Jesus Is the Light of the World

I grew up 200 km from the north sea and remembered many mild cloudy and rainy days. One of the beauties of living in extreme-cold-Manitoba, Canada, is the amount of sunshine we experience compared to some places closer to the coasts. Just yesterday, when I went for a walk and enjoyed the sunlight on my skin, it apparently travelled 8 minutes all the way from the sun to my skin—a marvel of God's creation. Jesus claimed in the following passage to be the light of the world. A statement with an implication for everyone. Human or God...Human and God? No mere sensible human being makes claims such as "I am the light of the world" or "I am the bread of life" because those are absolute statements that only belong to God. An infinitely powerful, omniscient, and supreme being. Jesus reveals His God-nature with those statements. A person that claims to be light? The meaning of Jesus's words to be the light of the world is very intuitive because almost all people have experienced light and darkness. People understand the effect of light in their life. If all people were to be represented in brightness, then Jesus would be the sun and all other people darkness with some properties of reflection of the sun. Is your claim valid? How do we know that a person actually is what he claims to be in the business world? In the west, society recognizes institutions and associations that certify qualified people for specific jobs and tasks, such as Engineers, Techs, Journeymen, etc. The Jewish leaders were right to check the validity of Jesus's claims. The problem was that in their jealousy they had disqualified Jesus already. It is hard and sometimes seems impossible to change the attitude of a presumptuous person. Are you trustworthy? Jesus supports the validity and accuracy of His testimony by relying on omniscience. Eternity past and future were open like a book to Him. He also referred to God the Father as a witness to comply with the "two-witness-rule" for validity as per Moses law. Both claims rest on the premise that Jesus was not mere men but also God. Common people do not know all the events and beings of eternity. The Jewish leaders had judged Jesus to be a common man. That's why non of Jesus's answers made sense to them. They perceived His answers as blasphemes and ludicrous. Not yet, but later? The grace, love, and kindness of Jesus has kindled an interest and turned many initial rejecters and blasphemers to accepting faith and eternal life as He foretold, "When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he...". A bad situation yet a good outcome? "While he was saying these things, many people believed in him." The noble and respected Jewish authorities rejected Jesus, but many common people believed Him after a rather heated disagreement with the authorities. Personally, I believe who Jesus testified to be. Not only were old recorded promises fulfilled when he appeared on earth, but His supernatural acts were eye-witnessed and His claims during his life proved to be true. The effect of His presence 2000 years ago is evident to this day and also personally in my life. How about you? Who is Jesus to you?

notes

Key verse main point summary

Jesus promises the light of life to His followers.

Discourse 8:12

John 8:12

net

mine

Then Jesus spoke out again, 19

Jesus declared:

“I am the light of the world. 20

"I am the light that created and sustained the universe and its existence, similar to the planets and materials that radiate light to sustain biological existence on earth. There was utter darkness in the beginning. No light, no life, and emptiness apart from Me.

The one who follows me

Since I am the origin of all light , those who confess to be in spiritual darkness and put there trust in Me to be led by Me as the absolute standard of truth,

will never 21 walk in darkness,

will, as a result , never live life in spiritual darkness apart from Me

but will have the light of life .”

but will possess spiritual light in Me for this and the afterlife."

negativepositive

actionresult

inference

ideaexplanation

In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. (John 1:4 NASB)

He who has will be given more and he will have in abundance. He who has not will be taken what he has. Matthew ? -bible reading

discourse

Main point summary

Many believed Jesus after He publicly disagreed with the Jewish leaders on theology. Jesus openly revealed His divine origin and His relationship with God the Father.

Bracket

editing

John 8:12-30

Then Jesus spoke out again, 19

Jesus declared:

“I am the light of the world. 20

"I am the light of the world.

The one who follows me

Therefore the one who follows me

will never 21 walk in darkness,

will, as a result , never walk in darkness,

but will have the light of life .”

but will have the light of life."

So the Pharisees 22 objected, 23

Jesus claim resulted in the Pharisees objection,

“You testify about yourself;

"You testify about yourself;

your testimony is not true !” 24

therefore your testimony is not true!"

Jesus answered, 25

Then Jesus answered,

“Even if I testify about myself,

"Even if I testify about myself,

my testimony is true ,

then my testimony is true,

conditional

because I know

where I came from and where I am going.

where I came and where I am going.

locative

But you people 26 do not know

But you people do not know

where I came from or where I am going. 27

where I came from or where I am going.

ground

You people 28 judge by outward appearances; 29

Furthermore, you people judge by outward appearances;

I do not judge anyone. 30

I do not judge anyone.

But if I judge ,

Nevertheless, if I judge,

my evaluation is accurate , 31

then my evaluation is accurate,

because I am not alone when I judge , 32

because I am not alone when I judge,

but I and the Father who sent me do so together. 33

but I and the Father who send me do so together.

It is written in your law that the testimony of two men is true . 34

Just as it is written in your law that the testimony of two men is true.

comparison

I testify about myself 35 and the Father who sent me testifies about me.”

So again, we are two witnesses: I testify about myself and the Father who sent me testifies about me."

concessive

progression

questionanswer

Then they began asking 36 him,

Then they began asking him,

“Who is your father?”

"Who is your father?"

Jesus answered,

“You do not know either me or my Father.

"You do not know me or either my Father.

If you knew me

Because if you knew me

you would know my Father too.” 37

then you would know my Father too."

(Jesus 38 spoke these words

(Jesus spoke these words

near the offering box 39

near the offering box

while he was teaching

in the temple courts. 40

in the temple courts.

temporal

No one seized him

And no one seized him

because his time 41 had not yet come.) 42

because his time had not yet come.)

situationresponse

Then Jesus 43 said to them again, 44

Then Jesus said to them again,

“I am going away,

"I am going away,

and you will look for me 45

and you will look for me

but will die in your sin . 46

yet you will not find me and die in your sin.

Where I am going you cannot come.”

This is because where I am going you cannot come with sin."

So the Jewish leaders 47 began to say, 48

So the Jewish leaders began to say,

“Perhaps he is going to kill himself,

"Perhaps he is going to kill himself,

because he says, ‘Where I am going you cannot come.’”

because he says, "Where I am going you cannot come.""

Jesus replied, 49

Jesus replied ,

“You people 50 are from below;

"You people are from below;

I am from above.

I, on the other hand , am from above.

alternative

You people are from this world;

To clarify , you people are from this world;

I am not from this world.

I, on the other hand, am not from this world.

Thus I told you 51 that you will die in your sins .

That is why I told you that you will die in your sins.

For unless you believe that I am he, 52

because I came into this world to save people from sin but you don't believe me. Unless you believe that I am God,

you will die in your sins .”

you will die in your sins."

So they said to him,

“Who are you?”

"Who are you?"

Jesus replied, 53

Jesus replied,

“What I have told you

"What I have told you

from the beginning.

I have many things to say and to judge 54 about you,

Besides I have many things to say and to judge about you,

but the Father 55 who sent me is truthful, 56

nevertheless, what I've told you from the beginning is that the Father who sent me is truthful,

and the things I have heard from him I speak to the world.” 57

and the things I have heard from him I speak to the world."

(They did not understand that he was telling them about his Father.) 58

(However, the Jewish leaders did not understand that he was telling them about his Father, that is, God the Father.)

Then Jesus said, 59

Then Jesus said,

“When you lift up the Son of Man,

" When you lift up the Son of Man,

then you will know that I am he, 60

then you will know that I am God, the promised Deliverer,

and I do nothing on my own initiative, 61

and that I do nothing on my own initiative,

but I speak just what the Father taught me. 62

but I speak just what the Father taught me.

And the one who sent me is with me.

And God the Father who sent me is also with me.

He has not left me alone, 63

That is, He has not left me alone,

because I always do those things that please him.”

because I always do those things that please him."

While he was saying these things,

many people 64 believed in him.

many people believed in him.

In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. (John 1:4 NASB)

He who has will be given more and he will have in abundance. He who has not will be taken what he has. Matthew ? -bible reading

People believed Jesus

Jesus's claim to be God sparked an argument with the Jewish leaders.

Jesus answers questions about the validity of His testimony and theology, that is, His relationship with God the Father.

Jesus again reveals His divinity and foretells the future. The Jewish leaders mock Him for that. Jesus continues to reveal His origin and His ability to forgive sins.

The Jewish leaders asked for Jesus identity. Jesus again revealed His divine origin and said they they would know that to be true when they've crucified Him.

Quick Notes and References

Light in physics What was know about light in Jesus' time? Definitions: Also called lu·mi·nous en·er·gy, radiant energy . electromagnetic radiation to which the organs of sight react, ranging in wavelength from about 400 to 700 nanometers and propagated at a speed of 186,282 miles per second (299,972 kilometres per second), considered variously as a wave, a stream of particles, or a quantum phenomenon. https://www.dictionary.com/browse/light the brightness that comes from the sun , fire , etc. and electrical devices , and that allows things to be seen . https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/light Study of artificial light Keywords: Intensity, colour rendering index, colour temperature, efficacy (lumens/watt), illumination (lux) 8:12 What does it mean to follow Jesus? 8:12 b How is Jesus the light of the world? What does he refer to with light? What is light? Fact 1: Darkness is the absence of light. One of the purposes of window-shutters and blinders is to limit the light that shines into a room. Fact 2: Light brings life. Light is essential for many organisms to exist. Plants need light to grow and function. Fact 3: The human eye depends on visible light for perception. Human life is significantly impaired without light. 8:12 e How can any sane person claim to be the light of the world? - It is a claim of God. Either Jesus was God or insane. 8:15 "I judge no one" - How so? - what is the meaning of 'judging' in this context? 8:19 "If you knew me you would know my Father too." Highly offensive to the Pharisees. He says if you know me, then you know God. The flow of argument Jesus gives His testimony. Pharisees object to Jesus’s testimony as it appeared to lack witnesses. Jesus reveals his witness and points out people's shallow methods of judgment. Pharisees inquire about his witness. Jesus addresses their ignorance. Jewish leaders mock Jesus. Jesus states facts warning the Jewish leaders. Jewish leaders inquire about Jesus's identity. Jesus foretells the day on which they will understand who he is keywords NET: 8x Father 8x Jesus 7x testify, testimony 5x judge 3x sin 2x Pharisees keywords NKJV: 8x Father 7x Jesus 1x testimony, 6x witness 4x Pharisees 4x judge 3x sin

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