Jesus: The Light of the World
John 8:12
Jesus is the light of the world who dispels the spiritual darkness of sin and chaos; whoever follows Him is transferred from the domain of darkness into the light of life, so that believers must walk as children of light.
Outline
- Creation account and the light/darkness motif
- Mankind’s love of and participation in darkness
- Jesus as the light of the world
- Faith and following are inseparable
- Walk as children of light
- Invitation and warning
Themes: Light of the World · Darkness · Children of Light · Domain of Darkness · Walking in the Light · Transformation · Faith and Following
Key Cross-References: Genesis 1:1-5, 1 John 1:5-7, Genesis 6:5-6, 11-12, Romans 1:21, Ephesians 6:12, Isaiah 5:20, 2 Corinthians 11:14, Ephesians 4:18-19, John 8:12, Matthew 4:16, Acts 26:16-18, 2 Corinthians 4:6, John 10:25-27, John 12:44-50, Colossians 1:9-14, Ephesians 5:1-22, Romans 13:11-14, 1 Peter 2:9-10, Matthew 5:14-16, John 3:19-21, John 12:35-36
MANUSCRIPT
Genesis 1:1-5 ¶ In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. 3 ¶ And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. 4 And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.
“The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep.”
Before God’s ordering of creation, we find that the earth was formless and void. There as disorder, darkness, and the untamed deep. Prior to creation being declared “good,” God had to bring it into order. How did he do it? He brought forth light to dispel the darkness, set the boundaries of the waters, and thereby brought order to the chaos.
Primary to God’s ordering work was the creation of light and the dispelling of darkness. It was only once he separated one from the other that he could declare his creation as “good.”
From this creation account arises a myriad of metaphorical uses of the concepts of light and darkness throughout scripture.
Darkness comes to signify disorder of every kind. Darkness is said to disorder, destroy, disfigure and deflect glory from God. While light, on the other hand, is said to order, create, beautify and reflect the perfect nature of God.
Throughout scripture, darkness and light also take on spiritual and moral components. Darkness represents evil, sin, and the powers of Satan while light presents holiness, purity, and the perfect nature of God.
To fast-forward almost to the end of the Bible we see how these themes develop throughout.
1 John 1:5-7 ¶ This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.
In many ways, the entire story of scripture can be seen as a struggle between order and chaos, or light and darkness. God subdues the chaos and separates light from darkness. But soon after, mankind sins. His fall is seen as plunging creation back into the darkness of chaos. Chaos and darkness which now take on a moral and spiritual sense.
As a consequence of Adam’s sin, corruption spread across all of creation and mankind gave themselves over to sin and wickedness. So complete was their rebellion that the Bible could say:
Genesis 6:5-6 Yahweh saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 6 ¶ And Yahweh regretted that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart.
And…
Genesis 6:11-12 ¶ Now the earth was corrupt in God's sight, and the earth was filled with violence. 12 And God saw the earth, and behold, it was corrupt, for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth.
Mankind had chosen sinful chaos over divine order, and so God prescribed a fitting judgment: He would once again allow the darkness and disorder of the chaos waters to prevail over the land, this time through a catastrophic flood. Mankind had rejected God’s design for life and had no respect for His order of creation, and so God gave them over to chaos, darkness, and destruction.
You can imagine the thick, dark storm clouds rolling in, smothering the light of the sun. Darkness prevailed, as did the chaos waters, just like they did in Genesis 1.
Once the floodwaters receded, God made a covenant with Noah and all of creation, marked by a rainbow in the sky. What is significant about this? You can't have a rainbow without light. Even in the face of mankind’s corrupt nature and deserving of divine judgment, God mercifully allowed human history to continue. He would not allow darkness to ultimately dominate; He would always bring light to the darkness.
MAN’S LOVE OF DARKNESS
Sadly however, mankind has not responded to God’s mercy with obedience. He has not learned from the consequences of his sin. He has not acknowledged God by embracing His creative order. Instead, he has presumed upon God’s mercy, pursued his sinful passions, and permeated the world with sinful chaos.
He has chosen chaos over order, and darkness over light. So that Paul in Romans one describes the human condition in this way:
Romans 1:21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.
The heart of man came to embody the darkness. He was driven to disorder what God had ordered, destroy what he had created, disfigure what he had made beautiful and deflect all glory from God and to himself.
Mankind has not been alone in his efforts to destroy what God has created, disorder what God has ordered, disfigure what God has designed, and deflect from God’s glory. The Bible indicates that this love for darkness is shared by shadowy elements of the spirit world as well. Paul says in Ephesians 6:
Ephesians 6:12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
There is a pervasive darkness of sin, rebellion, chaos and corruption which permeates this world. It’s a darkness which much of mankind loves, and which Satan and his forces empower.
When men reject God and his design, they are walking in darkness.
When they blaspheme God’s name, and live without fear of him, they are walking in darkness.
When they build themselves up in pride, thinking they have no need for God, they are walking in darkness.
When they mistreat one another, devaluing those made in the image of God, they are walking in darkness.
The person spreading gossip, slander or false accusations against others is walking n darkness.
The lying politician is walking in darkness.
The dishonest businessman is walking in darkness.
The employee cheating his employer is walking in darkness.
The shoplifter is walking in darkness.
The person consumed with jealousy over the success of others is walking in darkness
The person constantly arguing online, using demeaning language and attempting to humiliate others, is walking in darkness.
The person who shows no empathy, or mercy toward others is walking in darkness.
The person uttering obscenities is walking in darkness.
The person harbouring bitterness and unforgiveness toward others, is walking in darkness.
The person who creates divisions, and stirs up strife is walking in darkness.
The person who is always losing their temper is walking in darkness.
The disobedient child is walking in darkness.
The heavy partier is walking in darkness.
The drunk and the drug addict are walking in darkness.
The person treating others unfairly and doing nothing to stop others from doing the same is walking in darkness.
The person subjecting children to sexual themes and imagery is walking in darkness.
The person rejecting God’s design for sex, gender, family, and marriage is walking in darkness.
The person using violence to get what they want is walking in darkness.
The person willing to kill their unborn baby is walking in darkness.
The person oppressing others and using them for their pleasure or benefit is walking in darkness.
The racist is walking in darkness.
The religious hypocrite is walking in darkness
Anyone who takes pleasure in these things either by participation or celebration is walking in darkness.
Human societies since the fall have been marked by a pervasive pursuit of sin and godlessness. Worse, a concerted effort to take all that God calls good, and to call it bad. To take all that God calls light, and call it darkness. To take all that God calls darkness and call it light.
Isaiah 5:20 Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!
A culture in darkness is a culture which celebrates sin, and denigrates holiness. It’s a culture which hoists the flags of perversion while trampling on the traditional family.
It’s a culture which calls truth, “hate.”.
It’s a culture which calls perversion, “love.”
It’s a culture which calls mutilation, “affirmation.”
It’s a culture which calls murder, “healthcare.”
It’s a culture which calls discrimination, “justice.”
It’s a culture which calls sexual fetishes, “personal expression.”
At every turn, a culture in darkness destroys what God has created, brings disorder to what God has ordered, disfigures what God has made beautiful, denigrates what God values, and does it all to deflect the glory from God and to themselves.
Where does such an impulse to replace light with darkness come from?
2 Corinthians 11:14 And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.
Satan who is the chief power over this present darkness presents himself as light. So too, all who follow him replace light for darkness, while calling that darkness “light”.
Paul describes such a culture this way:
Ephesians 4:18-19 They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. 19 They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity.
And to the Romans he wrote:
Romans 1:21-22 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools,
So, we learn that mankind, in his natural state is in darkness, loves darkness, and spreads darkness. Further, he is darkened in his understanding, and darkened in his heart. He participates in the works of darkness, and celebrates others when they do the same. He is alienated from God, and addicted to sin. And, although he is culpable for his darkened behaviour, he is influenced by Satan who is the chief power over this darkness.
We must add, as we consider the nature of a culture walking in darkness, that even while it pursues the darkness of sin and rebellion, it simultaneously writhes in suffering beneath it. Now, their pursuit of sin and their rejection of God has left them so spiritually blind in their souls and morally corrupt in their reasoning that they do not trace the cause of their suffering to their sin. They have all sorts of other explanations for societal ills, but their commitment to the darkness will not allow them to see that perhaps they are experiencing the consequences of their rejection of God. Nevertheless, they are aware of their suffering.
So, as we continually remind ourselves at Calvary Baptist Church, although we can list off the sins of a culture in darkness, we should be quick to also recognize that Satan is a deceiver who takes prisoners. Those who walk in darkness, as much as they love the darkness while they are in it, are in fact captives to Satan, and in need of deliverance.
This is the attitude of God toward sinners.
When he made his covenant with Noah, he promised that he would allow human history to carry on, despite man’s sinful rebellion and worthiness of judgment. Why? Because he would work his plan to deliver all of creation from the darkness of sin, through human history.
JESUS IS THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD
When the time was right, he would enter the chaos and darkness, and bring order once again. Just as he carried out his mighty creative acts in the beginning, subduing the chaos and dispelling the darkness, he would do so again. And how would he do it? Just as he did in the beginning, he would bring forth light.
John 8:12 ¶ 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.”
Jesus is the light, come into the world to dispel the darkness. As Matthew says, quoting the prophecy from Isaiah 9:
Matthew 4:16 the people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light, and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death, on them a light has dawned.”
Jesus came into a world given over to darkness, dominated by darkness, loving darkness, and celebrating darkness. But also, a world suffering under darkness. He came to bring deliverance to a people who, like someone born blind at birth, didn’t even know the light they had been missing.
When God commissioned the Apostle Paul to preach Jesus to the Gentiles, this is how he described his mission:
Acts 26:16-18 But rise and stand upon your feet, for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you as a servant and witness to the things in which you have seen me and to those in which I will appear to you, 17 delivering you from your people and from the Gentiles—to whom I am sending you 18 to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’
Jesus is the light of the world sent to open the eyes of the spiritually blind so that they might turn from sin to him. From the power of Satan, to the power of God. He came so that sinners might receive forgiveness of sins and be counted among the people of God.
Jesus is God’s light to dispel the spiritual darkness and to bring order to our spiritual chaos. Through him, God does a creative work in our hearts on par with his other works of creation:
2 Corinthians 4:6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
FAITH AND FOLLOWING ARE INSEPARABLE
So, how does one receive this spiritual light and life? Jesus says there in Acts 26:18, “by faith in me.” And expresses it in our text in John 8:12 in different terms. Look at it:
John 8:12 ¶ 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.”
So, is someone delivered from darkness, forgiven their sins, reconciled to God, and added to the people of God by faith in Jesus, or by following Jesus? The answer is yes.
Faith in Jesus and following Jesus are inseparable in the New Testament
John 10:25-27 Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father's name bear witness about me, 26 but you do not believe because you are not among my sheep. 27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.
Those who belong to Jesus believe in him. What’s the evidence of that belief? They follow him. Jesus says in John 8:12 that those who follow him (and we know that this following is evidence of belief in him) will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.
Faith in Jesus results in life. Deliverance from spiritual death, to spiritual life. Transference from the domain of darkness to the domain of light. And who is this available to? Look again at John 8:12:
John 8:12 ¶ 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.”
The fact that Jesus is the light of the world means first), that he is the only saviour for all of mankind and second), that all of mankind is welcome to come. It doesn’t matter who you are, the invitation is extended to you.
Next, notice in John 8:12 that is says he is the light of the world and “Whoever follows him” will not walk in darkness, but have the light of life. This means that although there is a universal invitation, there must be a personal appropriation. A universal invitation does not mean universal salvation. It’s the “whoevers” who will be saved. Whoever follows him. Whoever believes in him will be saved.
Jesus will say later in the gospel of John:
John 12:44-50 ¶ And Jesus cried out and said, “Whoever believes in me, believes not in me but in him who sent me. 45 And whoever sees me sees him who sent me. 46 I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness. 47 If anyone hears my words and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. 48 The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day. 49 For I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment—what to say and what to speak. 50 And I know that his commandment is eternal life. What I say, therefore, I say as the Father has told me.”
Whoever believes in Jesus will be delivered from darkness. The spiritual blindness is lifted. Spiritual death is defeated, and eternal life is given. The hard, calloused heart is replaced. The love for sin gives way to a love for God. Pursuing fleshly passions is replaced by walking in the Spirit.
WALK AS CHILDREN OF THE LIGHT
But notice again, Jesus in John 12:47, like in John 8:12 says that belief in him is accompanied by following him. John 8:12 says “Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness.” John 12:47 indicates that those who believe in him will keep his words.
Jesus coming as the light means that when people believe in him, they are coming to the light. They are transformed. Those who believe are changed. They no longer follow things associated with darkness, but they follow him. They keep his words and follow him.
It’s for this reason that we find many passages in the New Testament reminding Christians that they are now children of light, and should act like it.
Colossians 1:9-14 And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10 so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11 being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy; 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. 13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
If you are a follower of Jesus this morning, you have been delivered from the domain of darkness and transferred to the kingdom of Jesus. What now is expected of you? Walk in a manner worthy of Jesus. Live in a way that is pleasing to him.
Ephesians 5:1-22 ¶ Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. 3 ¶ But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. 4 Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. 5 For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore do not become partners with them; 8 for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true),
Being a follower of Jesus means that we have become children of light. We once belonged to the domain of darkness, but no longer. Our lives have been transformed. First, by the internal change wrought by the Holy Spirit at the moment we placed our faith in Jesus, but also through the progressive growth in Christ and the outward evidence of that growth seen in a lifestyle change. Having come to the light, produces fruit. Paul says that fruit or evidence, or product is “all that is good and right and true.”
That is a complete 180 from where the culture is. As we already explored, a culture in darkness destroys what God has created, brings disorder to what God has ordered, disfigures what God has made beautiful, denigrates what God values, and does it all to deflect the glory from God and to themselves. When someone comes to Jesus however, they are transformed. Now they live and believe and love and promote all that is good, right and true.
What God calls good, the follower of Jesus calls good.
What God deems as right, the follower of Jesus deems as right.
What God establishes as true, the follower of Jesus embraces as true.
So then it makes sense that verse 10 says:
10 and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord.
If we want to call good what God calls good, deem right what God deems right and embrace as true what God establishes as true then we must spend our lives trying to discern what it is that is pleasing to him. That is, what it is that he calls good, deems right and establishes as truth.
Paul continues in Ephesians 5:
11 Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. 13 But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, 14 for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”
That quotation in verse 14 seems like an application of Isaiah 60:1 or perhaps an early Christian hymn based upon Isaiah 60:1 and applied to Jesus. Isaiah 60:1 says:
Isaiah 60:1 ¶ Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of Yahweh has risen upon you.
Here Jesus presented as equal with Yahweh. Through him, we have been brought out of darkness and into spiritual life so, Paul says, live like it. He continues:
15 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, 19 addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, 20 giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.
Don’t be sexually immoral.
Don’t me impure.
Don’t waste your time.
Don’t be foolish.
Do seek to understand the will of God
Don’t get drunk.
Do be controlled by the Spirit.
Do saturate yourself with spiritual songs and sing them with one another.
Do give thanks always and for everything to God.
Do submit to one another, not always out of reverence for one another, but for Christ.
And why should you do all this? Because you are a follower of Jesus. Because you’ve been transferred from the domain of darkness to the domain of light. Because you are a child of God and Paul says in Ephesians 5:1, “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children,” and John says:
1 John 1:5-7 ¶ This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.
One can’t claim to be a follower of Jesus, or have a relationship with God while continuing in sin. Light and darkness don’t mix. Paul said, “what fellowship has light with darkness (2 Cor 6:14)?
The follower of Jesus lives for Jesus. The follower of Jesus keeps Jesus’ words. The follower of Jesus seeks to imitate Jesus. The follower of Jesus lives in anticipation of the return of Jesus. Paul said:
Romans 13:11-14 Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. 12 The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13 Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.
Faith in Jesus as the light results in a transformed life so that his followers no longer “walk in darkness” but instead live as those who have received the “light of life”
Peter said:
1 Peter 2:9-10 9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
The church is a people forged by the light. Together we are a race, a priesthood, a nation, a people who collectively proclaim the excellencies of God. We are living, breathing testimonies of the transformative work that takes place when someone believes in Jesus. Our lives are meant to be as stark a contrast to the world as light is to darkness.
This is why Jesus said in his sermon on the mount:
Matthew 5:14-16 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
Let me ask you, how’s your light doing?
Does the way you live your life clearly show that you’ve been transferred from the domain of darkness into the kingdom of Jesus?
As a child of light, do you love what, and whom God loves?
As a child of light, do you value what God values?
As a child of light, do you pursue what God would have you pursue?
Or is there little contrast between what you love, value and pursue and what those in darkness love, value and pursue?
As a child of light, do you use your time responsibly and or God’s glory?
As a child of light, do you honour God with your sexual desires and behaviour?
As a child of light, are you careful to continually walk in the Spirit, by using the means of grace?
As a child of light, are you careful to not feed the flesh, to gratify its desires?
How’s your light doing? Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” If we are his followers, our walk, or lifestyle should display it.
CONCLUSION
You may be here this morning and you haven’t yet placed your faith in Jesus. Maybe you remain in the domain of darkness, and under the dominion of Satan. There’s an invitation to you this morning.
Jesus is the light of the world, and he promises salvation to whoever believes in him. This invitation is to you. No matter who you are, no matter where you come from, no matter your background, no matter the sins you’ve committed. The invitation is to you.
Will you believe in Jesus this morning? He is the only saviour from sin. He is the only rightful Lord. He is the light which God has sent to lead you out of darkness and into light and life. Now’s your time to respond. God has brought you here and has graciously given you an understanding of how to be saved this morning. Now is the time for you to respond.
Are you resisting that invitation? Many do resist. Many do refuse. Jesus said in John 3:
John 3:19-21 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. 20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. 21 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.”
Is that you this morning? Are you resisting coming to Jesus? Are you reluctant to become his follower? Is it because you love your sin too much? Is it because you love the darkness rather than the light, because your works are evil? I’ll leave you with a warning, also from the lips of Jesus:
John 12:35 “The light is among you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going. 36 While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light."
For the rest of you, who have believed – now walk as sons of light.
