in the footsteps of the master: the life and times of jesus christ “i am the light of the world”...

In The Footsteps Of The Master:The Life and Times of Jesus Christ

“I Am The Light Of The World”

July 17, 2011

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Setting• Jesus is likely still in Jerusalem at the

Feast of Tabernacles• We’ve already discussed the emphasis on

water during the Feast• There was also an emphasis on light, with

the lighting of large candelabras during the Feast

• Jesus focus seems to shift from the crowds to the Jewish leaders


“I Am the Light of the World”• John 8:12-14

– 12Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.” 13So the Pharisees said to Him, “You are testifying about Yourself; Your testimony is not true.” 14Jesus answered and said to them, “Even if I testify 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.”


Jewish Testimony• For testimony to be considered valid, it had

to be substantiated by at least two individuals

• The Jews are confusing the validity of Jesus’ testimony with the truthfulness of His testimony

• Jesus’ testimony about Himself may not have been valid in court, but that didn’t make it false

• On what basis does Jesus establish the truth of his testimony?


Testimony • John 8:15-18

– 15“You judge according to the flesh; I am not judging anyone. 16But even if I do judge, My judgment is true; for I am not alone in it, but I and the Father who sent Me. 17Even in your law it has been written that the testimony of two men is true. 18I am He who testifies about Myself, and the Father who sent Me testifies about Me.”


Some Thoughts• Jesus counters that His testimony is

backed by that of the Father– This makes it valid, as well as true

• How can Jesus say that He is not judging when He seems to be doing just that?

• In reality, each individual judges himself as to whether or not they accept Jesus


Where Is Your Father?• John 8:19-20

– 19So they were saying to Him, “Where is Your Father?” Jesus answered, “You know neither Me nor My Father; if you knew Me, you would know My Father also.” 20These words He spoke in the treasury, as He taught in the temple; and no one seized Him, because His hour had not yet come.

• The question “Where is your father?” can be viewed several ways


For Discussion• Why didn’t they arrest Jesus?• It’s interesting to note that Jesus is inside

the Temple proper – probably the Court of Women – and Jewish the leaders are unable to arrest Him

• The meeting place of the Sanhedrin was nearby, so physical access wasn’t the problem

• God’s timing was their problem


You Will Seek Me• John 8:21-24

– 21Then He said again to them, “I go away, and you will seek Me, and will die in your sin; where I am going, you cannot come.” 22So the Jews were saying, “Surely He will not kill Himself, will He, since He says, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come’?” 23And He was saying to them, “You are from below, I am from above; you are of this world, I am not of this world. 24‘Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.”


For Discussion• Did the Jews think Jesus was suicidal?• What point is Jesus making here?• The discussion takes a very pointed turn

here– “You are from below”


Who Are You?• John 8:25-27

– 25So they were saying to Him, “Who are You?” Jesus said to them, “What have I been saying to you from the beginning? 26I have many things to speak and to judge concerning you, but He who sent Me is true; and the things which I heard from Him, these I speak to the world.” 27They did not realize that He had been speaking to them about the Father.


For Discussion• What do you make of the Jews’ statement

“Who are you”?– Are they sincerely trying to understand?

• Jesus reminds them that He is what He has always claimed to be


You Will Know Me• John 8:28-30

– 28So Jesus said, “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and I do nothing on My own initiative, but I speak these things as the Father taught Me. 29And He who sent Me is with Me; He has not left Me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to Him.” 30As He spoke these things, many came to believe in Him.


For Discussion• When will they know who He really is?• Jesus reiterates – as He does repeatedly

in John – that He does what the Father wishes

• We often speak of Jesus’ “sinlessness”– This is one of Jesus’ fundamental

characteristics, expressed as a negative– He speaks here of the positive side– He always does what pleases God

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The Truth Will Make You Free• John 8:31-33

– 31So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; 32and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” 33They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never yet been enslaved to anyone; how is it that You say, ‘You will become free’?”

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For Discussion• One of the most profound statements in all

of Scripture– “you will know the truth, and the truth will

make you free”• Do you sense the irony in the Jews’

comments about enslavement?• They seem to be forgetting a few things

– A couple of years in Egypt– One or two in Babylon– Their current Roman situation


Free Indeed• John 8:34-38

– 34Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin. 35The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son does remain forever. 36So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed. 37I know that you are Abraham’s descendants; yet you seek to kill Me, because My word has no place in you. 38I speak the things which I have seen with My Father; therefore you also do the things which you heard from your father.”


For Discussion• What is the difference between the slave

and the son?• Jesus isn’t talking about physical slavery• He’s talking about bondage to sin• Note again that Jesus is going directly to

the heart of the problem– He does the work of His Father– They do the work of their father


Abraham Is Our Father!• John 8:39-41

– 39They answered and said to Him, “Abraham is our father.” Jesus said* to them, “If you are Abraham’s children, do the deeds of Abraham. 40But as it is, you are seeking to kill Me, a man who has told you the truth, which I heard from God; this Abraham did not do. 41You are doing the deeds of your father.” They said to Him, “We were not born of fornication; we have one Father: God.”


For Discussion• The Jews assert that they are not

illegitimate children– Perhaps in contrast to Jesus’ claims?

• What were some of the deeds of Abraham?– Obedience to God, even when the outcome

was uncertain– Faith in God, credited to him as righteousness– What else?


You Cannot Hear• John 8:42-43

– 42Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and have come from God, for I have not even come on My own initiative, but He sent Me. 43Why do you not understand what I am saying? It is because you cannot hear My word.”

• Why could they not hear Jesus’ words?


Your Father, The Devil• John 8:44-44

– 44“You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”

• Their father is a murderer and they want to kill Jesus– Coincidence?


You Are Not Of God• John 8:45-47

– 45”But because I speak the truth, you do not believe Me. 46Which one of you convicts Me of sin? If I speak truth, why do you not believe Me? 47He who is of God hears the words of God; for this reason you do not hear them, because you are not of God.”

• “Here’s why you can’t hear ... You are not from God!”


You Have A Demon!• John 8:48-51

– 48The Jews answered and said to Him, “Do we not say rightly that You are a Samaritan and have a demon?” 49Jesus answered, “I do not have a demon; but I honor My Father, and you dishonor Me. 50But I do not seek My glory; there is One who seeks and judges. 51Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word he will never see death.”

• Why would they accuse Jesus of being a Samaritan?


Who Do You Think You Are?• John 8:52-53

– 52The Jews said to Him, “Now we know that You have a demon. Abraham died, and the prophets also; and You say, ‘If anyone keeps My word, he will never taste of death.’ 53Surely You are not greater than our father Abraham, who died? The prophets died too; whom do You make Yourself out to be?”

• Now they are really offended– “Are you greater than Abraham?”


My Father Glorifies Me• John 8:54-56

– 54Jesus answered, “If I glorify Myself, My glory is nothing; it is My Father who glorifies Me, of whom you say, ‘He is our God’; 55and you have not come to know Him, but I know Him; and if I say that I do not know Him, I will be a liar like you, but I do know Him and keep His word. 56Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad.”

• Jesus reiterates his subjection to the Father• How did Abraham rejoice in Jesus’ day?


I Am!• John 8:57-59

– 57So the Jews said to Him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?” 58Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am.” 59Therefore they picked up stones to throw at Him, but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple.

• My favorite name for the Godhead– I AM!


Next Week• TBD

in the footsteps of the master: the life and times of jesus christ “i am the light of the world”...

Documents

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testimonyjesus testimony

testimonyfor testimony

times of jesus christi

light of life

court of women

jewish leaderswww

temple proper