WTTW: GOD'S WORD

SUNDAY

Psalm 95:6

Come, let us bow down in worship,
let us kneel before the LORD our Maker;


GOD'S WORD

John 8:12-30

Paraphrase

Jesus told the people he is the light of the world and therefore anyone who follows him will never be left in the darkness and death caused by their sin because when they come into his presence they will enter into the light that gives light.

When the Pharisees challenged what he said telling him anyone making such an outlandish claim thinking they can validate it merely by saying so - on the basis of of their own testimony is irrational, Jesus tells them that even though the Law requires the testimony of two witnesses to validate a claim, this human standard doesn’t apply to him because of who he is indicating they are unaware of where he came from and where he is going. Furthermore, Jesus tells the Pharisees the claims he makes are valid and true because they are made in conjunction with the Father who in sending him serves as another witness to who he is.

When the Pharisees asked Jesus where his father was he responded by telling them if they knew who he was they would know his Father but in denying him they deny knowledge of who the Father is as well. In speaking these words in the temple area where offerings are made to God, Jesus foreshadowed that instead how he as God would soon be offering his life for the world instead - although since the time for this had not yet come no one laid a hand on him.

Jesus told them once more how he would be leaving them, they would look for him but not find him and end up in the dark dying in their sin. After saying this, the Jews still confused about his heavenly origin, thought he was talking about killing himself.

Contrasting his coming from heaven above rather than being from the world below, Jesus told them he was not of this world and again told them they would die in their sin if they didn't believe he was the light of the world.

When they asked again who he was he repeated once more he was who he claimed to be - the one telling the world what he has heard the Father say; the one judging those who reject the “I am”.

Not understanding what he had said about the Father, Jesus told them that when they crucify him they will know who claimed to be, that he only acted in obedience with the Father's will and that his Father has been with him at all times.

Many people put their faith in him at that time.


Principles

Central Idea of the Text (CIT)
Interrogatory (INT)
Answer (ANS)

A. Meaning for 1st Century Readers

I. CIT: John told his 1st Century Readers that unless they believed Jesus was the light of the world they would die in their sins.

II. INT: What authority did John tell his 1st Century Readers Jesus based his statement on?

III. ANS: John told them Jesus based his statement on his:

1. Being the “I am.” vv 12, 28

2. Claim being Divine. vv 14-17, 23

3. Father being God. vv 18-19, 25-27

4. Being “lifted up.” vv 20-22, 28-29



B. Meaning for 21st Century Readers

I. CIT: John tells us today that unless we believe Jesus is the light of the world we will die in our sins.

II. INT: What authority does John tell us today Jesus based his statement on?

III. ANS: John tells us Jesus based his statement on his:

1. Being the “I am.”

2. Claim being Divine.

3. Father being God.

4. Being “lifted up.”




Prayer

Our Father, we give You praise as the I AM who is, was and always will be.

Our Father, we give Your Son praise as the I AM who needs no justification in human terms.

Our Father, we thank You for always being with Your Son, for working together and for Your Words being His Words so that His Claims as Your Claims are forever faithful and true.

Our Father, we thank You for sending Your Son and for his contrasting who he is and where he is from with who we are, where we are from and with what we are in need of.

Our Father, we glorify You and give honor to Your Son for offering His Body for us; for being lifted up on the cross; for being crucified, dead, buried and rising from the grave so that we may have life; so that we may pass from the darkness and death of our sin into the light of the world that He shines upon us.

Our Father, we thank You that twenty centuries later, Apostle John’s words still carry the truth and meaning You have provided for us in Your Son.

In whose name we pray and believe.

Amen.