John 7:1-14
After this, Jesus went around in Galilee,purposely staying away from Judea becausethe Jews there were waiting to take his life.2 But when the Jewish Feast of Tabernacleswas near, 3 Jesus’ brothers said to him:
“You ought to leave here and go to Judea,so that your disciples may see the miraclesyou do. 4 No one who wants to become apublic figure acts in secret. Since you aredoing these things, show yourself to theworld.” 5 For even his own brothers did notbelieve in him.
6 Therefore Jesus told them, “The righttime for me has not yet come; for youany time is right. 7 The world cannothate you, but it hates me because Itestify that what it does is evil. 8 You goto the Feast. I am not yet going up tothis Feast, because for me the right timehas not yet come.” 9 Having said this, hestayed in Galilee.
10 However, after his brothers had leftfor the Feast, he went also, not publicly,but in secret. 11 Now at the Feast theJews were watching for him and asking,“Where is that man?”
12 Among the crowds there waswidespread whispering about him. Somesaid, “He is a good man.”
Others replied, “No, he deceives thepeople.” 13 But no one would say anythingpublicly about him for fear of the Jews.
14 Not until halfway through the Feastdid Jesus go up to the temple courts andbegin to teach.
John 8:12
When Jesus spoke again to the people,he said, “I am the light of the world.Whoever follows me will never walk indarkness, but will have the light of life.”
Today:
“I am the Light of the World”
“I Am the Light of the World”:Knowing God’s GuidanceJohn 7:1-4, 8:12
Going on a trip
Map or atlas
GPS
God’s Positioning System
God desires to give direction to us.Central theme in Jesus’ words:
“I am the light of the world.Whoever follows me will never walkin darkness, but will have the lightof life.” (John 8:12)
Into the Word
Important to know the context
The Festival of Tabernacles (or Booths)
Annual Jewish festival
John 7:1-14
After this, Jesus went around in Galilee,purposely staying away from Judeabecause the Jews there were waiting totake his life. 2 But when the Jewish Feastof Tabernacles was near, 3 Jesus’ brotherssaid to him, “You ought to leave here andgo to Judea, so that your disciples maysee the miracles you do…
Jewish festival to remember how Godgave them direction in the wilderness
They lived in temporary shelters or“huts” in the desert
During the festival they lived in booths(“sukkot” in Hebrew)
Still done today
The purpose of the festival…
A time remember
Their ancestors journey in the wilderness
Out of slavery in Egypt to the Promised Land
How God gave them guidance
2 Pillars
Smoke and Fire
It was in this setting that Jesusrevealed himself
Seemingly reluctant at first,
He went and began to teach
People didn’t know what to make of him
10 However, after his brothers had leftfor the Feast, he went also, not publicly,but in secret. 11 Now at the Feast theJews were watching for him and asking,“Where is that man?”
12 Among the crowds there waswidespread whispering about him.Some said, “He is a good man.”
Others replied, “No, he deceives thepeople.” 13 But no one would sayanything publicly about him for fear ofthe Jews.
14 Not until halfway through the Feastdid Jesus go up to the temple courtsand begin to teach.
The Grand Illumination
John 8:12
When Jesus spoke again to the people,he said, “I am the light of the world.Whoever follows me will never walk indarkness, but will have the light of life.”
What a bold statement Jesus was making!
He was saying that he would guide themlike God had guided his people
Just like bread was a symbolthe Jews understood,
The symbol of light was onethey should have understood also
He was pointing the way to the Father
The Jewish leaders were nervous(7:32-52, 8:13-20)
The Sanhedrin met, against their own law,
to decide what to do with Jesus
The Hall of
Hewn Stones
The Sanhedrin’s concern
Consider the meaning of Jesus’ words
He is comparing himself to God
He is revealing something entirely new!
It will turn the world upside down
Disrupt the Jewish expectations
Jesus threatened accepted beliefs
Couldn’t see the truth due to legalism
Putting it all together
“I am the light of the world.”
Draws upon Jewish image of guidance
We all need guidance
Sometimes we recognize the need,sometimes we don’t
The image of the sukkot festival is agood reminder that we need to seekGod’s direction
“Life is a journey, not a destination.”
Jesus gives us light for our journey
It is not as simple as using a GPS
Our route is not so clear
Stopping points not always obvious
Road trips where we meander canyield unexpected blessings and get usinto difficult situations
The key is to stay connected to Godthrough his Word and prayer andwith his people
Our route in life is not necessarilyabout geographic location:
Our way of thinking
Purpose in life
Priorities in what we do
The way we interact
GPS feature:
The little blinking dot that shows uswhere we are
If we make a wrong turn, we see it
We are rerouted
In our lives it is not always so easy tosee where we are in life
The amazing thing is that God caneven use our meandering!
Rob Fuquay raises some good questions:
What is the power of the person whorecognizes their need for God’s direction?
What does it look like when, like theSanhedrin, we refuse to recognizeour need for God’s guidance?
What does it mean to be open toGod’s direction when we don’t thinkwe need to change direction?
What does it mean to seek God’sguidance willingly?
Litany
Litany
When we look around us and feel thatonly darkness and emptiness surroundus, illuminate our hearts with Jesus’words,
“I am the Light of the World.”
When we look for God in the places ofpain and suffering, pleading for thatholy presence to be made evident evenin the gloomiest of places, help us to seeGod at work through Jesus’ promise,
“I am the Light of the World.”
When we feel far away from God,even when we try to create thatdistance ourselves, remind us that thelove of God is always touching usthrough Jesus’ words,
“I am the Light of the World.”
When we can’t figure out where to gonext, what to do, or who to be, helpus to hear God’s call and see the pathilluminated for us by the one whosays,
“I am the Light of the World.”
When we wonder how we will go outinto the world and shine God’s light,sharing God’s love with all the earth,let us follow Jesus’ lead as he revealshimself to us, saying,
“I am the Light of the World.” Amen.