‘I AM’-series on the claims of Jesus

Teacher: Ed van Ouwerkerk

John 8:12-30

I AM the Light of the World

This passage is a conversation of Jesus with the Pharisees. It happened during or just after one of the Jewish feast: the Feast of the Tabernacles. During this festival the people carried lighted torches through the streets to celebrate God's giving of the harvest. Jesus referred to this ceremony to show who He is.

Definition of terms

Valid: (verse 13) Convincing, supported by objected truth.

Law: (verse 17) The commandments God gave through Moses and the prophets.

Offerings: (verse 20) The sacrifice of something of value to pay the penalty for sin.

Sin: (verse 24) Rebellion against God and the laws He has given us in the Bible; turning away from God; not seeking a relationship with God through Jesus Christ. Our natural state apart from God is sinful, due to our decision to disobey God (Romans 5:12).

Pharisees: (verse 13) The Jewish religious leaders of Jesus' day.

John 8:12-3012 When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” 13 The Pharisees challenged him, “Here you are, appearing as your own witness; your testimony is not valid.” 14 Jesus answered, “Even if I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is valid, for I know where I came from and where I am going. But you have no idea where I come from or where I am going. 15 You judge by human standards; I pass judgment on no one. 16 But if I do judge, my decisions are right, because I am not alone. I stand with the Father, who sent me.

約 翰 福 音 8:12-3012 耶 稣 又 对 众 人 说 ： 我 是 世 界 的 光 。 跟 从 我 的 ， 就 不 在 黑 暗 里 走 ， 必 要 得 着 生 命 的 光 。 13 法 利 赛 人 对 他 说 ： 你 是 为 自 己 作 见 证 ， 你 的 见 证 不 真 。 14 耶 稣 说 ： 我 虽 然 为 自 己 作 见 证 ， 我 的 见 证 还 是 真 的 ； 因 我 知 道 我 从 那 里 来 ， 往 那 里 去 ； 你 们 却 不 知 道 我 从 那 里 来 ， 往 那 里 去 。 15 你 们 是 以 外 貌 （ 原 文 是 凭 肉 身 ） 判 断 人 ， 我 却 不 判 断 人 。 16 就 是 判 断 人 ， 我 的 判 断 也 是 真 的 ； 因 为 不 是 我 独 自 在 这 里 ， 还 有 差 我 来 的 父 与 我 同 在 。

17 In your own Law it is written that the testimony of two men is valid. 18 I am one who testifies for myself; my other witness is the Father, who sent me.” 19 Then they asked him, “Where is your father?” “You do not know me or my Father,” Jesus replied. “If you knew me, you would know my Father also.” 20 He spoke these words while teaching in the temple area near the place where the offerings were put. Yet no one seized him, because his time had not yet come. 21 Once more Jesus said to them, “I am going away, and you will look for me, and you will die in your sin. Where I go, you cannot come.” 22 This made the Jews ask, “Will he kill himself? Is that why he says, ‘Where I go, you cannot come’?”

17 你 们 的 律 法 上 也 记 着 说 ： 两 个 人 的 见 证 是 真 的 。 18 我 是 为 自 己 作 见 证 ， 还 有 差 我 来 的 父 也 是 为 我 作 见 证 。 19 他 们 就 问 他 说 ： 你 的 父 在 那 里 ？ 耶 稣 回 答 说 ： 你 们 不 认 识 我 ， 也 不 认 识 我 的 父 ； 若 是 认 识 我 ， 也 就 认 识 我 的 父 。 20 这 些 话 是 耶 稣 在 殿 里 的 库 房 、 教 训 人 时 所 说 的 ， 也 没 有 人 拿 他 ， 因 为 他 的 时 候 还 没 有 到 。 21 耶 稣 又 对 他 们 说 ： 我 要 去 了 ， 你 们 要 找 我 ， 并 且 你 们 要 死 在 罪 中 。 我 所 去 的 地 方 ， 你 们 不 能 到 。22 犹 太 人 说 ： 他 说 ： 我 所 去 的 地 方 ， 你 们 不 能 到 ， 难 道 他 要 自 尽 麽 ？

23 But he continued, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. 24 I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am the one I claim to be, you will indeed die in your sins.” 25 “Who are you?” they asked. “Just what I have been claiming all along,” Jesus replied. 26 “I have much to say in judgment of you. But he who sent me is reliable, and what I have heard from him I tell the world.” 27 They did not understand that he was telling them about his Father. 28 So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am the one I claim to be and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me. 29 The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him.” 30 Even as he spoke, many put their faith in him.

23 耶 稣 对 他 们 说 ： 你 们 是 从 下 头 来 的 ， 我 是 从 上 头 来 的 ； 你 们 是 属 这 世 界 的 ， 我 不 是 属 这 世 界 的 。 24 所 以 我 对 你 们 说 ，你 们 要 死 在 罪 中 。 你 们 若 不 信 我 是 基 督 ， 必 要 死 在 罪 中 。 25 他 们 就 问 他 说 ： 你 是 谁 ？ 耶 稣 对 他 们 说 ： 就 是 我 从 起 初 所 告 诉 你 们 的 。 26 我 有 许 多 事 讲 论 你 们 ， 判 断 你 们 ； 但 那 差 我 来 的 是 真 的 ， 我 在 他 那 里 所 听 见 的 ， 我 就 传 给 世 人 。 27 他 们 不 明 白 耶 稣 是 指 着 父 说 的 。 28 所 以 耶 稣 说 ： 你 们 举 起 人 子 以 後 ， 必 知 道 我 是 基 督 ， 并 且 知 道 我 没 有 一 件 事 是 凭 着 自 己 作 的 。 我 说 这 些 话 乃 是 照 着 父 所 教 训 我 的 。 29 那 差 我 来 的 是 与 我 同 在 ； 他 没 有 撇 下 我 独 自 在 这 里 ， 因 为 我 常 做 他 所 喜 悦 的 事 。 30 耶 稣 说 这 话 的 时 候 ， 就 有 许 多 人 信 他 。

Observation questions in John 8:12-30 for Discovery and Digging Deeper groups

1. Which statement did Jesus make that the Pharisees strongly disagree with? Vss. 12 “I AM the light of the world”

2. What promise did Jesus give to those who follow Him? Vs. 12: They will not walk in darkness; they will have the light of life.

3. Was Jesus claiming to be the light for everyone or the light for just a certain group of people? What phrases support your answer?

Jesus was claiming to be the universal light. Vs. 12” “Light of the world”; “whoever.”

4. Why were the Pharisees’ judgments about Jesus not valid? Vs. 14: They did not know where Jesus came from. Vs. 15: They judged by human standards instead of divine standardsCharlotte and Jonathan

5. What facts did Jesus give to show that His claims were valid? Vs. 14: He knew where He came from and where He was going. Vs. 16: His judgments were true; God the Father agreed with Him.

6. Of whom were the Pharisees ignorant? Vss. 19, 25: They did not know Jesus or His Father. Although they were acquainted with Jesus, they did not know His true identity as God.

7. How is God's control of the events in Jesus' life shown in this passage? Vs. 20: He had God's timing in His life. No one seized Him because it was not the right time.

8. Where did Jesus tell the Pharisees about their origin, where they are going, and how they can go where He is going?

Vs. 23: Origin—below, non-heavenly, the world, not from God. Vs. 21: Destiny—death in their sins. Vs. 24: The way to escape their destiny—believe Jesus is the One sent from God to die for their sins.

9. What did Jesus indicate about His origin and where He is going? Vs. 23: Origin—from above. Vs. 18: Origin—from God. Vs. 21: Destiny—back to heaven (from where He came) after His physical death and resurrection (Acts 1:9-11)

10. How did the people listening respond to Jesus' words? Vs. 30: Many put their faith in Him;they believed in His claims and trusted in Him for salvation.

Split into groups for discussion

Analysis and discussion questions on John 8:12-30 for Discovery Group

1. How did the Pharisees' question in verse 19 reveal that they did not know who Jesus really was?

Jesus had already stated that the Father had sent Him and He and the Father were one (John 6:46). If they had understood this, they would have also understood that in seeing Jesus they also saw the Father.

2. What can we learn about Jesus from this passage? vs. 12: He speaks with power and authority; vs. 15: He didn't judge by human standards; vs. 16: He made right decisions; vss. 21, 28: He revealed the future (His own death); vss. 23, 24: He revealed our origin and destiny; vs. 23: He came from heaven, not of human origin; vs. 29: God the Father was always with Him.

3. What are the functions of light? What characteristics would "the light of the world" or 'the light of life" need to have? What types of things would "the light of the world" need to reveal?

Light reveals things that are in darkness, gives direction, illuminates the path, and exposes things as they really are. The "light of the world" would need to be Creator (John 1:10), reveal who God is (John 1:18), and demonstrate and teach truth (John 1:14). Light reveals errors, faults, weakness, failures, and misunderstandings.

4. What attitudes prevented the Pharisees from recognizing the truth of Jesus' words?

They lacked the desire to know truth at any cost. They were more concerned about their reputations. They also lacked openness to shed traditional ideas to examine Jesus' claims. Finally, they did not recognize the need for forgiveness.

5. What is the relationship between light and life in the physical world? What is the relationship between spiritual light and life?

Light is necessary for photosynthesis, which gives life to plants to maintain the food chain. Spiritual light reveals our need for Jesus, in whom life is found, and reveals truth, the basis for life.

6. How can Jesus help us to see life as it really is?Because Jesus has an eternal perspective, knowing the origin of things and their relationship to God, He is able to give us the proper perspective on life and a standard by which to measure our lives.

7. The Pharisees were wrong about many spiritual things. What are some wrong ideas that the Pharisees had that some people today have?

Some misconceptions: We can understand truth by ourselves apart from God. We can understand God without His revelation. We need more evidence to believe that Jesus is the way to God. We can save ourselves and rid ourselves of sin. (The list could go on and on).

8. What does it mean to "die in one's sins" (Vss. 21, 24)? The person dies unforgiven under the sentence of death (Romans 6:23; 5:12; Exodus 33: 8-11, 14). That person is cut off forever from a relationship with God as a penalty for his or her sins.

9. What example did Jesus set in verse 29? Perfect obedience. Since no human being can do this alone, we must satisfy this condition through Jesus' righteousness (Romans 3:21-26). There is no other way of meeting God's standards.

10. Some things are very difficult to understand until after the event. Jesus said that many would not understand who He was (and is) until after His death. At what point did many people realize who Jesus was? Most people did not realize who Jesus was until after His resurrection.

Luke 24:1-32 (especially verse 31) reveals that the disciples did not truly realize who He was until the day of Pentecost (Acts 2).

Groups come together for some final thoughts and singing

Parallel texts

Jesus again claims to be light of the world during the miracle of healing the blind man, saying: “While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” (John 9:5)我 在 世 上 的 时 候 ，是 世 上 的 光 。

and saying: “For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see . . ” (John 9:39)我 为 审 判 到 这 世 上 来 ， 叫 不 能 看 见 的 ， 可 以 看 见 . . . 。

As an application of this claim for His disciples and for us Jesus said: “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. “ (Matthews 5:14-16)你 们 是 世 上 的 光 。 城 造 在 山 上 是 不 能 隐 藏 的 。人 点 灯 ， 不 放 在 斗 底 下 ，是 放 在 灯 ? 上 ，就 照 亮 一 家 的 人 。你 们 的 光 也 当 这 样 照 在 人 前 ，叫 他 们 看 见 你 们 的 好 行 为 ，便 将 荣 耀 归 给 你 们 在 天 上 的 父 。

“Light exposes people's deeds, whether good or evil. Those who do evil hate the light, but those who live by truth come into it. 19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. 21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God.” (John 3:19-21)光 来 到 世 间 ， 世 人 因 自 己 的 行 为 是 恶 的 ， 不 爱 光 ， 倒 爱 黑 暗 ， 定 他 们 的 罪 就 是 在 此 。凡 作 恶 的 便 恨 光 ， 并 不 来 就 光 ， 恐 怕 他 的 行 为 受 责 备 。但 行 真 理 的 必 来 就 光 ， 要 显 明 他 所 行 的 是 靠 神 而 行 。

God’s light in the Old Testament

For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light (Psalm 36:9)因 为 ， 在 你 那 里 有 生 命 的 源 头 ； 在 你 的 光 中 ， 我 们 必 得 见 光 。

God wraps Himself in light as with a garment (Psalm 104: 2)披 上 亮 光 ， 如 披 外 袍 ，

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 (Isaiah 9:2)在 黑 暗 中 行 走 的 百 姓 看 见 了 大 光 ， 住 在 死 荫 之 地 的 人 有 光 照 耀 他 们 。

How great is our God

God’s light in the New Testament

For God, who said “Let light shine out of darkness” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ (2 Corinthians 4:6)那 吩 咐 光 从 黑 暗 里 照 出 来 的 神 ， 已 经 照 在 我 们 心 里 ， 叫 我 们 得 知 神 荣 耀 的 光 显 在 耶 稣 基 督 的 面 上 。

But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said: “Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” (Ephesians 5: 13-14)凡 事 受 了 责 备 ， 就 被 光 显 明 出 来 ， 因 为 一 切 能 显 明 的 就 是 光 。所 以 主 说 ： 你 这 睡 着 的 人 当 醒 过 来 ， 从 死 里 复 活 ！ 基 督 就 要 光 照 你 了 。God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. 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, purifies us from all sin (1 John 1:5-7)神 就 是 光 ， 在 他 毫 无 黑 暗 。 这 是 我 们 从 主 所 听 见 、 又 报 给 你 们 的 信 息 。我 们 若 说 是 与 神 相 交 ， 却 仍 在 黑 暗 里 行 ， 就 是 说 谎 话 ， 不 行 真 理 了 。我 们 若 在 光 明 中 行 ， 如 同 神 在 光 明 中 ， 就 彼 此 相 交 ， 他 儿 子 耶 稣 的 血 也 洗 净 我 们 一 切 的 罪 。

Purify my heart