Bible Study - Enough (2) - Our Need for Direction - John 8:12-19 - March 13, 2016

Bible Study – Enough (2) – Our Need for Direction – March 13, 2015

This is lesson two (2) in our series entitled “More Than Enough: How JESUS meets Our Deepest Needs.”

Our focus scripture is John 8:12-19.

JESUS is the light who reveals the way we should go.

In last week’s lesson we studied the first of seven “I AM” declarations JESUS taught about Himself as GOD in the flesh dwelling among mankind. In last week’s scripture, JESUS stated “I AM the bread of life.” In this week’s study JESUS reveals “I AM the light of the world.”

In John 7:1-15: (Background – Keep in mind that the Pharisees studied the scriptures and knew them like the back of their hands. They knew the prophesies about the coming of the promised Messiah, yet they just could not put it together in spite of JESUS trying to lead them to truth as verified in the scriptures. Isaiah 5:20 - Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.)

1 After this, Jesus traveled in Galilee, since He did not want to travel in Judea because the Jews were trying to kill Him. 

2 The Jewish Festival of Tabernacles was near, 

3 so His brothers said to Him, "Leave here and go to Judea so Your disciples can see Your works that You are doing. 

4 For no one does anything in secret while he's seeking public recognition. If You do these things, show Yourself to the world." 

5 (For not even His brothers believed in Him.) 

This verse is significant to me because it reveals that JESUS’ half-brothers did not believe in HIM, yet after the resurrection, guess who were in the upper room waiting on the coming of the Holy Spirit? It was JESUS’ brothers among others. JESUS’ resurrection made the difference to HIS brothers. JESUS’ resurrection still makes the difference in all that seek HIM today, because HE is “I AM,” GOD with us, first in the flesh and now in the Spirit. Timing is everything as we walk with CHRIST.

6 Jesus told them, "My time has not yet arrived, but your time is always at hand. 

7 The world cannot hate you, but it does hate Me because I testify about it-that its deeds are evil. 

8 Go up to the festival yourselves. I'm not going up to the festival yet, because My time has not yet fully come." 

9 After He had said these things, He stayed in Galilee.

JESUS was on mission and the timing of events was critical to the success of HIS mission. Often, we are on mission and that is when we must pray and seek GOD’S timing.

Jesus at the Festival of Tabernacles

10 After His brothers had gone up to the festival, then He also went up, not openly but secretly. 

11 The Jews were looking for Him at the festival and saying, "Where is He?" 

12 And there was a lot of discussion about Him among the crowds. Some were saying, "He's a good man." Others were saying, "No, on the contrary, He's deceiving the people." 

13 Still, nobody was talking publicly about Him because they feared the Jews. 

14 When the festival was already half over, Jesus went up into the temple complex and began to teach. 

15 Then the Jews were amazed and said, "How does He know the Scriptures, since He hasn't been trained?" 

Often, we dismiss the obvious because we lean unto our own understanding.

16 Jesus answered them, "My teaching isn't Mine but is from the One who sent Me.

JESUS did go to the Feast of the Tabernacles, also referred to as the Festival of Lights. There was a lighting ceremony at the end of the first day of the festival. There were four golden candles sticks 75 feet high. Four golden bowls were placed on top of the candle sticks which would hold 7.5 gallons of pure oil. The priests and Livites used their worn-out liturgical clothing for wicks. These candle sticks were in the court of women and when lit produced such a bright light that it provided light for all the courtyards. This was a reminder to the Jews that GOD had provided a pillow of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night in leading them out of Egypt and while they were in the wilderness. (Advanced Bible Study, page 20, spring 2016, LifeWay, Nashville, TN, One LifeWay Plaza, 37234-0175.)

JESUS used this opportunity to teach the second “I AM” lesson. JESUS is the light of the world and in this teaching HE was again revealing HIS relationship to GOD. The religious leaders just didn’t get it.

What does light do? It illuminates and reveals what is hidden by the darkness. 

Satan’s desire is for all people to remain in Spiritual darkness but JESUS came to dispel darkness and be the light that shines into the heart’s of all who will ever live. It is a battle for your soul. The light of JESUS reveals the sin in our lives. Wouldn’t it be better to not know and then we would not be accountable to GOD? Ignorance of the Law does not make the nature of the Law of sin and death null and void.

The Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 8:2:

2 because the Spirit's law of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.

The law of gravity always works unless overcome by a neutralizing counter force.

Satan is a deceiver and a liar. Satan’s goal is to defeat and destroy you but the gift of GOD is eternal life through faith in JESUS The CHRIST.

Christians must keep in their minds and hearts that they are the light of the world. Christians reflect the light of the indwelling CHRIST as manifested by the Holy Spirit. JESUS said Christians are the salt of the earth and the light of the world.

Let’s explore!

Let’s read John 8:12:

The Light of the World

12 Then Jesus spoke to them again: "I am the light of the world. Anyone who follows Me will never walk in the darkness but will have the light of life."

A promise made is a promise delivered. Do you want to walk in the light? If so, what do you have to do? You must give your heart and life, through faith, to JESUS The CHRIST. JESUS tells us that HE is the light of the world and HE will dispel darkness. HE lights the path as we journey through this world of darkness. Christians will never walk in darkness because CHRIST is the true light Who guides them.

“The World” does not refer to the physical earth but to all humans who occupy and dwell upon earth. Those who walk in the light as HE is the light will never be overcome by the darkness. Christians will have dark times but that is when they must turn their eyes upon JESUS Who dispels the darkness.

Dr. Vance Havner said, “Christians must practice in the dark what they learn in the light.” JESUS is the hope of all Christians in times of darkness. Hope is light.

Let’s read John 8:13-15:

13 So the Pharisees said to Him, "You are testifying about Yourself. Your testimony is not valid." 

In essence, the Pharisees were calling JESUS a liar. However, JESUS was attempting to reveal truth to the Pharisees. But they could not see truth because they could not see the true light of GOD in JESUS in spite of the facts revealed in the scriptures regarding the promised Messiah.

14 "Even if I testify about Myself," Jesus replied, "My testimony is valid, because I know where I came from and where I'm going. But you don't know where I come from or where I'm going. 

Again, JESUS was trying to open their Spiritually blind eyes to truth. JESUS knew that HE came from GOD and that HE would return to GOD. HE had one mission and it was not to judge but to save all who would place their faith in HIM. HE would give HIS life to pay, in full, the debt for sin. The evidence that HE was Who HE said HE was, was being confirmed by the miracles being manifested by GOD through JESUS and would be fully confirmed by HIS resurrection from the physically dead after HIS crucifixion.

15 You judge by human standards. I judge no one. 

The Pharisees judge by human standards according to those who followed and obeyed the Law but JESUS did not come to confirm the Law but to fulfill the Law and establish a new covenant of GOD’S grace for all who placed their faith in HIM.

Let’s read John 8:16-19:

16 And if I do judge, My judgment is true, because I am not alone, but I and the Father who sent Me [judge together].

Again, JESUS attempted to jog them into the reality of who HE was. HE was GOD in human form. JESUS and GOD, The Father are equal. You would think these learned men would ask a question regarding HIS relationship to GOD, HIS Father. JESUS and HIS Father were two witnesses to the events in every person’s life; therefore, They were in the position to judge both physically based upon what a person does and Spiritually based upon the attitude of the heart.

17 Even in your law it is written that the witness of two men is valid. 

Notice JESUS reference to “your” law. The Pharisees had expanded the law to include all sorts of rules and regulations that only complicated the Spirit of the Law. Remember the Beatitudes’.

18 I am the One who testifies about Myself, and the Father who sent Me testifies about Me." 

Again, JESUS tied HIS presence upon earth, as a human, to GOD; HIS Father in Heaven Who had sent HIM. You would think that would have generated some questions, which it did as we read on.

19 Then they asked Him, "Where is Your Father?" "You know neither Me nor My Father," Jesus answered. "If you knew Me, you would also know My Father." 

The Pharisees ask HIM “Where is your father?” They wanted to know who JESUS’ earthly father was. If HE had an earthly father then GOD could not be HIS Father. JESUS responded against the backdrop of, where have you religious leaders been? Haven’t you either heard or witnessed the miracles that GOD manifested through ME? You Pharisees have missed the mark all together. In spite of all the evidence confirmed by the scripture regarding the promised Messiah, you still do not get it. If you recognized ME and knew ME according to what is revealed in the scriptures, you would know that I AM GOD incarnate.

HE was speaking to the top religious leaders who were supposed to know the scriptures. JESUS referred to Himself as the light. The scripture referred to the Messiah as light as we read in Psalm 27:1:

1 The Lord is my light and my salvation- whom should I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life- of whom should I be afraid? 

Again we read in Psalm 36:8-9:

8 They are filled from the abundance of Your house; You let them drink from Your refreshing stream, 

9 for with You is life's fountain. In Your light we will see light. 

Isaiah 9:2:

2 The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of darkness, a light has dawned.

Is JESUS the light of your life? If not, why not? Let HIM be the light of your life by placing your faith in HIM believing that HE gave HIS life for you to pay, in full, the penalty for your sins and asking HIM to forgive you for your sins and inviting HIM to come into your life to dwell within you. HE will and HE will confirm your decision by sealing you with the indwelling Holy Spirit. Then study the Bible, get involved in a Bible believing and teaching church. Pray and ask JESUS to teach you through the indwelling Holy Spirit. Put into action what GOD reveals to you as you walk in the light as HE is the light. Blessings!!!