdom everywhere (Isaiah 9:2; Habakkuk 2:14; John 1:9). In taking the light of the gospel to the world, we must by necessity reveal things about people that they would rather leave hidden. Light is uncomfortable to those accustomed to the dark (John 3:20).

 

II. Jesus’ Word About Himself Is True and Trustworthy - John 8:13-15

13The Pharisees challenged him, “Here you are, appearing as your own witness; your testimony is not valid.” 14Jesus answered, “Even if I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is valid, for I know where I came from and where I am going. But you have no idea where I come from or where I am going. 15You judge by human standards; I pass judgment on no one.


Testimony - A courtroom term referring to statements about which a person would swear in a court of law; in this case, it meant speaking truth about what one has witnessed about God.



What was their response to Jesus’ claim to be the light of the world?

• They said, your claims are your own, you have no other person or witness to back you up. Anyone can make claims like this, you need additional proof. The Pharisees reacted negatively to Jesus’ assertion that He was the Light of the world. Their objection was based on the law: “Here you are, appearing as your own witness; your testimony is not valid” (v. 13).
• In response to Jesus’ proclamations regarding Himself, the Pharisees accused Him of unsubstantiated testimony, which the law did not allow. Hence, they insisted to Him that “your testimony is not valid.” The law did demand multiple witnesses for serious cases (see Num. 35:30; Deut. 17:6; 19:15), which later Jewish tradition extended to other cases as well. The requirement for a matter to be verified by more than one witness prevented a single, disgruntled individual from being able to create legal problems for another. We see this law in effect during the Sanhedrin trial of Jesus as the religious leaders produced many witnesses against Jesus, but the testimonies of the various false witnesses did not agree with one another (see Mark 14:55-59). Jesus’ opponents may have been trying to throw His own words back at Him. Earlier Jesus had said that if He testified about Himself, then His testimony was not valid (see John 5:31). Even then, however, Jesus had pointed out that His words about Himself were corroborated by His mighty works, the testimony of John the Baptist, and that of the Father Himself. His words had not stood by themselves.

How did Jesus validate His claim?

• Jesus didn’t disagree that valid testimony requires corroboration (see Deut. 17:6; 19:15). Therefore, He produced other witnesses to back up His declaration. The problem was the Pharisees’ determination to ignore any information that contradicted their foregone conclusion that Jesus was a fraud. They weren’t about to be confused by the facts.
• Many religious people today have made up their minds about what constitutes spiritual “truth”—even when it contradicts the clear teaching of Scripture. Unbelievers make the same mistake by trusting in their reason, man-made philosophies, or humanistic education rather than in God’s Word. No matter how unreasonable their positions may be, both groups hold fast to what they believe rather than submit to Jesus and biblical truth.
• Jesus knew the truth, and He knew His testimony was valid. “My testimony is valid, for I know where I came from and where I am going” (v. 14). He appealed to His origin and His destination as proof of His Deity. He had come from His Father and would soon return.
• Jesus responded to the present charge in a manner consistent with His earlier assertion that the Father bore witness to the validity of His words: “Even if I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is valid.” Jesus’ answer is true but could not be understood without faith in Him. Jesus asserted, “I know where I came from,” that is, from heaven. Therefore, He has the heavenly Father’s testimony. Such testimony would de facto both fulfill and trump the requirement of the law or tradition for multiple witnesses.
• However, Jesus immediately acknowledged that this answer would not satisfy His opponents, since they did not believe in Him and, thus, “have no idea where I come from or where I am going.” Since these religious leaders refused to recognize and acknowledge Jesus’ identity as the Son of God, the Messiah, they likewise failed to understand that He had come from God and would be returning to God. Their blinded eyes could not see the Father’s testimony in the life and ministry of Jesus, so they perceived Him to be acting and speaking on His own behalf without any supporting evidence.

Why could the Pharisees not understand who Jesus was?

• The Pharisees’ problem was their humanistic worldview. Jesus said, “You judge by human standards” (v. 15). They started with themselves and incorporated God into their lives wherever they could. Jesus calls us to start with God as our Father and adjust our lives accordingly. He must be at the center of our lives, with everything else ordered around Him.
• Not believing in Jesus is clear evidence that His opponents were judging by human standards; Jesus would not play that game. If human standards were the rules by which the Pharisees wished to play, rather than the righteous standards of God, Jesus would abstain. “I pass judgment on no one,” He countered. His role at this time in history was not to be a judge but to be a light. Jesus had already pointed out that God had not sent Him to condemn the world but to save it. But, tellingly, He had also stressed that the one who would not believe in Him was condemned already (see 3:17-18).
• Jesus is not to be evaluated by the standards of this world for He is not of this world.

What are some reasons people give today for rejecting God’s Word as truth?

• It’s all a myth. Jesus was only a good teacher; he could not have been God.
• It’s all written by men, they are not infallible; religion is only a crutch for the weak.
• At a deeper level, they don’t want to become subject to God’s standards of living; don’t want to give up sinful actions and attitudes.
• They choose not to open their spiritual eyes to the Light of the Gospel message.

III. Jesus Makes Known God the Father - John 8:16-19

16 But if I do judge, my decisions are true, because I am not alone. I stand with the Father, who sent me. 17 In your own Law it is written that the testimony of two witnesses is true. 18 I am one who testifies for myself; my other witness is the Father, who sent me.” 19 Then they asked him, “Where is your father?” “You do not know me or my Father,” Jesus replied. “If you knew me, you would know my Father also.”



What did Jesus not come to do?

• Jesus came to save, not to condemn.

• Jesus came to extend salvation, not condemnation, to all people (see 3:17). He came as light to overcome darkness, not just as a judge to condemn darkne6ss. He came as an exclusive Savior, and all people will be judged based on their choices about Him.
• Jesus had previously stated that He did not judge anyone (see v. 15). The day would come, however, when that would change. And when Jesus does judge, His judgment, in contrast to that of His opponents, will be true. How so? What makes His judgment different from that of the religious leaders? The truth is here: “because I am not alone. I stand with my Father, who sent me.” Jesus claimed a special relationship with God (see 16:32). This special relationship changed the equation. Just as His testimony was not unsupported as the Pharisees had argued, so His judgment will not be in isolation, either. As the Father has willed, so Jesus has done and will do.

Why should the judgments of Jesus be accepted as valid and true?

• Continuing His testimony, Jesus used an argument based on the law—the Pharisees’ ultimate source of authority: “In your own Law it is written that the testimony of two witnesses is true” (v. 17). This was based on Old Testament passages which required at least two credible witnesses to determine guilt in a legal proceeding (see Deut. 17:6-7; 19:15). Jesus declared His claims to be true because they were based on the testimony of two witnesses—Himself and His Father. These two witnesses are the pinnacle of anyone who might be called in any judicial proceeding.

Why did Jesus say to His opponents that in spite of what they claimed, they truly did not know the Father?

• Jesus concluded this exchange with His most pointed rebuke: “You do not know me or my Father” (v. 19). Imagine how stunning those words must have sounded to the arrogant Pharisees who paraded themselves as public models of religious devotion. They claimed to know God; in fact, they claimed to know more about God than anyone else. Yet Jesus pronounced them to be illegitimate usurpers with no genuine relationship with the Father. We must not make this same mistake. Jesus is the Light of the world, and God the Father is His corroborating witness. Therefore, live your life under His authority in submission to His instructions. Jesus reveals the Father and is Himself the only way to Him.

What does it mean to walk in the light?

• To walk in the light means to know God, understand the truth, and live in righteousness.
• To “walk in the light” is a common metaphor within Christian culture. It is often taken to mean “acting correctly” or even “living openly.” Biblically, however, the phrase has the idea of relinquishing sin by following Jesus. The only Old Testament occurrence of this precise phrase is in Isaiah 2:5, “O house of Jacob, come and let us walk in the light of the Lord.” The Psalms contain similar phrases (56:13; 89:15), as does Isaiah (9:2; 50:10-11; 59:9). In the New Testament, “walking in the light” is directly related to following Jesus, who said, “I am the light of the world. He who follows me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life” (John 8:12). While this verse does not directly say, “Walk in the light, i.e., Jesus,” it does pointedly warn of doing the opposite; therefore, those who follow Jesus are “walking in the light.”
• To “walk” is, in short, to live one’s life. One’s lifestyle or way of life can be considered a “walk.” The word also indicates progress. Walking is related to growth; it is taking steps toward maturity. “Light” in the Bible can be a metaphor for life, happiness, righteousness, or understanding. The Bible is clear that light comes from the Lord God, the “Father of the heavenly lights” (James 1:17). He is the opposite of evil. Putting it all together, “walking in the light” means “growing in holiness and maturing in the faith as we follow Jesus.”
• The apostle John repeatedly used the “light” metaphor in relation to the Messiah. For example, he writes that Jesus is “the true light that gives light to every man” (John 1:9). In 1 John 1:7 he says, “If we walk in the light as He [God] is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.” In verse 5, John says that God’s very nature is light. Jesus, then, is the conduit or provider of light to the world.
• Our Christian duty is to live in the light God gives: “Now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light” (Ephesians 5:8). When we walk in the light, we cannot walk in darkness. Sin is left in the shadows as we let our light “shine before men” (Matthew 5:16). It is God’s plan for us to become more like Christ (1 Thessalonians 4:3). “Walking in the light” means we consider Jesus as “the light” in this world, and we “walk” in that light by following His precepts, living in His power, and growing in His grace.

LIVE IT OUT


1. Identify

a. Consider a challenge you face that has frozen you in your tracks.

b. You are afraid whatever decision you make might be wrong

c. Ask the Lord to show you light to take the step you need to take



2. Guide

a. Maybe you know someone facing a difficult decision.

b. This week offer to meet with him or her to discuss the issues and pray together about the decision



3. Study

a. With a concordance and study Bible, research how John uses the concept of light in his Gospel

b. Take notes on what you find, meditate on the concepts

Prayer of Commitment

O Light of the World, shine into my life to dispel the darkness and show me the way to live as one who has eternal life. Amen.



Hope to see you on Sunday!



In His Love,


David & Susan