Gospel of John - The Light of Life

       

The Light of Life

John 8:12-20

In the law of Moses, in order to condemn anyone it had to be confirmed by two witnesses. “One witness is not enough to convict anyone accused of any crime or offense they may have committed. A matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.” Deut. 19:15 

In our legal realm today, the rule is they (prosecutors) must prove your guilt, the defense has only to prove reasonable doubt, regardless of the number of witnesses. 

The days of black and white have become greyer and greyer. But in God’s kingdom, light is supreme and darkness is banished. Let’s look at the first part of the text, “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 will have the light of life.” The Pharisees challenged him, “Here you are, appearing as your own witness; your testimony is not valid.” Jesus 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.”

Jesus has been teaching in the courts of the temple in Jerusalem. It doesn’t say how long Jesus stayed, but he is still bearing witness to the words from God the Father to the people of Israel, and all those who lingered in the courts. Jesus again proclaims, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” as he did earlier when talking with Nicodemus in Jn. 3:19 “And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”

The Pharisees and the teachers of the Law were bound by darkness, and in this, Jesus was shining the light of the truth to show up their darkness. Jesus came from God the Father, to lead all who would believe in him and the Father by the light of the Word of God, not in the darkness of the beliefs and human standards of this world. The rulers of the temple and its courts were in angst and anger over the teachings of Jesus. Light was a term that spoke of truth and divinity and they tried to challenge him by the law of two to three witnesses. 

Jesus listened to their perusal of the law, and the accusation that Jesus was alone in his testimony about himself and it was not valid in their eyes. Jesus' next words set the precedence for his stand. He is an eye witness with personal knowledge of his origin and destination, and He comes as the true bearing, the light in the world of darkness, a solid beacon dispelling the darkness for those who chose to follow Him. It was Jesus' claim of divine origin that perplexed and angered the rulers to condemn him, as well as shining the light of truth on their deeds done in darkness.

Application - Many have been challenged on first hand knowledge of an event that happened. Those in authority come and receive their word as evidence that would later be questioned in court. Most people today have seen court scenes on the news, and arguments against testimony because it didn’t align with prosecutions or defenses desired outcome.

Nevertheless, standing in the absolute light of Truth will bear out the false around you. God made light and called it good. Light will expose things that are around you, and it will give evidence of those things around you which are hazardous, and dangerous, or evil. As well as the things that are certain, harmless, or good.

Walking or following in the light is the safest, surest, and most reliable way to live for it manifests the most confident way and this is evidenced by all.

Second, Jesus reinforced His words on being the Light to the World. As Jesus said earlier, “And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.” Jn. 3:19-21 

Let’s look at the rest of the text, “You judge by human standards; I pass judgment on no one. But if I do judge, my decisions are truer, because I am not alone. I stand with the Father, who sent me. In your own Law it is written that the testimony of two witnesses is true. I am one who testifies for myself; my other witness is the Father, who sent me.”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.” He spoke these words while teaching in the temple courts near the place where the offerings were put. Yet no one seized him, because his hour had not yet come.”

The light of Jesus’ word went to the source of darkness, “You judge by human standards.” The Pharisees and teachers of the law had developed the Oral Torah and the Written Torah. It was a religious human standard by which to judge and guide people in the laws on how to live. These oral standards were an assumption to complete and supplement the fragmentary written law (those things that are partial or deficient in explaining the fullness of the laws) with the oral laws and standards that gave more explicit and implicit details to the laws and standards. In other words, man-made laws to enhance or supersede the understanding of God’s laws to Moses for the Israelites. 

The Pharisees and teachers used the oral and written law as their evidence against the woman caught in adultery, but Jesus showed they were found in darkness as well as the woman. Their judgment was from their sinful human standards.

Jesus countered their human standards by the absolute standards set by God the Father in the commandments. Jesus didn’t come to be their judge but to bring them salvation. He came from the Father to be the Light to the World. He chided them for they asked to see the Father because it was inconceivable to them that this man came from God, even though they themselves had seen the evidence of signs and miracles done through Jesus. They wouldn’t believe his witness or authority. Jesus pointed out to them that they didn’t know God the Father or the One he had sent to save the world. Even though many of the jews were anticipating the arrival of the coming Messiah prophesied by the prophets of old. 

In all of this wrangling over and asking for evidence for who Jesus was, it only intensified the light from his words and actions. The rulers couldn’t condemn Jesus yet and had to let him be because it wasn’t God’s timing yet for the Son to be condemned.

Application - As humans, we have set up many various standards that we keep, revise, or discard because we see the failure, nonperformance, or inconsistencies in them. Human standards seem fluid, not as absolute as the Law of God and Word of God.  Jesus knew the Law of God and had come to fulfill it. He also knows the darkness of this age and the god who works evil in it. 

Today, we are no different from the people in Jesus’ day on Earth. We have human rulers and judges who have made unrighteous laws and unattainable human standards, and then judge all who question these standards. 

Eternal life is found in the Father and the Son in whom he sent. (And this is eternal life, uthat they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” John 17:3) Jesus came from the Father and even though he is the Son of God, he came as a man, to fulfill God’s will and purpose, the redemption of mankind and the restoration of fellowship with Him. This is walking, following, and living in the light. We are in fellowship with the Son and the Father evidenced by the light. This is eternal life, to know God and to know the Son, for they are one.

I’m again including the ABC’s of salvation (JD Farag). Please, Jesus, God the Son, came to this world to save all who would believe and trust in him. He desires to reveal himself to you, He is the Light that overcomes the darkness of this lawless world. He hears your prayers, and all authority in heaven and earth have been given to him. He will answer you if you will truly believe. If you haven’t asked him to be your Lord and Savior, today could be that day.

 First, A - Admit that you are a sinner. This is where that godly sorrow leads to genuine repentance for sinning against a righteous God and there is a change of heart, we change our mind and God changes our hearts and regenerates us from the inside out. Romans 3:10 - As it is written: "There is none righteous, no, not one." Romans 3:23 - For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (We are all born sinners which is why we must be born spiritually in order to enter the Kingdom of Heaven). Romans 6:23 - For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. The bad news is that the wages of sin is death, in other words our sin means that we have been given a death sentence, we have the death penalty hanging over our heads, that's the bad news. But here's the good news: The good news is that the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Ephesians 2:8-9 - For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith —and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. Second,

 B - Believe in your heart that Jesus Christ died for your sins, was buried, and that God raised Jesus from the dead. This is trusting with all of your heart that Jesus Christ is who he said he was. Romans 10:9-10 - That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. Third, 

C - Call upon the name of the Lord. Every single person who ever lived since Adam will bend their knee and confess with their mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord, the Lord of lords and the King of kings. Romans 14:11 - For it is written: "As I live, says the Lord, Every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to God." Don't wait until later — do this now. Romans 10:13 - For "whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved." "O God, I am a sinner. I'm sorry for my sin. I want to turn from my sin. I believe Jesus Christ is Your Son; I believe that He died on the cross for my sin and that He was buried and You raised Him to life. I have decided to place my faith in Jesus Christ as my Savior, trusting only in His shed blood as sufficient to save my soul and to take me to heaven. Thank You, Lord Jesus, for saving me. Amen."

Please share this with someone this week, the Lord knows that we and they need it.

If you would like other lessons, please go to http://pmdinhisservice.blogspot.com 

Until next week, In His Service Mike Davis

I am developing a new webpage on Spiritual warfare. Please give it a look. I’m adding answers each week to questions that pertain to our time today.  Thank you

http://uss-warfare3.webnode.com