Introduction

There are many things in life that are extremely important that we take for granted. There are things that we cannot live without and yet we do not stop and think about them. Just to name a few - air, water, food, people, heart, lungs, brain, sun, moon, plants, trees, etc. We take these things for granted and never give any thought to it until they are taken away from us.

Another thing that we take for granted is light. Light is a extremely important part of our everyday life. Without light, life is not possible. We all need light. Plants, animals and human beings are extremely dependent upon light for survival.

Without light the world would return back to emptiness, formlessness, and darkness.

Genesis 1:2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep ...

But thank God He did not leave the world without form and void and in darkness for we read in ...

Genesis 1:3 And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. 

God commanded the light to shine out of darkness and world was lighten up. If God did not speak light into being we wouldn't be here today.

What is true in the physical realm is also true in the spiritual realm. Without Jesus Christ, there is only emptiness and darkness. Without Jesus Christ, there is only despair and sorrow. In today's world of spiritual darkness, there is a need for light. And thank God, Jesus Christ came to lighten the world. 

John 8:12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

The image of light is a powerful picture of God. In the Old Testament, God is represented as the God of light. God appeared to Moses as a burning bush. God led the people of Israel out of slavery into the promised land by appearing to them as a pillar of fire at night and a pillar of cloud by day.

Psalm 27:1 The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

Now He says, I am the light into the world. In claiming to be the Light of the world, Jesus Christ is announcing Who He is and Why He came.

I - Who He is

Who is Jesus Christ?  

There are many ideas and opinions about who Jesus Christ is. But let us ask Jesus Himself. Let Him tell us who He is.

John 8:12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

Here is another "I AM" statement of Jesus Christ. By proclaiming that He is the light of the world, Jesus Christ is claiming that is God Himself and that He is the promised Messiah, sent of the Father, according to His promise to bring salvation. All the "I AM" statements of Jesus is a claim of Deity.

There are those who will tell us that Jesus is a good moral teacher and nothing more. But you cannot call Him a good moral teacher if you reject His deity. That is not a valid option. Why so?

If you reject the deity of Christ, you only have two other choices and that is, He is either a liar or a lunatic. Because if Jesus claims to be God and knows that He was not, then He was lying to His followers. If He really thinks He was God and He was not, then He is deluded and deranged. If He was a liar, or lunatic, He cannot qualify as a good moral teacher.

You and I have to make the choice. He is either a liar, a lunatic, or the Lord. I don't know about you but I believe that He is Lord. I believe Jesus Christ is who He claims Himself to be, because He is reliable and He has proven it by His unique ethical teachings, the way He lived His life, the way He treated His enemies, and the way He rose from the dead.

II - Why He came

By announcing that He is the Light of the World, Jesus is not only announcing who He is but also announcing why He came.

John 12:46 I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.

1. He came to deliver us from our darkness

2 Corinthians 4:6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

As God in day one of Creation, commanded the light to shine out of darkness, He has shine in our hearts giving us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

What happens when Jesus Christ the Light of the World shines in the heart of an individual?

Jesus Christ dispels darkness from our lives.

Light and darkness cannot co-exist

2 Corinthians 6:14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

Good and evil do not belong together. Light and darkness cannot share the same room. When you turn the light on in this MPR, it cannot be dark at the same time. No, light dispels darkness. Light chases darkness away. Spiritually it is the same.

1 John 1:5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6: If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:

Light overcomes darkness

When you turn on the light, all of the rats, cockroaches, and bedbugs crawl away. 

That's what happened when Christ shined His light on the Pharisees who accused the woman caught in adultery. Jesus Christ exposed their sins and because they could not stand the bright light of Jesus' holiness and knowledge, like rats and roaches, they all left one by one.

Once the light has shined, the darkness cannot overcome it. Darkness shall flee away. As we battle evil, Jesus shines and breaks the force of evil. Jesus shines in our darkness. Jesus says that those who walk in the light shall never walk in darkness.

2. He came to give us life

But we have not merely the promise that we shall be delivered from our darkness, led by the light and brought into the light. A yet deeper and more glorious gift is offered here: 'He shall have the light of life.'

Light is essential to life. And God knows how important light is, that is why one of the things that God made on day one of the Creation week is light.

Genesis 1:3 And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. 

Light brings life. It makes things grow. Without light, plants die. So it is with man. Man sits in spiritual blindness and moral darkness by nature. But Jesus comes as the light of the world to to shine His light and give life to every sinner who follows His light.

John 8:12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

You and I, by nature were dead in trespasses and sins. We had no life with God but were separated from Him and headed for a life apart from Him forever. But thank God, the light shined on us, and overcame our spiritual darkness, translated us from darkness into a marvelous light and created in us a new life, eternal life, abundant and satisfying life. That is the effect the light has had on you who believe by the grace of God. What a glorious, gracious light Jesus is!

3. He came to guide us through life

That's good news because you and I are like sheep which are prone to wander.

Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,

Prone to leave the God I love;

Here's my heart, O take and seal it,

Seal it for Thy courts above.

But we don't have to grope in darkness. Because when Jesus said, "I am the light of the world", He meant that He is the guide of life. He promised that He will be with us and guide us all the days of our lives.

Matthew 28:20 ... lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

The LORD is also our Lamp

2 Samuel 22:29 For thou art my lamp, O LORD: and the LORD will lighten my darkness.

Just as the LORD guided the Israelites during the day with a pillar of cloud, and provided light at night with a pillar of fire, so Jesus Christ will guide us and lead us all the days of our lives.

Now, of course, we have something better than a pillar of cloud and a pillar of fire. We don't go out every morning looking for the pillar of cloud and pillar of fire. Today, we have the Jesus Christ guiding us through His Word the Bible and by His Spirit. 

The Word of God is our lamp

Psalm 119:105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

Proverb 6:23 For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life:

God's word is a light that shines to our feet, assisting us and guiding us through life.

Now a lamp, a candle, or any other light are of no use to a blind man, or to a person who chooses to close his eyes. So is the Word of God who eyes have blinders. The word of God is only good to a man whose eyes are opened and enlightened by the Spirit of God.

Conclusion

John 8:12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

John 12:46 I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.

What a wonderful promise! What a life-changing promise! We must take these beautiful words seriously because Jesus means them. These are not a politician's promise, like those we are hearing so frequently today, promises that can all be forgotten after the election. Our Lord made this promise because He means to fulfill these words in our lives and He is able to do so. He came to dispel darkness from our lives; He came to give us life; and He came to guide us through life.

Invitation

Our Lord is the light of the world. "He that followeth me shall not walk in darkness. He shall have the light of life." 

Along with the proclamation, comes the gracious invitation to experience Jesus as the light of our lives. His proclamation that He is the Light of the world is an invitation to follow His light.

What is the use of Jesus Christ, the Light of the World, if we do not follow Him. It is not enough to gaze upon and admire the light. We must follow. As I have pointed out last week, to follow Jesus Christ is believe in Him, to believe in Him is to follow Him. Those who believe will follow. Belief or faith is the root, to follow is the fruit. Those who follow have faith. The faithful will follow.

John 12:46 I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.

Come to Jesus and follow the light. Come to Jesus and He will deliver you from your darkness, give you life eternal and be with you and guide you through life. May God help you to come to Him who has come and offered Himself to be the light of life.

He who gave sight to the blind desires to give you spiritual sight in this darkened world. Jesus wants to light your way and lead you into life eternal.

"I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life."

"I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness."

2 Samuel 22:29 For thou art my lamp, O LORD: and the LORD will lighten my darkness.

Nothing will be the same again when you have Him as your light. Everything looks different in the light of Christ. 

AMEN!