Jesus: Creator, Savior, Lord and King #45 Jesus the Light of the World j- John 7-9

 

Jesus: Creator, Savior, Lord and King #45
 Jesus the Light of the World
Text John 7-9

John 9:1-7 And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth. 2 And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? 3 Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. 4 I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. 5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world. 6 When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay, 7 And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing.

 Jesus at the Feast of Tabernacles

Jesus Declares Who He Is

This Sabbath Day event is taking place just after the week of the Feast of Tabernacles has passed. For us that week began back in chapter 7 when Jesus’ brothers tried to convince him to go to Jerusalem at the beginning of the week and prove to all the people and to them that He was the Messiah. Jesus refuses to go with them and waits till the middle of the week and then travels down through Samaria via a way that would not be used by the pilgrims going to the Feast.

Three times a year that Jewish males were required to go to Jerusalem; Passover, Tabernacles and Trumpets. The feast of Tabernacles or Booths was to commemorate the 40 years of the Exodus when the Hebrews lived in tents in the wilderness of Sinai. The Jews would come to Jerusalem and build booths and for one week they would live in these tabernacles as their ancestors did during the Exodus from Egypt.

Jesus arrives late but He dramatically begins to make up time. This Holy Week will be the last major one before the next Passover when Jesus will be taken, tried, beaten, mocked and crucified. His teachings and declarations during this time are the plainest, most direct and loudest He has made up to this time. He is going to make sure they hear and what they must hear is who Jesus is and why Jesus came. This feast would be one of the last opportunities for Jesus to publicly present Himself as Messiah, Savior and Son of God.  In this chapters we see Jesus doing exactly this.

Jesus Gives The Water of Life - In John 7:37-38

37 In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. 38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.

This is another example where Jesus uses something that is happening or something around Him and uses it to teach. In this case, for the past seven days a priest has gone to the pool of Siloam and filled up a golden pitcher with water. The crowds then follow as the priest carries it back to the temple. He then pours this libation offering into a bowl which then drains into the base of the altar. As this was being done the priest would recite Isaiah 12:3, “Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.” The ceremony looks back to God providing water from the rock in the wilderness.

Now, on the last day Jesus waits as the priest pours out the water and then He stands and shouts out, “If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.” He is not looking back at a distant historical event, but He is telling the crowd that He was the One who could giving them living water today. He has said this before to the woman at the well in John 4, but this is no private conversation, He is shouting it before thousands of people, in the temple grounds.

Jesus is claiming to be the present fulfillment of that long ago foreshadowed event when water miraculously come from the rock to save the nation of Israel.

Jesus Gives Forgiveness of Sin - In John 8

we read of the next day of the feast and Jesus forgiving the woman caught in adultery. John 8:11 And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.

Jesus Is The Light Of The World – John 8:12-19

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.

Jesus boldly declares, “I am the light of the world.” He is declaring that He is the source of eternal life and light.

This I AM statement of the Lord was also related to something happening at the Feast of Tabernacles. The previous day He had used the pouring out of the water from the pool of Siloam to declare that He was the true source of life-giving water. Now, on the following day, the Levites would light four huge lampstands in the temple courtyard. This did this to give light during the night, but they also did this to remind the people of the pillar of fire that had guided Israel in their wilderness journey.

This is a recurring theme of John the Apostle’s writings. He wants to show Jesus as God and he uses the “I Am” statements of Jesus as one way of doing that.

Jesus is the Great “I AM”

“I Am” Sayings in John’s Gospel

“I am the bread of life” (John 6:35, 48)

“I am the light of the world” (8:12; 9:5)

“I am the door” (10:7, 9)

“I am the good shepherd” (10:11, 14)

“I am the resurrection and the life” (11:25)

“I am the way, and the truth, and the life” (14:6)

“I am the true vine” (15:1,5).

Some of this were given privately and we know of them only because John was there to record them, but in John 7-8 are some of the most important of these statements and they are also the most public. In the midst of the feast Jesus cries out.

Also notice that it is at this last great feast that Jesus makes his most direct statements about his deity, that He is God the son, God in the flesh, God come to earth to reveal God’ love for man.

Jesus Is God, the Giver of Salvation - John 8:25

25 Then said they unto him, Who art thou? And Jesus saith unto them, Even the same that I said unto you from the beginning.

Notice the many ways that Jesus declares His deity, His Godhood

Vs 23…I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world. 

Vs 24 ..ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins. 

Vs. 26  I have many things to say and to judge of you. …I speak to the world those things which I have heard of Him. (referring to God the Father)

Vs. 28 When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am…

The False Believers Vs. 30-32 Believers -As he spake these words, many believed on him. Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;  And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

The Jews some of whom had supposedly believe then disagree with Jesus and tell him that they are free because John 8:33 We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?

Jesus then make His boldest statement yet, He declares that He is greater than Abraham because He is God and as God, He determines who is a slave and who is free. They ask Him, in John 8:53 Art thou greater than our father Abraham, which is dead? and the prophets are dead: whom makest thou thyself?

Jesus Is Jehovah

Listen to the way Jesus answered them in John 8:56-59 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad. 57 Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham? 58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am! (Put and exclamation point there.)

Jesus is saying that when Moses asked God in the burning bush, “Who shall I say has sent me?” and God answered “I Am that I Am.” It was Jesus who was talking to Moses, Jesus is declaring himself as the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and the One who sent Moses to free Israel from the slavery of Egypt. Now that is bold and that is true.

And you can tell by the reaction of these so called believing Jews, who only believed what they wanted to believe,  in vs 59 Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.

After all that what is left? Well now Jesus is about to put proof to His words, much like He did when the paralyzed man was let down through the roof. “So that you will know the Son of Man has power to forgive sins.” He will prove everything He has declared in the previous days of the feast in John 9 on a Sabbath Day. Now we are in Chapter 9 again.

 Jesus Proves He Is The Light – John 9

The apostles ask a question of Jesus, John 9:2 Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?

They were asking about a commonly held belief, we still hold to it today. That belief states that all tragedies, or illness are due to to God’s judgment of sin. To the disciple they think that the man’s blindness is a judgment from God, either he had sinned in preexistence or in the womb, before he was born, or his parents had sinned and God had punished them for their sin with a blind child.

Do we still think like this? Yes, all the time. Why did God cause the tornado / hurricane /earthquake? Why did God take my loved one? God gave AIDS to the homosexuals. God sent Covid-19 to punish the world. If it a terrible tragedy that seems to comes suddenly and without warning, we rationalize it by saying, “there must be a reason God did this.”

According to Jesus though the disciples were asking the wrong question. Instead of asking about sin and its consequences they should have been thinking about sin and its forgiveness. Instead of asking about the destruction of sin marking this man, they should have been asking about the glory of God in overcoming the pain, suffering and sin of this world.

What did Jesus say? John 9:3-5 Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. 4 I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. 5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.

You are asking the wrong questions. You are seeing the wrong things. You are not grasping the opportunities for God’s glory to be revealed.

Warren Wiersbe suggests that since there in no punctuation in the Koine Greek you could read the text this way, “Neither has this man sinned nor his parents. But that the works of God should be made manifest in him, I must work the works of Him that sent Me, while it is day.” - Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 1:324.

When the disciples saw this man, they saw a topic of theological discussion, but Jesus saw something completely outside their perspective and understanding. He saw an opportunity to do good, to help someone who desperately needed help, someone who need to experience the love and power of God.

Listen, the catastrophe, the tragedy, and the sorrow of others that I see around me, or that is in my own life, may be an open door see God’s glory. And that is exactly what Jesus is going to do. He is going to show that He is the water of life, the One who forgives sin, the light of the world. That He is without doubt or question God the Son come to earth to show the world the love and light of God.

Jesus tells him in John 9:7 Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing.

But the story doesn’t end with this man’s healing. There was more to be accomplished in this man’s life and in the lesson for the disciples, than just another healing miracle. Remember this is the last Feast where Jesus can publicly and boldly show who He is to the nation of Israel.

It is no mistake or happenstance that Jesus healed this man on the Sabbath Day. He did it so that it would be noticed and is sure was. Jesus is going to make a point, He is the Lord of the Sabbath.

It was illegal to work on the Sabbath; and by making the clay, applying the clay, and healing the man, Jesus had performed three unlawful “works.” - Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 1:325.

Unlawful to the Pharisees, but Jesus as God, set aside the Sabbath to honor Himself and He will decide what is work and what is worship.

The neighbors see the healing and take notice. John 9:8-12 The neighbors therefore, and they which before had seen him that he was blind, said, Is not this he that sat and begged? 9 Some said, This is he: others said, He is like him: but he said, I am he. 10 Therefore said they unto him, How were thine eyes opened? 11 He answered and said, A man that is called Jesus made clay, and anointed mine eyes, and said unto me, Go to the pool of Siloam, and wash: and I went and washed, and I received sight. 12 Then said they unto him, Where is he? He said, I know not.

The Pharisees really take notice and they don’t like what they see. John 9:13-15 They brought to the Pharisees him that aforetime was blind. 14 And it was the sabbath day when Jesus made the clay, and opened his eyes. 15 Then again the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. He said unto them, He put clay upon mine eyes, and I washed, and do see.

In vss. 13-34 The now sighted man is interrogated several times, by the Pharisees. They Pharisees are so determined to undermine this miracle that they even uestion the man’s parents. John 9:18-22 But the Jews did not believe concerning him, that he had been blind, and received his sight, until they called the parents of him that had received his sight. 19 And they asked them, saying, Is this your son, who ye say was born blind? how then doth he now see? 20 His parents answered them and said, We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind: 21 But by what means he now seeth, we know not; or who hath opened his eyes, we know not: he is of age; ask him: he shall speak for himself. 22 These words spake his parents, because they feared the Jews: for the Jews had agreed already, that if any man did confess that he was Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue.

If the parents gave an answer that the Pharisees didn’t like they would be kicked out of the synagogue and shunned by their family and friends.

So when the parents are no help, the miracle man is recalled for questioning and is now placed under oath and told what he is expected to say.  John 9:24 Then again called they the man that was blind, and said unto him, Give God the praise: we know that this man is a sinner.

“Give God the praise” was a form of Jewish swearing in, ie, Give honor to God and tell the truth but make sure it’s the truth we say and not the truth you experienced.

John 9:25-34. 25 -- He answered and said, Whether he be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see. 26 Then said they to him again, What did he to thee? how opened he thine eyes? 27 He answered them, I have told you already, and ye did not hear: wherefore would ye hear it again? will ye also be his disciples? 28 Then they reviled him, and said, Thou art his disciple; but we are Moses' disciples. 29 We know that God spake unto Moses: as for this fellow, we know not from whence he is. 30 The man answered and said unto them, Why herein is a marvellous thing, that ye know not from whence he is, and yet he hath opened mine eyes. 31 Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth. 32 Since the world began was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind. 33 If this man were not of God, he could do nothing. 34 They answered and said unto him, Thou wast altogether born in sins, and dost thou teach us? And they cast him out.

Finally, the once blind man grows so tired of the integration that he sarcastically asks, Why do you keep asking me? Are you also wanting to be one of his disciples?

Well that you know what happens when the Pharisess are disrespected, they get mean. You were born in sin and you are trying to teach us? And they excommunicated him from their synagogue and society. They couldn’t deal with his testimony, so they kicked him to the curb.

Now comes the best part of this story. John 9:35-38 35 Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when he had found him, he said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God? 36 He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him? 37 And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee. 38 And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him.

Jesus searches for and finds the man who is now cut off from everything in his life that he had depended on before. He used to beg outside the Temple, no more. He depened on his parents but no more. He looked to the support of his synagogue and friends, but now more. Because of the truth of his testimony, he was alone, but not for long. Jesus is searching and Jesus finds him.

Why this man, why this particular place and time? Jesus had healed the man’s eyes, but he had not healed his soul. He is searching in order to bring the light of the world to this man’s heart. He is the final proof of everything Jesus had been declaring throughout the week. By this miracle and by the miracle of salvation Jesus proves He is the light of the world, and the Savior of mankind.

Jesus Is The Sole Point of Judgment

Now listen closely to who Jesus sums up this event. John 9:39-41 For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind. 40 And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also? 41 Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.

What He is saying and especially coming now at the end of all these truths is not only significant it is paramount. “For judgment I am come into this world.”

Jesus is plainly saying that His purpose in coming to the earth was that He would be the sole point of judgment. Belief or rejection of Jesus is the only criteria for which mankind will be judged. Not good or bad, not religious or evil but what do you believe about Jesus. Who is Jesus to you?

When the Pharisees react to what Jesus said, knowing it was about them, what was Jesus’ answer to their question about being blind? John 9:41 If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.

They claimed to have sight about who Jesus was and what He was doing. They saw the miracles, heard the teaching and yet they rejected Him as Messiah and Lord. 

They claimed insight into Jesus and they rejected Him, making them guilty of rejecting the light of who Jesus was. They were blind, willfully, completely and unredeemable blind.

 Do We See The Light of Jesus Christ?

What Jesus stated here is taught all throughout God’s word but it is clearly and intently shown in John’s Gospel.

Is the truth of Jesus being the sole focus of judgment, taught elsewhere in John?

John 3:18-19 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.;

John 12:48-50 48 He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day. 49 For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. 50 And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak.

John 15:22-24 If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloke for their sin. 23 He that hateth me hateth my Father also. 24 If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father.

Here it is, the truth about Jesus, about His birth, His time on earth, His miracles, His death and resurrection. It’s faith, trust, belief in Jesus as God and Savior and that Jesus is the only One can save and forgive sin. 

The rest of the New Testament shouts this truth to the rest of the world, Acts 16:31  And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

Romans 10:9  That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

Conclusion:

Three cases of judgment are presented in John 8-9

The adulteress woman, the Pharisees and the man born blind. In each case our our understanding, our experience and our logic is challenged. We can see that the woman is guilty, yet Christ does not extract the just penalty. In the eyes of society, the Pharisees were keeping the law and yet Christ condemns them harshly to the depths of Hell. The man born blind or perhaps his parents must be guilty in order to explain his terrible lot in life and yet Christ ignores that idea and instead heals him and then saves him, showing that the glory and power of God is greater than sin, pain, sickness and suffering.

All I need know, when the darkness of sin and its suffering surrounds me, is that Jesus is the Light of the World and I will keep my eyes toward that never failing light.

David saw that light Psalms 27 and I’ll close with reading it.

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? 2 When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell.

3 Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear:

though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident. 4 One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple. 5 For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion:

in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock.

6 And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD.7 Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me, and answer me. 8 When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek….

13 I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. 14 Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.