Light of the World :

Jesus

The Context

In 734 B.C. Assyria invaded the Northern Kingdom and conquered several cities in Israel (2 Kings 15:29). As a result, many people were deported to Assyria and Israel became a vassal state.

The ContextThe Assyrians and Babylonians would cause havoc on Israel and Judah. Terrible times that brought not only war and bloodshed, but also a great crisis of faith for God's people.

DARKNESS

(Is 8:21-22) Distressed and hungry, they will roam through the land; when they are famished, they will become enraged and, looking upward, will curse their king and their God. (22) Then they will look toward the earth and see only distress and darkness and fearful gloom, and they will be thrust into utter darkness.

DARKNESSIsa 8:20 To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.

DARKNESS

Isa 8:19 And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead?

DARKNESS

Isa 6:5 Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.

PICTURE OF DARKNESS:1. Ignorance2. Rebellion3. Death

LIGHT

(Is 9:1-2) ... there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress... (2) The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.

LIGHT

Why the sudden change?

LIGHTIsaiah's prophecy gave a solution to the darkened world. The Messiah's

coming, says Isaiah, means light for a people walking in darkness.

LIGHT

(Mt 4:13-16) Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum ... (14) to fulfill

what was said through the prophet Isaiah ... (16) "the people living in

darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a

light has dawned."

LIGHTHis Names:

Wonderful CounselorHe counsels us in the ways of God

LIGHTHis Names:Mighty God

God in the flesh

LIGHTHis Names:

Everlasting FatherFather or founder of eternal life

LIGHTHis Names:

Prince of PeacePeace giver, with God, man, and

ourselves

LIGHTNow, what is the purpose of light?

LIGHTThe purpose of light is to shine in darkness, to oppose darkness, to overcome and dispel darkness.

LIGHT

"In the beginning ... the earth was formless and empty," says the Bible, and

"darkness was over the surface of the deep ..." (Gen 1:1-2). And then God said, "Let there be light," and there was light

(Gen 1:3).

LIGHT

Light overcomes darkness.

LIGHTFor what reason did Jesus reveal himself as the light?

LIGHT"So that no one who believes in

me should stay in darkness" (John 12:46).

Reactions to the Light:Those who saw the light but would not

believeBut though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him

John 12:37

Reactions to the Light:Those who believed but would not confess

Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees

they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue:

For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God. John 12:42-43

Reactions to the Light:Those who believe and follow the light Jesus cried and said, He that believeth

on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me. And he that seeth

me seeth him that sent me. John 12:44-45

Is Jesus Your Light?

Jesus is your light only if you believe in

Him.

Let us abandon darkness, anguish, gloom, and

despair and walk in the light and enjoy the

fullness of life in Christ.

For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as

children of light.Eph 5:8

Paul identifies the deeds of darkness for us: bitterness, rage, anger, fighting, slander, malice, sexual immorality, obscenity, foolish talk, coarse joking, idolatry (Eph 4:29 - 5:7)

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your

Father which is in heaven.Mt 5:16