Sermon Tone Analysis

The Light of the World

For some weeks we have been working through the parable of the soils in .

The parable of the sower is also given to us in .

Immediately following the section on the soils are the following words from Jesus: ().

21And he said to them, “Is a lamp brought in to be put under a basket, or under a bed, and not on a stand?

22For nothing is hidden except to be made manifest; nor is anything secret except to come to light.

23If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.”

Sermon text:

As we have talked through the parable of the sower, we learned that the word goes out to all types of soil.

The four types of soil listen in are:

Seed fell along the path

Seed fell on rocky ground

Seed fell among the thorns

Seed fell on good soil

If you have been in church any length of time, you have most likely heard a sermon at some point about how Jesus is the light.

That is not exactly what I want to do today.

I want to think through what does this concept of light men for us?

I also thought that since we have been reading the gospel of John this month, it would be appropriate to transition to preaching a sermon from John.

Earlier we read at least one verse that is quite familiar to us- .

I am the light of the world.

The more I read this passage this week, I could not remove it from the response Jesus receives at these words.

There are three things I want to draw out of this text this week.

Jesus’ testimony

The Pharisee’s response to his testimony

What is your response to this claim?

I listened to a sermon from a friend on mine on this week.

In that passage, Jesus is approached by Nicodemus.

In preparation, he asked his kids, “If you could spend time with anyone, who would it be?”

His youngest son, who was about four at the time said, “myself.”

There are billions of people in this world, and billions who have gone before us.

And yet, out of all these billions, Jesus says, I am the light of the world.

No one else.

What a bold claim!

To say, at this moment in history, in this brief time that we have, it is I that am the light of the world.

No one else.

Can you be surprised by the Pharisee’s claim?

You have probably heard this before, but it is first worth just exploring what is a Pharisee in the Bible.

The word Pharisee simply means “separated one.”

They separated themselves from society to study and teach the law, but also separated themselves from those considered unclean.

They also put great emphasis on tradition, making it equal with the Old Testament laws themselves.

The Pharisees in this case offer opposition to Jesus’ claims of authority.

I. Jesus; testimony

This is the second of the “I am” statements followed by Jesus saying what he is.

a.

I am the bread of life

b.

I am the light of the world.

c.

I am the door of the sheep ()

d.

I am the good shepherd ()

e.

I am the resurrection and the life ()

f.

I am the way, the truth and the life ()

g.

I am the vine ()

These are just some of the dramatic things Jesus says.

He says just a bit before 8:12, whoever thirsts, come to me and drink ().

begins with the word, “Again.”

Again Jesus spoke to them.

When I think of what he said here, I am reminded of a boxer.

In he is the living water, but he does not stop there!

Again he spoke.

Jesus is not done.

This is happening during the feast of Tabernacles, also called in the Bible the Feast of Ingathering and the Feast of Booths.

This was a popular occasion, and many Jews took pilgrimages to Jerusalem to celebrate for seven days.

This background is important for what Jesus has to say: From the Babylonian Talmud:

On the first night of Tabernacles and apparently on each night of the feast except on Sabbath, the worshipers awaited the signal of the special lighting of the festive golden lamps of Tabernacles in the court of women.

The lamps were intended to remind worshipers of God’s leading the people of Israel through the wilderness at night by a pillar of fire.

The lighting of lamps also signaled Israel’s recommitment to the God of light, and it was accompanied by festive music of the Levites and special dancing by chosen men of piety

Think of this picture

And what does he say?

I am the light of the world.

He did not say, “I am enlightened.”

Think of Buddhism.

What is a Budda?

One who has achieved a state of “bodhi,” or enlightenment.

Jesus does not claim to be an enlightened one.

He claims to be the light itself.

The book of John begins with the concept of light.

Think back to -(read)

Jesus as the light to the world in not only a statement of who he is, but also a fulfillment of the Old Testament.

Just a few verses will demonstrate this: .

The Lord is my light and salvation.

Whom shall I fear?

“His splendor covered the heavens, and the earth was full of praise.

His brightness was like the light; rays flashed from his hand; and there he veiled his power.”

“It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to bring back the preserved of Israel; I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.”

19  The sun shall be no more

your light by day,

nor for brightness shall the moon

give you light;

but the LORD will be your everlasting light,

and your God will be your glory.

20  Your sun shall no more go down,

nor your moon withdraw itself;

for the LORD will be your everlasting light,

and your days of mourning shall be ended.

23 And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb.