I AM THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD

 

The context of John 7—9 is the celebration of the annual Festival of Tabernacles (John 7:2–3, 14, 37),  eight days in seventh month of their calendar. Mid-September to mid-October (Lev. 23:33–44).

Early each morning priests would carry water from the Pool of Siloam and pour it out on the west side of the brazen altar in the temple court. At night the priests lit four large candelabra in the court of the women, and the glow from the light could be seen across the city. These lamps were reminders to the Jews of the pillar of fire by which God led Israel through the darkness.

Leviticus 24: 1 The LORD spoke to Moses, saying,2 "Command the people of Israel to bring you pure oil from beaten olives for the lamp, that a light may be kept burning regularly.3 Outside the veil of the testimony, in the tent of meeting, Aaron shall arrange it from evening to morning before the LORD regularly. It shall be a statute forever throughout your generations.

THE FORCE OF THE TRUE LIGHT

Darkness  bondage, misery, and death "The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shined" (Isa. 9:2).

"The LORD is my light and my salvation," sang David (Ps. 27:1).

. Isaiah characterized the world as "distress and darkness, the gloom of anguish" Isa. 8:22.  Psalm 82:5 the ignorant "have neither knowledge nor understanding, they walk about in darkness."  "who forsake the paths of uprightness to walk in the ways of darkness" (Prov. 2:13);  "The way of the wicked is like deep darkness" (4:19).  Jesus said, "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" (John 3:19).

THE SOURCE OF THE TRUE LIGHT 

As the priests extinguished the candelabra in the court of the women and thus ended the festival,  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." "In him was life," John said, "and the life was the light of men" (John 1:4).  "The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world" (John 1:9). 

The Jews didn't know who Jesus was, nor were they willing to investigate (John 8:25). They claimed God as their spiritual Father (v. 41) and Abraham as their ancestral father (v. 39), when in reality Satan was their father (v. 44). Israel faced a much greater judgment than the "unclean" Gentiles, because they had been given more light and yet rejected it (vv. 39–45).  These Jewish religious leaders could see the sun in the heavens (John 8:2), but they did not know the Son who came down from heaven to save them. They didn't love Jesus (v. 42), understand Him (v. 43), believe in Him (v. 45), or honor Him (v. 49), nor did they really know the Father (vv. 54–55). Instead of listening to Jesus carefully and believing His words, they argued with Him, and as a consequence, they rejected Him. The darkness of unbelief and ungodliness was overcoming them.

 

THE COURSE OF THE TRUE LIGHT  

"I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." Exodus 13:22 "Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people."

What, then, does it mean to follow Jesus? It means to trust in him and live as his disciple. While Jesus is the one true Light of the World, we benefit from his coming only if we believe on and follow him. We follow Jesus as the Israelites followed the cloud of fire. They trusted it to lead them and found protection under its shadow. As we follow Jesus, he relieves us of ignorance and folly by teaching us his Word.

"If anyone would come after me," Jesus taught, "let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me" (Luke 9:23).  (akolutheo) a soldier following his commander into battle;  a servant or slave who attends upon his master. Always the slave is ready to spring to the master's service, and to carry out the tasks the master gives him to do. It is used of one who accepts a wise counselor's judgment. We must follow where the light leads: he is not permitted to map out his own course through the desert of this life. The Christian follows Christ by keeping his commands. And it is used of one who follows the line of his teacher's reasoning. J. C. Ryle "To follow Christ is to commit ourselves wholly and entirely to Him as our only leader and Saviour, and to submit ourselves to Him in every matter both of doctrine and practice."

Follow and Gain Freedom

FREEDOM FROM DARKNESS

"Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness." Nicodemus, Samaritan woman, Blind man (9).

FREEDOM FROM THE DEVIL

"If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples,32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." "Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin.35 The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever.36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

FREEDOM FROM DEATH 12 "but will have the light of life." 51 Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death.